Instant Pot boiled eggs are incredibly easy to prepare and yield consistent, delicious results. While technically cooked under pressure rather than boiled in water, the texture is comparable to traditional boiled eggs. Whether you prefer hard-cooked eggs or soft, runny yolks, an electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot makes reliable eggs that peel easily.
Instant Pot hard-cooked eggs are convenient—just load the pot, press a button, and wait!
Originally published on Dec 27, 2017
Instant Pot Boiled Eggs
Many methods exist for making eggs in an Instant Pot, and home cooks often have strong preferences. Below are practical approaches that consistently deliver great results for both hard and soft cooked eggs.
It’s All About the Timing
A popular timing approach is the “5-5-5” method: 5 minutes pressure cook, 5 minutes natural pressure release, and a 5-minute ice water bath. This method is a reliable starting point, but results can vary based on elevation and egg freshness.
Altitude affects cooking time, and egg age can change how the yolk and white set. The goal is to avoid a gray-green ring around the yolk and produce a bright yellow center for hard-cooked eggs.
First Timers: Run a Test
- Test with just two eggs before making a large batch. Add 1 cup water to a 6-quart pot (2 cups for an 8-quart), place the trivet or rack inside, and set the eggs on the rack.
- Follow the timing you want to try. When finished, peel and cut the eggs to check doneness.
- Adjust the cook time by a minute or so depending on whether the eggs were under- or over-cooked.
Different cooks report success with various timing combinations—5-5-5, 2-8-5, 4-4-4, 6-6-6, and more. Use a short test to determine what works best for your equipment and eggs.
High Altitude Cooking
If you live at higher elevation, increase cook time slightly. A useful guideline is to add roughly 5% more cook time for every 1,000 feet above 2,000 feet. So at 3,000′ add 5%, at 4,000′ add 10%, and at 5,000′ add 15%. Start with the standard timing and adjust from your test run.
That Green Ring
The common gray-green ring around yolks indicates slight overcooking or a reaction between iron and sulfur when eggs are held at high heat too long. It doesn’t affect flavor much, but adjusting cook time and promptly cooling eggs in an ice bath helps prevent it. Egg age can also influence the likelihood of a ring.
Soft Cooked Eggs
To make soft cooked eggs in the Instant Pot, try a short pressure cook—2 minutes is a common starting point—followed by a quick pressure release and a brief ice bath to make handling easier. The result is a mostly runny yolk with a slightly set outer rim, similar to a poached egg, though peeling can be trickier.
Poached Eggs in the Instant Pot
A simple alternative is to crack eggs into small silicone cups or oven-safe dishes, set them on the rack above 1 cup water (2 cups for 8-quart), and pressure cook for about 2 minutes with a quick release. These cups help keep the eggs contained and produce nicely soft whites and runny yolks—run a test to fine-tune timing.
Because some silicone molds have rounded bottoms, using jar rings or a small stabilizer can prevent tipping.
The Egg Loaf for Bulk Use
If you need chopped hard-cooked eggs for egg salad or potato salad, try the “egg loaf” method:
- Crack multiple eggs into an oven-safe dish that fits inside your pressure cooker and place it on the trivet with water beneath it.
- Cook for about 6 minutes on high pressure, then allow a natural release for roughly 10 minutes. The result is a firm, sliceable egg loaf that you can chop—no peeling required.
This guide covers many ways to cook eggs in an Instant Pot. With a quick test to dial in timing for your altitude and equipment, you’ll consistently get the results you want—perfectly set yolks for hard eggs or silky, soft yolks for breakfast favorites.
Instant Pot Boiled Eggs
Equipment
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Electric pressure cooker
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Trivet or rack, or a stainless/silicone basket
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Tongs for removing hot eggs
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Large bowl for ice water bath
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups Waterfor the pressure cooker (use 2 cups for the 8-quart)
- 1 or more Eggs
- Large bowl with ice and waterfor the ice bath
Instructions
5-5-5 Method
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Add 1 to 2 cups of water to the pot (1 cup for 6-quart, 2 cups for 8-quart) and set the trivet or rack in the pot.
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Place the eggs on the rack. Stacking is fine if you are cooking several at once.
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Secure the lid and set the steam release to Sealing.
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Select Pressure Cook (or Manual) on High and set the time to 5 minutes.
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When cooking finishes, let the pot naturally release for 5 minutes, then quick-release remaining pressure by turning the steam release to Venting.
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Once the pressure pin drops, remove eggs immediately with tongs and transfer to the ice water bath for at least 5 minutes before peeling.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Resources to Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
This post references helpful tools and equipment you might use when making Instant Pot eggs.