These Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are a cinch to make and they turn out perfect every time! Learn how to use the failproof 5-5-5 method for making hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot.
The Instant Pot does just about everything, and now you can add another thing to the list: it makes cooking hard boiled eggs practically effortless!
I rely on my Instant Pot to meal prep Instant Pot Chickpeas, Instant Pot Quinoa, Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Breast, and Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal. Hard boiled eggs are also in my weekly meal prep because the Instant Pot just makes it way too easy!
Why we love pressure cooker hard boiled eggs
I love cooking hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot for so many reasons!
- They’re pretty much hands-off during cooking. No standing over the stove and guessing when the eggs are ready.
- No rack needed. You can stack the eggs right in the pot, or use an egg trivet, silicone egg rack, or the metal or silicone trivet that came with your Instant Pot, if you prefer.
- Any size cooker works. 3 quart, 6 quart, 8 quart, or 10 quart Instant Pots are all great for making hard boiled eggs.
- They’re easy to peel. In fact, they’re the easiest hard boiled eggs I’ve ever peeled. There’s a little bit of liquid under the shell, but this is natural.
- They have the perfect texture. You’ll love them for deviled eggs because the yolk pops out of the egg white easily. They’re also great for egg salad, my Easy Dill Potato Salad, lunches, and breakfasts on-the-go.
- You can cook as many or as few eggs as you want. The time and temperature stays exactly the same.
What is the 5-5-5 method?
The secret to making hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot is the 5-5-5 method, which involves 5 minutes of pressure cooking, 5 minutes of natural pressure release, and a 5 minute ice bath.
In just minutes, your hard boiled eggs are done—and cooked absolutely perfectly!
What you'll need
As with most hard boiled egg recipes, you only need two ingredients here.
- Water – You’ll need 1 cup of water for 3 or 6 quart pressure cookers, and 2 cups water for 8 or 10 quart models.
- Eggs - You can any color eggs for this recipe.
How to make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs
Here’s what you’ll need to do to make hard boiled eggs in an Instant Pot:
Prepare. You can use any pressure cooker. I'm using the 6 quart Instant Pot. If you have a trivet, place it in the cooker and arrange the eggs on the trivet. Otherwise, stack the eggs in the cooker as securely as you can. Add the water to the Instant Pot, then prepare an ice bath in a separate bowl.
Cook. Secure the lid and set the pressure release knob to “Sealing.” Select “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” for 5 minutes on High pressure.
Release pressure. Allow the Instant Pot to sit undisturbed for a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then turn the pressure release knob to “Venting” to release any remaining steam.
Cool the eggs. Transfer the hard boiled eggs to the ice bath for 5 minutes. If you don't have ice (because life happens), you can simply use cold tap water.
Dry and store. Transfer the chilled hard boiled eggs from the ice bath to a towel to dry the surface. Your eggs are ready to enjoy!
Do I need a trivet to cook eggs in the Instant Pot?
No. You can set the eggs right in the pot with the water. However, I use the Instant Pot trivet (the one that came with my pot) as a tool to stack eggs securely to prevent them from moving or cracking during the pressure cook cycle. A dedicated egg trivet is a fancier way to do this. Also, a steamer basket is a great tool for transferring large amounts of eggs in and out of the pot.
Is there an egg setting on the Instant Pot?
Some models have an egg setting and some do not. I use manual settings for most Instant Pot recipes, as I did with this recipe. However, if your cooker has the egg setting, you can still use the 5-5-5 method because the pot cooks the eggs for 5 minutes with this setting.
Are these eggs easy to peel?
Yes! They really are! I don't understand the science behind this phenomenon, so if you do, please educate me in the comments below (but talk to me like I'm 5 years old lol)! All I know is the photo I took above is exactly how my 5-5-5 eggs look.
Why do you put hard boiled eggs in cold water?
The eggs will continue cooking from the residual heat in the shells unless they’re immersed in a cold water bath. This keeps them from over-cooking!
How to store
Refrigerate your hard boiled eggs for up to a week if they’re unpeeled, or up to 5 days if you’ve peeled them. I like to store my eggs unpeeled in these hard plastic containers so they never crack during storage.
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs 5-5-5
Ingredients
- 12 Eggs, use more or less as needed
- 1-2 cups Water
Equipment
- 6 quart Instant Pot or any size pressure cooker
- trivet for Instant Pot optional
- tongs or other utensil to set eggs in ice bath
- large bowl for ice bath
Instructions
- Place steam rack trivet in the bottom of the cooker.
- Place EGGS on trivet. Stacking is fine and you can use more or less eggs as desired. This won't change the pressure cook time.
- Add WATER to the Instant Pot. Use 1 cup water (for 3 or 6 quart model) or 2 cups (for 8 or 10 quart model).
- Secure the lid and set the pressure release knob to “Sealing". Select "Manual" or “Pressure Cook” for 5 minutes on HIGH pressure.
- Allow the Instant Pot to sit undisturbed for a 5 minute natural pressure release; then carefully turn the pressure release knob to "Venting" to release the remaining steam.
- Transfer hard boiled eggs to an ice bath for 5 minutes.
- Refrigerate up to 7 days for unpeeled eggs or 5 days if peeled.
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
JB says
Game changer! I am never making hard boiled eggs the old way again LOL. Why would I? The Instant Pot makes this stupid simple. Thanks for sharing KG!