Here’s the secret to making perfect Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs. This method is fast and easy, and the eggs peel so much more smoothly! Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs come out perfectly cooked every time.
We currently have next to no cabinet space in our farmhouse kitchen. We plan to change that soon in our upcoming kitchen restoration, but for now, the cabinets are filled to the brim.
At first, it was hard to justify an electric pressure cooker. They are bulky, require an outlet, and they aren’t pretty enough to sit out on the counter every day.
Will I even use it all that much? Turns out …yes.
I love my Instant Pot for making bone broth, yogurt, and whole chickens, among other things. I’m not sure why it took so long for me to get some whole chickens in there because now that I’ve tried it, I’m sold.
So while I do put my Instant Pot away between uses, I still find myself dragging it back out of the pantry daily. It’s become a staple!
One of my favorite reasons to drag it out of the pantry is to pressure cook a batch of easy-peel hard-boiled eggs.
If you’ve ever tried to hard-boil eggs the traditional stovetop way, you know the cratered and messy half-egg you often end up with.
Farm Fresh Eggs
For some reason, farm-fresh eggs just seem to be more difficult to peel. And the fresher they are, the more difficult the peeling.
In the spring, eggs are in abundance, but you still hate to waste most of the white when it sticks to the shells.
Side note: We’ve recently picked up a few dozen eggs from a local farmer since our chickens aren’t quite laying yet.
This is the same farm we get our milk, butter, and cream from. If you are looking to switch to more locally sourced food, make sure to check out this post on Tips For Buying Local Food.
So while I have had success with the stovetop method many times, I’ve also simply found the results to be pretty inconsistent.
I’ve had overcooked eggs, runny yolks with watery egg whites, or even jammy yolks, all at the same cooking time, which can be so frustrating. I’ve wasted some eggs this way, which is always a shame.
And you know how easy it is for the time to get away from you with eggs on the stove? A few minutes more and you’re stuck with a powdery egg yolk and an eery green ring. By the way, the green rings are safe to eat but are an indicator that you’ve successfully cooked the eggs to death. (source)
That said, I’ve had the very best results with our Instant Pot. So much so, that I’m going to be pressure cooking a batch of these easy-peel eggs a couple of times per week.
They have so many uses! They are the perfect eggs for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Main dish or side dish. Guilt-free morning or midnight snack.
Why We Love Hard-Boiled Eggs
Healthy: They are the perfect healthy snack—packed with protein, healthy fats and cholesterol, vitamin A, and so much more. They are delicious, easy to dress up, and good for you. What’s not to love about this farm staple?
Uncomplicated: I love how simple this method is. It’s hands-off and not time-consuming. Rather, from pressurizing to cooking to quick release and ice bath, I have the perfect amount of time to set the table, slice, toast, and butter the sourdough English muffins, and prepare some fresh fruit.
It’s the best quick breakfast! Clean-up is a breeze, too. The water goes down the drain and the shells go to the chickens. Dry off your pressure cooker and it’s ready for next time.
Great for Meal Prep: For those who meal prep, Instant Pot eggs are the way to go. It’s the easiest method for preparing a whole lot of nutritious meals or snacks in one move.
Eggs are inexpensive and a great snack. I love to have them on hand to eat on their own, sliced up in a salad, or chopped up and mixed with my homemade avocado mayo, pickles, and fresh dill for egg salad sandwiches.
This forward-thinking has kept us from spending $60 at a restaurant and eating a bunch of junk. With five kids, eating out costs a fortune wherever you go.
Deviled Eggs: One of my favorite uses for hard-boiled eggs is to make deviled eggs. The yolks are blended with mayo, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and seasonings into a creamy filling that you pipe into the egg whites.
Every single time I make them, I wonder why I don’t make them more. The kids simply devour them! While this is typically a holiday recipe – Easter, Christmas, etc – it’s also a healthy and easy everyday side.
Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips For Making Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- You will need to use the IP trivet or a stainless steamer basket to make this recipe. You don’t want the eggs sitting right up against the stainless insert.
- If you are new to using the Instant Pot, check out my how-to guide here.
- You need at least one cup of water. The IP will not come to pressure without enough water.
- Depending on your specific model, the pressure cook button may be labeled as the manual button.
- Use cold water, as warm or hot water can alter the cook time significantly.
- Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs to the water bath.
Find More Egg Recipes:
- How To Freeze Dry Eggs
- Water Glassing Eggs
- Perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs Recipe
- Over Hard Eggs
- Chicken Frittata Recipe with Spinach
Ingredients:
Eggs – Up to 14 eggs in the 6-quart Instant Pot
Water – 1 cup of cold water
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs in the Instant Pot Instructions
Place the steamer rack trivet that came with your Instant Pot in the bottom of the stainless steel pot.
Add as many eggs as you want. I have tried up to 14, but I’m sure you could do more! Just be careful not to crack them.
Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot.
Using the pressure cook setting, set it to high pressure for 5 minutes.
After the cooking cycle has ended, do a quick pressure release.
Run the eggs under cool water or pop them into a cold water bath for a few minutes. We want to stop the cooking process.
Peel and enjoy!
FAQ
Peeled or unpeeled hard-boiled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Keep them in an airtight container. Keep in mind that reheating can cause them to become rubbery.
Boiled eggs do not do well in the freezer.
You can eat these as a snack or as part of a main dish.
Slice them up and put them in a salad topped with one of our favorite homemade salad dressings. You could also serve with some delicious soup.
Create a snack lunch with fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and crackers.
Chop them up and make an egg salad sandwich.
Include them for breakfast in a breakfast burrito, or beside a bowl of oatmeal.
You can put as few as one or two eggs, but I’ve had success with up to 14 eggs in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
I have used eggs at room temperature, as well as refrigerated, and have not noticed a difference. This works out well for those using farm-fresh eggs that are kept on the counter. Simply wash them well before cooking.
Boiled eggs are a low-calorie, protein-rich food that helps keep you feeling full. They contain healthy fats and are a source of good cholesterol, while also offering vitamins A and B12, minerals like iron and zinc, and much more. They are also versatile and enjoyed many different ways.
My other Instant Pot Recipes:
- How to Make a Roast in the Instant Pot
- How to Make Yogurt in the Instant Pot
- Applesauce in the Instant Pot + a Free Printable Label
- Homemade Bone Broth in the Instant Pot
- How to Make a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back and giving it 5 stars. Thank you!
How To Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 eggs , up to 14 eggs
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Place the steamer rack trivet that came with your Instant Pot in the bottom of the stainless steel pot.
- Add as many eggs as you want. I have tried up to 14, but I’m sure you could do more!
- Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot.
- Set it to high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Release the pressure.
- Run under cool water.
- Peel and Enjoy!
Notes
- You will need to use the IP trivet to make this recipe. You don’t want the eggs sitting right up against the stainless insert.
- If you are totally knew to using the Instant Pot, check out my how to guide here.
- You need at least 1 cup of water. The IP will not come to pressure without enough water.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I decided to try this method as I was wanting to make an egg salad sandwich, and reading the reviews there were some people having problems with this method. I only do 3 eggs, and not a whole bunch like Lisa mentioned. 3 eggs, exactly 8 ounces of cold water and my instant pot set for 5 minutes on high pressure. I did not pay attention to how long it took my IP to reach the pressure, but once it started the countdown from 5 I warched closely and allowed it to reach 00. That is the 5 minute mark, but I let it continue tp -01, which is actuallu the 6 minute mark. I hit cancel and the release swith. As soon as I was able, I took the lid off, took out the eggs and plunged them in cold water. When I decided to peel them, it worked perfectly…..exactly like Lisa told us. Good Job, Lisa. If this works the same for a dozen eggs…..GREAT. and yes, these are Farm Fresh eggs that I purchase from a local farmer.j
It was much easier- but not effective.
My eggs were laid yesterday. Maybe that was the issue. Not only were 3 of the 6 so mutilated we just tossed them back to the chickens, the yolks were also runny/gummy.
I’m going to set aside today’s eggs and try again in a week and either add time or allow it to slow release to top off the cooking.
I would never have tried this and I really thought it would not work. But it did, brilliantly!! And the eggs were so easy to peel. So big thanks, you’ve saved me a bunch of time.
While my eggs turned out great, I did notice that the shell by the air pocket end was a bit burned. Has this ever happened to you?
I’ve not had that happen, but you can reduce your cook time if that is the case.
Making potato salad for Easter. Need a dozen hard boiled eggs. Will give this a try. My goodness your picture of all those colorful egg was gorgeous.
Good to know. Making potato salad for Easter and need a dozen hard boiled eggs. I LOVE MY INSTANT POT. I use mine a lot of beans.
I’m going to try this. Thank you. You can also steam eggs in a steamer for 15 minutes and they will be easy to peel. That’s what I’ve been doing, but this seems even easier.
I have been doing this with my Instant pot since I got it. Always had to let eggs sit in the fridge for a week or a little over before making hard boiled eggs to get the shells off. NO MORE! It’s magic! I would not be without my Instant Pot. LOVE this appliance. Use it for so much more. Farm fresh eggs really DO come out easy to peel done this way! 🙂
This was a complete failure!! I put in a dozen eggs with a cup of water on high pressure for 5 minutes followed by a quick release and then a cold water bath. The eggs peeled horribly and they were not cooked through…partially raw inside. Very disappointed!!