Easy 5-Minute Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
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The virtues of making hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot can be summed up as follows: they peel like a dream and they come out perfectly every time! It’s not faster by any means to make eggs in the Instant Pot, but for the magical peeling experience and consistent results, I find pulling the Instant Pot out worthwhile.
Any time I feel buyer’s remorse incited by my Instant Pot, I remind myself that it makes perfect rice and perfect boiled eggs, both soft and hard. For these two purposes alone, I think, the Instant Pot deserves all the space it hogs in the cupboard.
And more and more: on the counter! For its frequent use at the breakfast hour, my Instant Pot often does not get tucked away after each use. If you or your family loves eggs, then you can’t have too many easy egg recipes for breakfast in your repertoire.
The virtues of making hard-boiled eggs in an electric pressure cooker can be summed up as follows:
- They peel like a dream.
- They come out perfectly every time.
It’s not faster by any means to make eggs in the Instant Pot, but for the magical peeling experience and consistent results, I find pulling the Instant Pot out worthwhile.
A Few Notes
- Timing may vary: I have the 6-qt Instant Pot Duo, which I note because the size of the Instant Pot may affect the timing, and you may have to experiment a bit to get the timing right for your pot. The method I use is included below.
- Don’t cook too many eggs at once: The downside of hard-boiling eggs in the Instant Pot? You can’t cook too many at one time. Unless you have one of these tiered racks, I wouldn’t recommend cooking more than 6 eggs at one time.
Instant Pot users: Do you use it for hard-boiling eggs? Have you had success cooking more than 6 eggs at one time?
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes
- Perfect Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs
- The Instant Pot Miracle: One-Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce
- Perfectly Cooked and Seasoned Instant Pot Brown Rice
- Instant Pot Beets + Beet and Avocado Tartines
- Instant Pot Moroccan Rice with Dates and Orange
How to make Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs:
Gather your ingredients: eggs + water.
Pour 2 cups water into the Instant Pot, place steamer insert inside, place 6 eggs on top. Spread eggs out so they are not touching one another.
Close lid. Turn valve to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to: manual, high pressure, 5 minutes:
When the time lapses, release the valve naturally for no more than 1 minute; then plunge the eggs into an ice bath.
When you are ready, begin the incredibly enjoyable process of peeling the eggs …
You won’t ever want to stop.
PrintEasy 5-Minute Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6
Description
The virtues of making hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot can be summed up as follows: they peel like a dream and they come out perfectly every time!
Notes:
I have this 6-qt Instant Pot, which is important only because the size of the pot may affect the timing. These instructions work perfectly for my Instant Pot, but it did take some trial and error to get the timing down.
For perfect Instant Pot soft-boiled eggs, follow instructions on this post.
The downside of hard-boiling eggs in an Instant Pot? The quantity you can do at one time. Unless you have an accessory that allows you to make tiers in your pot, you can’t cram a dozen eggs onto the steamer rack without the eggs banging against one another and eventually cracking under the pressure.
I would recommend hard-boiling no more than 6 eggs at one time using the standard steamer insert.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 6 eggs, see notes above
Instructions
- Pour the 2 cups of water into the insert of the Instant Pot. (Note: Do measure 2 cups as opposed to using the markings on the inside of the insert.) Lay the steamer insert inside. Place eggs on top, spreading them out to ensure they are not touching one another.
- Cover the pot. Using the manual button, set the pot to 5 minutes and high pressure. Make sure the valve on top is set to sealing. Fill a large bowl with ice and cold tap water.
- When the 5 minutes are up, switch the valve to venting, let the steam escape for 1 minute, then carefully twist open the lid to avoid steaming your face. Transfer eggs to ice-water bath, let cool for 30 seconds or longer, then peel, season and eat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Instant Pot/Pressure cooker
- Cuisine: American
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
26 Comments on “Easy 5-Minute Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs”
I used Egglands best eggs. They had a sulfur taste and smell after cooking in the instant pot. I can do perfect eggs without the smell in a standard pot in 11 minutes. After the ice bath, they easily peel. So, no instant pot eggs for me.
Hmmmm … I’m not sure you can blame the Instant Pot on the sulfer taste and smell… I’ve never experienced that. Sorry these didn’t work out for you, and I’m glad you have no issues peeling eggs made on the stovetop. I’ve never been so lucky.
I just experienced this myself, using leftover Eggland’s Best eggs that a guest left after a visit. Worst smell ever, I don’t know why. Regular eggs work like a charm in the Instant Pot for me.
Yay! So happy to hear this, Rachel. I have always found the peeling process tortuous, which is why I love my IP for this purpose so much.
Love the IP for hard cooked eggs. But why can’t they touch each other? I regularly cook as many as I need, last week it was a dozen, carefully placed, some touching and some stacked. All came out perfectly.
Lucky you! When my eggs touch, they crack … So glad this doesn’t happen to you. I’m tempted to oder the insert so I can stack them.
I love the cooked eggs and I combine them with a recipe from a keto website.
Perfect hard boiled eggs! I have a Mini-Duo Instant Pot and the amount of water and 5 minute timing was exactly spot on. The peeling, oh the peeling! Thank you!
Yay!! Lu, so happy to hear this. The peeling is everything, right?? xo
Funny thing. I now have a 6 quart (and not a mini, I gave it away) Yedi Instant Pot. I need about 7 minutes for the egg to be ‘hard boiled’. Not a big deal though, as delicious and easy to peel as ever!
It’s so interesting how the times vary from IP to IP and, I think, from location to location (… I’ve heard elevation plays a role). Yay for forever-easy-to-peel eggs!!
I’ve had an Instant Pot for a long time, left in the box because I was afraid to use it (all the warnings and the intense control panel). Figured this might be a good way to test it. Followed your instructions cooking 5 eggs in the Duo and they are perfect, fell out of the shells. Now I have the courage to try some of your other IP recipes.
Oh Yay! Wonderful to hear this, Chris! Eggs were what got me using my IP, too. If you’re looking for another good one, I love this brown rice recipe.
FYI, there is a typo in the title of this page when you search on google. Check your meta data title field…
Hi! I’m not seeing it?? Can you take a screen shot? Thanks!
Yes but I don’t know how to attach a screenshot here?? It says “5-minunte”
Oh my goodness, thank you! My eyes 😩😩😩😩😩 I read it 15 times. Editing it now. Thank you for taking the time to write.
Eggs are one of the most delicious foods in my diet. I love my Instant Pot and it is great to have a quick go-to recipe for hard-boiled eggs. What I do is set my Instant Pot on manual for 6 minutes. When it is finished, I release the steam, take the lid off, and plunge the eggs into an ice bath. Leave them there until they are cool then gently drop them from about 4 inches above your cutting board a couple of time, then roll them around, and the shell just slips off. I’ve tried a number of different methods through the years, and this is by far the most foolproof and easiest.
I use an air fryer rather than an IP, 400° for 12 min. I also put as many as I want with no issues. I do use a push pin to make a small hole in the large end of the egg. It helps the egg come out more symmetrical. The ice water cools them quickly so they stop cooking, and like you say, they nearly jump out of the shells.
Love this method! I still don’t have an air fryer … maybe it’s time! Love the push pin idea.
How long for regular steamer?
When I steam these stovetop, I use this method: Classic Deviled Eggs
12 minutes
I too have the 6 quart duo. Fortunately with your warning about variations I did my first try with just two eggs. At 5 minutes they were hard to peel and somewhat jammy. Second go round 7 minutes and beautiful. Worth breaking a few eggs to figure out your machine. Mine is older and gets a lot of use. Not sure if that influences the results at all.
As always I love everything you post and all the recipes you share. Not sure what I would ever be making if I didn’t find your site. Thanks!
Awww, thank you, Cindy 🙂 🙂 🙂 Means a lot. Great to hear you were able to find the perfect timing with a bit of trial and error. Thanks for writing and sharing all of this!
This Recipe is the PERFECT one…!!!
Many others have you cooking too many eggs at once and then doing a natural pressure release for wayyy too Long.
Thank You Alexandra; Now My eggs come out Delicious and Beautiful every time… 8)
Wonderful to hear, Salom! Thanks for writing 🙂