Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs: Easiest and Most Consistent Results
Making hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot is one of the easiest and most foolproof ways to get perfectly cooked eggs every time. Whether you're meal-prepping for the week, making egg salad, or just want a quick protein snack, this method ensures easy-to-peel shells and creamy yolks.
If you love mastering the basics, be sure to check out our other essential kitchen guides, like homemade bone broth in the slow cooker and how to spatchcock a chicken. These foundational techniques make cooking easier, more efficient, and more flavorful!
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💞 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Foolproof Every Time – No more guessing! The Instant Pot takes the guesswork out of boiling eggs.
- Easy to Peel – The pressure cooking process helps separate the shell from the egg, making peeling a breeze.
- Quick & Hands-Off – Set it and forget it! No watching a pot on the stove.
- Perfect for Meal Prep – Make a batch for the week in just minutes.
- Customizable Cook Times – Whether you love soft, jammy, or firm yolks, you can adjust the time to your preference.
🍴Ingredients
Just eggs and water.
🍳 Instructions
Step 1: Prep Instant Pot
- Place a trivet or steamer basket inside the Instant Pot.
- Pour in 1 cup of water.
- Arrange the eggs in a single layer on the trivet.
Step 2: Pressure Cook
- Secure the lid and set the valve to "Sealing."
- Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" and set the time to 5 minutes on high pressure.
Step 3: Release pressure
Once the cooking cycle ends, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
Step 4: Ice Bath
Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath and let them sit for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process.
Once cool, peel and enjoy!
Hint: For easier peeling, gently roll the egg on a hard surface to crack the shell before peeling under running water.
♨ Variations
- Soft-Boiled Eggs: Cook for 3 minutes followed by a quick release and a short ice bath.
- Jammy Eggs: Cook for 4 minutes, then follow the same cooling process.
🍴 Equipment
- Instant Pot (any model)
- Trivet or steamer basket
- Measuring cup
- Bowl for ice bath
🍲 Storage
Store unpeeled eggs in the fridge for up to 7 days. Peeled eggs can be kept in an airtight container with a damp paper towel for up to 5 days.
⭐ Top tip
Use eggs that are at least a week old—they tend to peel more easily than fresh eggs!
💭 FAQ
The 5-5-5 method is a popular way to cook hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot. The numbers refer to:
5 minutes of high pressure for cooking.
5 minutes of natural pressure release after cooking.
5 minutes in an ice bath to stop the cooking process and make peeling easier.
This method ensures perfectly cooked eggs with a creamy yolk and easy-to-peel shell.
The Egg setting on the Instant Pot is a preset function designed specifically for cooking eggs and is available on some instant pots. If you have that, you can press it instead of doing manual pressure. It should also be set to 5 minutes automatically. I think most of the buttons on the instant pot are unnecessary though- just adjust manual as needed!
As many as you can fit in a single layer on the trivet. A regular Instant Pot can typically cook up to 12 eggs at a time in a single layer. It’s best to avoid overcrowding them to ensure even cooking. You can use special trivets to stack them if needed.
The 5-5-5 method for the Instant Pot is the same as the one for boiling eggs. It refers to cooking eggs at high pressure for 5 minutes, letting the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes, and then placing the eggs in an ice bath for 5 minutes to cool and stop the cooking process.
💕 Related
Looking for other homemade basics recipes? Try these:
🍶 Pairing
This recipe is perfect for anything that uses hard-boiled eggs:
Recipe
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Hardboiled Eggs
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Steamer basket optional, can use provided trivet as well
Ingredients
- 1 egg but use as many eggs that fit on your trivet in a single row
Instructions
- Place a trivet or steamer basket inside the Instant Pot.
- Pour in 1 cup of water.
- Arrange the eggs in a single layer on the trivet.
- Secure the lid and set the valve to "Sealing."
- Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" and set the time to 5 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking cycle ends, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath and let them sit for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process.
- Peel and enjoy!
Notes
- Place a trivet or steamer basket inside the Instant Pot.
- Pour in 1 cup of water.
- Arrange the eggs in a single layer on the trivet.
- Secure the lid and set the valve to "Sealing."
- Select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" and set the time to 5 minutes on high pressure.
- Once the cooking cycle ends, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath and let them sit for 5 minutes to stop the cooking process.
- Peel and enjoy!
The only way I've made hard boiled eggs for years!