These easy-peel Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs are going to be your new favorite. Once you try the 5-5-5 method to steam eggs in your Instant Pot, you’ll never cook them any other way. Eggs are boiled to perfection every single time!
Who doesn’t love eggs for breakfast? I am a big fan of eggs for breakfast and have been excited about the option of making perfect hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot. It’s quick and straightforward, and they come out perfect every time, with the added advantage of being super easy to peel.
In the past, I used to boil eggs on the stove, which was a big hassle – boiling water, adding the eggs, and then timing it just right. I would mess up many times, and they would either come out overcooked or undercooked. Then they were hard to peel, sometimes losing a portion of the egg trying to get the peel off!
But with these instant pot boiled eggs, they are super easy to peel. They are steamed, which is probably what makes the difference.
2025 Update: I’ve been using this method to boil eggs for 8 years now. This was the 7th recipe I published on this blog, and now there are over 600. I can tell you with confidence, this is still the best way I use to boil eggs—no hassle, no monitoring, and always the easiest to peel.
If you’re a beginner with the Instant Pot, try this recipe. You will love these eggs!
Try them in my avocado egg salad, guacamole deviled eggs, or egg biryani.
Table of Contents
Watch How to Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
What is the 5-5-5 method for Instant Pot Eggs?
The 5-5-5 method is an excellent technique for cooking perfect hard-boiled eggs in a pressure cooker.
- 5 minutes – Pressure cook time
- 5 minutes – Release pressure 5 minutes after the beep (also called 5-minute NPR).
- 5 minutes – Water bath.
With these 3 easy steps, you’ll be guaranteed to get perfectly cooked, easy-peel steamed eggs each time.
How to cook Instant Pot Boiled Eggs?
Let’s go through the detailed steps for cooking eggs in a pressure cooker.
Start by pouring a cup of cold water into the Instant Pot steel insert. Now, place the steamer rack or trivet.
Arrange the eggs on the trivet. It’s okay to stack the eggs, even if they touch each other. However, you don’t want the eggs to touch the base of the Instant Pot’s steel insert.
You can easily stack up a dozen eggs in the 6-qt Instant Pot. The cooking time does not change whether you cook 2 or 12 eggs.
Now close the lid with the vent in the sealing position.
Cook: Set the instant pot to pressure cook (or Manual) on high pressure for 5 minutes.
After the Instant Pot beeps, we perform a 5-minute natural pressure release, which means waiting 5 minutes and then quick releasing the pressure. You can use an external timer to get a beep so you don’t forget to get the eggs out in time. The Instant Pot will also show 5 minutes if you’re keeping an eye on the pot.
Ice bath: Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath so they don’t continue cooking from residual heat. Use tongs, as the eggs are super hot at this time.
Peel: This is the best part. Peeling eggs steamed in the Instant Pot is so easy and just a breeze. Just this will make your Instant Pot feel all worth it!
Give the boiled egg on the counter a gentle tap to crack the shell. Then, use your fingers to peel off the shell from all sides.
Enjoy: Cut in half and see that the yolk is perfectly cooked. Enjoy with salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning as a snack, or use them in a recipe.
Or use these eggs to make Instant Pot Deviled Eggs….so good!
Note that I used my 6-qt Instant Pot to cook these eggs. Cooking times can vary depending on the size or brand of pressure cooker, as well as altitude.
You can peel the eggs and store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Tips for Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
This is a super-easy recipe, but here are some tips to help you get perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs every time!
- You can use as few as 1 egg and up to 12 eggs in a 6-quart pressure cooker. The cooking time does not change.
- Don’t forget to add water to the steel insert before pressure cooking. Make sure to use cold tap water; using warm or hot water can change the cooking time.
- An external timer may be helpful if you want to remove the eggs in time after 5 minutes of natural release.
- Note that results can vary if you are cooking at a higher elevation. They can also vary depending on whether the eggs are fresh or old. You want to test this method and then vary it slightly based on the results as needed.
- If you prefer soft-boiled eggs, try the 3-3-3 method.
Recipes With Hard-Boiled Eggs
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs (5-5-5 Method)
Video
Instructions
- Start by pouring a cup of water into the Instant Pot steel insert. Now, place the steamer rack or trivet.
- Arrange the eggs on the trivet. It is okay to stack the eggs even if they are touching each other. However you don’t want the eggs touching the base of the instant pot steel insert.
- Close the lid with vent in sealing position. Set the instant pot to pressure cook (or Manual) on high pressure for 5 minutes.
- After the instant pot beeps, wait for 5 minutes, then quick release the pressure.
- Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice bath so they don’t continue cooking with the residual heat. Use tongs as the eggs are super hot at this time.
- Peel the steamed eggs. They will peel very easily. Give a gentle tap to the boiled egg on the counter to break the shell. Then with your fingers peel off the shell from all sides.
- Enjoy the boiled eggs. Optionally, sprinkle some salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- You can use as few as 1 egg and up to 12 eggs in a 6-quart pressure cooker. The cooking time does not change whether you cook 2 eggs or 12 eggs.
- Don’t forget to add water to the steel insert before pressure cooking. Make sure to use cold, warm, or hot water, as it can affect the cooking time.
- An external timer may be helpful if you want to remove the eggs in time after 5 minutes of natural release.
- Note that results can vary if you are cooking at a higher elevation. They can also vary depending on whether the eggs are fresh or older. You want to test this method and then vary it slightly based on the results as needed.
- If you prefer soft-boiled eggs, try the 3-3-3 method.
Thank you for the recipe, is it 5 minutes even if it is for 21 eggs?
Hi Fany – The same time and method would work for any number of eggs.
Looking fwd to receiving recipes.
I find that if I’m using smaller eggs (large seems to mean size determined by seller!) I need to cut back the cook time OR the wait time 10-12 seconds to avoid green/grayish edge of yolk color.
Hi MaryBeth – Thanks for sharing. It will be useful for other readers!
Is there an alternative for the steamer rack or trivet?
Hi Suraj – I have not tried, but do think that you can try to boil the eggs without a trivet in the instant pot. I would suggest to try with a few eggs at first (2-4) and see if it works out.
Please confirm if I need to take the eggs out of the fridge to get to room temperature? And for how long? Thanks!
MJ
Hi – No, eggs need not be at room temperature. I usually just take them out of the refrigerator and put in the instant pot to boil.
For soft boil eggs you mentioned 3-3-3. What does that mean?
Regarding building the eggs do you mean 5 minutes from when you put them in or 5 mins from when it has reach temp as mt pressure cooker takes about 10min to get to temp
Hi Rachel – It is 5 minutes of pressure cook time, which is the time that you set on the instant pot. As you mentioned, the instant pot will take time to get to pressure and then start the timer to count down. Then 5 minutes of pressure release, and the 5 minutes in the water-bath.