Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Instant pot hard boiled eggs are a good source of protein, low in fat, and easy to make. They can be served hot or cold, you can eat just the white or the whole egg. Instead of cooking them on the stove, we tried a new way to make them, which is in an instant pot.

Hard boiled eggs have become a staple food for a lot of people who are on many types of diets. Since they are low in calories and high in protein they can be eaten for breakfast, snacks, lunch or dinner.

We have usually made hard boiled eggs on top of the stove in a saucepan, and wondered why we should try it another way. After all, why ruin a good thing?  

Now we have tried a new way and we want to share it with you too. It is learning how to make hard boiled eggs in an instant pot. If you have never used an instant pot before, it is quite easy once you use it once or twice, and we will show you all the tricks.

If you liked our traditional hard boiled egg recipe, then you will love making them in an instant pot too!

Benefits of Cooking Eggs in an Instant Pot

You may be wondering why you should make eggs in the instant pot. Here are some benefits of cooking them this way:

• You don’t have to stand over the pot while the eggs boil to make sure the water doesn’t splash or boil out. Using an instant pot to make your hard boiled eggs will allow you to go about your business and do something else while the eggs cook.
• The instant pot cooks them perfectly every time, whether cooking 1 or 12 of them.
• The eggs come out of the instant pot perfect for deviled eggs.
• Once you place the eggs on the rack they stay in place and don’t bang against each other and crack.

Other Ways to Hard-Boil Eggs

The most common way to make hard boiled eggs has always been in a pot of boiling water on the stove. That is still a great way to make eggs if you don’t have an instant pot.

The instant pot is a newer way of making a lot of our favorite recipes and great because it’s quick and easy.

What Ingredients are in Pressure Cooker Eggs?

There are not too many ingredients to make pressure cooker eggs, just 2:

• Eggs – Large eggs are the most common size but any size will work.
• Water – Just a cup of water is needed to keep the moisture in the instant pot.

How Long Does it Take to Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot?

It takes 15 minutes to cook hard boiled eggs in the instant pot when using the 5-5-5 method. This includes the time to cook them and also cool them down.

Does the 5-5-5 Method Work?

The 5-5-5 method is a perfect fit for making hard boiled eggs in an instant pot, and it’s so easy too. By using this method you end up with consistent results every time.

• 5 min – To Cook the eggs.
• 5 min – To release the pressure.
• 5 min – To cool them in an ice bath.

Using the Egg Setting on the Instant Pot

Not all instant pots have an egg setting. Ours does not, so if yours doesn’t have it either, no worries. In that case, you just need to set it with the appropriate amount of minutes, and for this recipe, it’s 5 minutes.

How to Hard Boil Eggs in an Instant Pot (Step-by-Step) 

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to hard boil eggs in an instant pot:

1. Place the wire rack on the bottom of the instant pot.
2. Pour the water into the pot.
3. Next, place the eggs on top of the rack, but do not stack them on top of each other, just place them all flat on the rack.
4. Place the lid on the pot and lock it in place. Turn the valve to the sealing position. Pressure cook for 5 minutes.
5. Naturally, release the steam for 5 minutes. Now open the lid and remove eggs, one at a time into an ice bath., which is a bowl that you have filled with cold water and ice cubes, which will immediately stop the eggs from cooking any further. Cool the eggs for 5 minutes, which will complete the 5-5-5 method.
6. Now it’s time to peel the shells off the eggs and serve or store them.

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How to Make Soft Boiled Eggs in an Instant Pot

If you prefer soft boiled eggs to hard boiled eggs, you can also make those in an instant pot. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly. 

We have found that by cooking them for 3 minutes instead of 5 minutes, they will be soft boiled. Then do the same 5 minutes to release the pressure and 5 minutes to cool.

So the equation would now be 3-5-5 to make soft boiled eggs instant pot eggs.

How to Peel

The best way to peel your instant pot boiled eggs is to crack them all over, right away, while they are still hot. This is because it breaks the membrane and in turn loosens the shells.

As soon as you drop them into the ice bath, start cracking them, that way when the 5 minutes are up you can immediately start to peel the shells off the eggs.

FAQs & Best Tips

Now we will answer some of the questions that you have running through your mind right now and also share with you some helpful tips to make boiled eggs in an instant pot.

• Use eggs that are at least 10 days old because if they are farm-fresh eggs you will never get the shells off.
• To make hard boiled eggs in an instant pot buy large size eggs.
• Use a spoon to remove the instant pot eggs because they will be very hot to the touch.

How Many Eggs Can You Hard Boil in an Instant Pot?

The size of the eggs will determine how many you can comfortably fit in an instant pot. We use large eggs because that’s the most common size available in the stores, and that’s what most people use. 

What’s nice is that you can cook 1 or 2 if that’s all you need or you can cook more in a pressure cooker. 

You can hard boil up to a dozen eggs at one time in a good size instant pot. Just make sure not to stack them on top of each other or overcrowd them, so that they will cook properly.

Do I Need to Use a Trivet?

Yes, you need to use the trivet when making hard boiled eggs in the instant pot. It comes with your pot and it raises the eggs up above the water. You want your eggs to steam, not sit in the water and boil. That way the eggs will cook evenly.

Do I Need to Use an Ice Bath?

Using an ice bath is essential when making eggs using the 5-5-5 method. 

The purpose of an ice bath is to immediately stop the cooking process of the pressure cooker hard boiled eggs. The last “5” is 5 minutes in an ice bath, which will enable the eggs to cool off quickly so that they will not overcook.

Does It Matter What Size Eggs I Use?

It doesn’t really matter what size eggs you use when making them in the instant pot. I use large eggs because they are more readily available in the stores and the price is the best one too. 

If you like them larger then feel free to use X-large or Jumbo. If you increase the size of the eggs, you will also have to increase the cooking time of the instant pot eggs, by 1-2 minutes.

Do You Use the Natural Release on an Instant Pot?

Natural release just means not opening the valve for a quick pressure release. That means once the cooking time is over, you would let it sit so that the pressure releases on it’s own naturally. 

This process takes a lot longer, anywhere from 15-20 minutes, which in the case of our hard boiled eggs is not the way to make them.  

Instead, we find that if we follow the 5-5-5 method the hard boiled eggs come out perfectly every time.

Why Do Eggs Turn Green in the Instant Pot?

Even though Dr Suess wrote a book about green eggs and ham, we certainly do not want to eat green eggs with our ham!!

When you cook your eggs in the instant pot too long or at too high of a temperature it causes a reaction between the iron in the yolk and the sulfur in the white. As a result a green ring will form between the white and the yolk.

If you cook them in the instant pot, use the 5-5-5 method to cook the eggs and you shouldn’t have any problem with a green ring forming in your eggs.

Using Fresh Eggs vs. Old Eggs

When you use very fresh eggs it is hard to get the shells off of them, in fact, most likely they will not come off at all. 

It is best to use eggs that are at least 10 days to a couple of weeks old when cooking them in an instant pot. If you get the bright idea to go to the farm and buy some really fresh eggs to make boiled eggs, save them instead for making over easy or scrambled ones.

Just be sure not to use eggs that are expired because it can make you sick if you eat very old eggs.

What is the Best Instant Pot to Use for Eggs?

If you are going to go out and buy an instant pot I would suggest buying a 6 quart one. There are several brands, all of which can do a good job. 

If you already have one, then by all means use whatever size instant pot that you have. The important thing is that you use it to make eggs in the instant pot because it will be your favorite way.

How to Use Hard Boiled Eggs?

Our favorite thing to do with hard boiled eggs is to eat them just the way they are when they come out of the instant pot, but feel free to use them in other ways.

• On top of a Green Salad
• On the top of a Spinach Salad
• Deviled Eggs
• Egg Salad

Make-Ahead Instant Pot Eggs

Making hard boiled ahead of time in the instant pot is something that we do all the time. It is really easy to do and that way when you want some eggs, they are already cooked. 

Make sure that you refrigerate them. Leaving cooked eggs out on the counter for more than an hour or so can make your eggs go bad and in turn make you really sick, so store them correctly.

How to Store

The best way to store your leftover pressure cooker hard boiled eggs is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you put a paper towel on the bottom of the container it will absorb any excess moisture. 

They will stay fresh for about 6-7 days in your refrigerator if they are stored properly. That way when you make some extra ones you will have them on hand to eat as a quick snack or breakfast.

Can You Freeze Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs?

Most foods can be frozen to preserve them for a future time, but hard boiled eggs are not one of them. If they are frozen the texture becomes terrible. Don’t make more than you are going to eat within the week. 

Since hard boiled eggs are so good, making them in the instant pot is so easy that you can make a new batch every week if you want to.

Tools to Use

Making pressure cooker hard boiled eggs don’t take many tools, but here are some that you will need before you start:

• Instant Pot – Your main cooking source for hard boiled eggs, along with many other foods.
• Bowl – This is for the ice bath.
• Slotted Spoon – To remove the eggs from the instant pot and place them into the ice bath.

Diets This Recipe is Good For

Once you learn how to boil eggs in an instant pot, you can use them for almost every type of diet.

• Keto/low carb – There are zero carbs in eggs.
• Gluten-free – 100% no gluten in eggs.
• Sugar-free – No sugar in eggs.
• Nut-free – Also no nuts in eggs.
• Vegetarian – Eggs seem to be acceptable food for vegetarians, even though they do not eat meat.
• Dairy-free – Eggs have no dairy in them.
• Paleo – This is a go-to food for anyone on the paleo diet.
• Candida – Also a great food for a candida diet.
• Whole 30 – A staple food for the whole 30.

Other Yummy Egg Recipes

If you’re in the mood for some other delicious Egg Recipes then try our:

• How To Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
• Soft Boiled Eggs
• Keto Breakfast Casserole
• Egg White Breakfast Cups
• Spinach Salad With Bacon and Eggs
• Keto Egg Salad

They all are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will be a hit at your next meal!

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