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Instant Pot Boiled Eggs are very easy to make and come out so well! They are technically not boiled, but the outcome is similar. From hard cooked to very soft, you can get eggcellent results (haha) from cooking eggs in your pressure cooker, and Instant Pot hard boiled eggs peel easily!
Instant Pot Hard Cooked Eggs are so easy to make. I like the ease of loading up the pot and pressing a button!
Originally published on Dec 27, 2017
Instant Pot Boiled Eggs
The first thing to know about making Instant Pot eggs is that you can ask a group of people what the best method is, and you will undoubtedly get several different answers.
Today I’m going to share with you my favorite ways to make eggs in the Instant Pot. Hard boiled and even soft boiled.
It’s All About the Timing
If you have ever read that someone made their hard boiled eggs using the 5-5-5 method, they are referring to the timing: 5 minute cook time, 5 minutes Natural Release, 5 minute ice water bath.
This results can vary because you might be cooking in a higher elevation, which affects cook time, or the eggs you are using might be fresh, or older.
The ultimate goal is to have nicely cooked eggs without the greenish colored ring around the outside of the yolk. Just a nice, pretty yellow.
First Timers Do a Test
- Some people get different results using this method, so I suggest do a test first, before cooking a large batch of boiled eggs.
- Take 2 eggs, put 1 cup of water in the pot (or 2 cups if you have the 8 qt), then the trivet/metal rack that came with the pot, and set the eggs on it.
- Then follow the directions in the recipe. When done, peel and cut open the eggs and see what your results are.
- You may need to add or subtract a minute of cook time, depending on your results.
I have seen people get great results with the 5-5-5 method, and some people get over or under cooked eggs with that method.
Some people use the 2-8-5, and get better results than the 5-5-5. Some people use 4-4-4, or 6-6-6. I have even heard of people using a 8-0-5 method. That’s why you will need to test and see what you end up with. Sorry it’s so confusing!
High Altitude Cooking
I am right at sea level and 5-5-5 is what I use. If you are at a higher elevation, you may need to add to your cooking time. But do a test using this timing first to see where your baseline is.
The general rule of thumb is 5% more cook time for every 1000 feet over 2000 feet above sea level you are at. So you would start adding 5% at 3000′, 10% at 4000′, 15% at 5000′, and so on.
That Green Ring
I have made many hard boiled eggs using this pressure cooking method, and my results have varied. Sometimes I do get the green ring, and though it doesn’t taste any different to me than without the green ring, it makes me wonder what caused it.
Usually it’s because it was cooked too long, but I think the age of the egg has something to do with it, too.
How About Soft Cooked Eggs?
Maybe you want soft cooked eggs. You can also make those in your pressure cooker. The eggs in the photo above were cooked for 2 minutes, the pressure Quick Released, and then just 2 minutes in an ice water bath so I could handle them without burning my fingers.
The outside of the yolk was just a little firm, but most of the yolk came out soft, like a poached egg. It was hard to get them out of their shells though.
Poached Instant Pot Eggs
A great alternative is to crack the eggs into small silicone cups or oven safe dishes and put them on the rack with 1 cup of water (or 2 cups if you have the 8 qt) in the bottom of the pot.
Cook for the 2 minutes and do a quick release. You should have nicely soft cooked eggs (do a test run on these, too, so you get the results dialed in)!
The bottoms of these cups are rounded, so I use mason jar lid rings to keep them from tipping over.
And if you haven’t had enough egg talk, here’s another way to make Instant Pot Boiled Eggs…
The Egg Loaf
- If you are making egg salad, potato salad, or need some bulk chopped hard cooked eggs, try this:
- Crack the eggs into an oven-safe dish that is safe for the pressure cooker, and put the dish on the rack/trivet with water in the pot under it.
- Set the time to 6 minutes, and then let it naturally release pressure about 10 minutes or so. You will have an “Egg Loaf” result that you can chop up and use in your recipe! NO PEELING NEEDED!
Easy Instant Pot Potato Salad
Instant Pot Southwest Biscuit Egg Bake
Instant Pot Egg Loaf
Instant Pot Egg Bites
This is a lot of information about cooking eggs in the Instant Pot. I hope you have found it helpful!
Instant Pot Boiled Eggs
Equipment
- Trivet / Rack to set eggs on, or Basket (stainless or silicone)
- Tongs to get hot eggs out of the pressure cooker
- Bowl for Ice Water Bath
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups Water, for the pressure cooker (use 2 cups for the 8 quart pressure cooker)
- 1 or more Eggs
- Large bowl filled with ice cubes and water, for the ice bath
Instructions
5-5-5 Method
- Add 1 to 2 cups of water to the pot (1 cup for 6-quart, 2 cups for 8-quart), and set the trivet/rack in the pot.
- Place the eggs on the rack. It is okay to stack the eggs on top of each other if you have several.
- Place the lid on the pressure cooker and lock in place. Turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button or dial. Then the +/- button or dial to choose 5 minutes. High Pressure.
- After the cook time has ended, let the pot sit undisturbed and Naturally Release pressure for 5 minutes. Then manually release remaining pressure by turning the steam release knob to the Venting position.
- After the pin in the lid drops down, immediately remove eggs to the bowl of ice water, using tongs. Let them sit in the water for at least 5 minutes before removing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Resources to Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
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5x5x5 works awesomely. I usually cook about 8 at a time even though I could do more. Extra bonus are the shells just peel off so much easier.
Not to mention how much easier they peel! Thanks
5-5-5 always came out more cooked than I like, so I finally settled on 3-0-5. The yolks are still solid but not as dry. We do about 18 at a time most weeks!
I have an 8 qt instant pot. How many eggs do you think I can cook at once? I do not have the egg holders. Are you able to stack them up with it? Easter egg coloring soon!!
Use the rack in the bottom of the pot. Then just stack in as many eggs as will fit without going past the max fill line, so they don’t block the vent in the lid.
Doi you leave on the “keep warn” function for this? So that it kicks on while the pressure is natrually releasing? Or did you have it turned off prior to cooking? I’m new to instant pot and can’t find anywhere if people leave this function on or not. Thank you!
You can do either. I leave it on so I have the time count. The keep warm won’t actually kick in until the pot gets below 140°.
have a mini lux never used so glad I’ve found your recipes. Now I can start using cooking for one is hard but now quick mini pot will be great. signed up for your inbox recipes. Thank you so much. Have a blessed day
I’m so glad, Deborah! Enjoy!
Thanks for your recipe/guidelines. I just cooked eggs in my 3qt and they came out perfect at 2-10-5. Next time I’ll pay more attention to the rest time and get there in 8.
I just received an instant pot for fathers day, was looking for something easy to test it out, Thank you for your write up and suggestions on eggs, I ended up using the egg setting on the 3 quart pot I was gifted, the high was set to 6 minutes, I am at 4000 ft so I did 6-5-5. I did get the tiniest of green ring but was very pleased that my first excursion was a success!
Thanks again for your suggestions, it eased my mind going in for this trial run.
Rob
Hi Rob! Happy belated Father’s Day to you! I’m pleased to know that your first eggs in the IP were successful! Another fun egg recipe is my Egg Loaf. I mention it in this post, and write about it here. Thank you for your review!
Hello, I bought an instant pot about 2 months ago and love using it. I have done much research pretty much about everything to do with them. One question I had was when would i cook at low vs high pressure.
One site said that 99% of the time you will cook at high pressure. The one thing you should be cooking at low pressure: hard boiled eggs. I cook my eggs on low pressure and use my own 7-0-15 stategy and they always come out delicious
Hi Lucas, I use high pressure most of the time, too. Here’s what I cook on low: pork tenderloin, asparagus, broccoli, and sometimes eggs. As for a rule of thumb, I would say that any food that could be overcooked very easily, and is delicate would benefit from low pressure cooking.
I have the 3 Quart instant pot are 2 eggs the most you can boil at a time?
I just pile them in on top of the trivet and fit as many as it will hold. Make sure you can get the lid on without blocking the vent.
Thanks, I just saw a You tube where they just put the eggs in without rack. You can then put in at least 8. I appreciated your response.