Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs

Make perfectly hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot every time with the easiest method. They are quick and convenient to prepare, and so easy to peel.

After I bought my first Instant Pot a couple of years ago, one of the first things I attempted to make were hard-boiled eggs. I was thrilled with how fail-proof and reliable this method for cooking eggs was and knew I’d never go back to cooking them on the stovetop again.

The 5-5-5 method

To cook perfect hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot every single time, use this 5-5-5 method:

• First, cook eggs for 5 minutes (on low pressure, preferably)
• Second, naturally release pressure for 5 minutes before quick-releasing any remaining pressure.
• Finally, submerge eggs in ice bath for 5 minutes to prevent the eggs from cooking further

Therefore, if it takes about 10 minutes for your Instant Pot to come to pressure, you’ll have perfectly hard-boiled eggs in about 25 minutes.

What you'll need

You only need to get started, in addition to your Instant Pot:

1. Eggs: It's okay to stack them up so you can cook as many as will fit in your pressure cooker. I usually cook 6-12 at a time.
2. Insert or steamer basket: You'll need to stack your eggs on either the insert that comes with your Instant Pot or a steamer basket. I just use the insert.
3. Water: Use 1 cup to fill the bottom of the Instant Pot
4. Ice cath: tT stop the cooking process. An ice bath is made by filling a large bowl with ice and water. I usually prep the ice bath a few minutes before they are done cooking.

How to cook hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot

1. Prepare the ingredients: Pour 1 cup of water into the insert of the Instant Pot before placing the trivet inside the insert. Then, carefully place the eggs onto the trivet.

2. Pressure cook and prepare ice bath: Cook on Low Pressure for 5 minutes. While your eggs are cooking, start preparing an ice bath.

Pro tip: Use low pressure if you find that your eggs keep cracking.

3. Wait for 5 minutes: Once they are done cooking, let the pressure naturally release for 5 minutes (thus, do nothing). Quick-release any remaining pressure. Carefully transfer the eggs into an ice bath large enough to fit the eggs.

4. Submerge in an ice bath: Submerge for 5 minutes after removing them from the Instant Pot.

5. Peel the eggs: Peel each egg either by rolling on a flat surface (the peel will come right off) or gently removing with your fingers. Enjoy or store for later.

Storing for later

Store the peeled eggs in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 7 days, either with the shell on or peeled.

Note: Discard hard-boiled eggs if they’ve been sitting out on the counter for more than two hours.

Frequently asked questions

How do you peel hard-boiled eggs? Peeling eggs cooked in the Instant Pot are even easier to peel. Simply start by rolling each egg on a flat surface, such as your kitchen counter, to crack the shell. You'll notice that the peel will come right off.

Do I need to use a trivet to make hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot? It's recommended to use a trivet to prevent the eggs from bouncing around in the water (and as a result, cracking) while they are cooking.

How long do hard-boiled eggs last? They can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days in a sealed container. 

Can you freeze hard-boiled eggs? It’s not recommended to freeze hard-boiled eggs as the egg white portion will become rubbery when thawed. However, you can separate the egg yolks and freeze for up to 3 months in a sealed freezer-safe container.

What size Instant Pot did you use? I’ve tested this recipe on both my Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results. However, you may need to tweak how long you cook the eggs based on preference, the size, model, and brand of your pressure cooker.

Note: If you’d prefer a softer yolk, cook for 4 minutes at low pressure. While they will be creamier, they will still be hard-boiled. 

Serving suggestions

Prepared hard-boiled eggs can be used in many ways and make a tasty addition to toasts, salads, appetizers, and side dishes. The following are a few ways to enjoy them:

• Slice and top them on your avocado toast.
• Enjoy them alone as a convenient on-the-go snack.
• Slice them in half and sprinkle with salt and pepper or even a little hot sauce.
• Use to make an egg sandwich.
• Slice and add to a delicious salad.
• Slice them up and add them to a bowl.
• Use them to make deviled eggs.

Other easy breakfast recipes

If you're looking for more breakfast options, check out the following recipes:

• Overnight Oats Recipe
• Blueberry Granola Yogurt Bowl
• Avocado Toast - 4 Ways
• Overnight Steel Cut Oats
• Sweet Potato Pancakes

More Instant Pot recipes

• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Beets and Carrots
• How to Cook Perfect Quinoa in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
• Instant Pot Chickpeas

Did you make these Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let us know how it turned out. Be sure to tag me on Real + Vibrant’s Instagram to show me your hard-boiled eggs.