Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs 5-5-5 Method
This post shows how to make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs by using the 5-5-5 method. Make a great, high protein breakfast/snack – and they're easy to peel!
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Introduction
This is a follow up to one of my popular recipe posts from a couple of years ago. I shared how I make no-fail Instant Pot rice and it has become a really popular tutorial. There are so many basic recipes I make in the Instant Pot all the time – I thought I'd share another one with you guys today.
The Instant Pot makes cooking hard boiled eggs so easy! Once you make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs, you'll never go back. This method is 10 times easier than trying to make them on the stove. As long as you follow this method, you'll perfectly hard boil your eggs and make them easy to peel each and every time. These are great to make in a big batch every few days for a quick, high-protein snack or breakfast.
Supplies Needed
The only real accessory (besides an Instant Pot, obviously; mine is a 6 quart Instant Pot) that you might not have for this tutorial is a silicone trivet. This is not a super expensive accessory, but is really great to have to boil eggs in an Instant Pot. You can use the metal rack that comes with most models, but it usually results in more burned edges and cracks in shells. The silicone is a little softer on the shells and allow better distribution of heat. (This is a similar model, for some reason I can't find the exact one I have; but this is almost identical.) If you have a silicone steamer basket, that works as well!
How to Make Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Step 1: Prep Instant Pot
Fill the bottom of your pressure cooker's inner pot with one cup water. Over the cup of water, place the silicone trivet. Gently place fresh eggs in the holes of the trivet. You can cook anywhere from 2 to a dozen eggs – just carefully stack if needed. Size of eggs doesn't matter; these are large eggs, but anywhere from medium eggs to extra-large eggs work.
Step 2: The 5-5-5 Method
The method I use to make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs is the 5-5-5 method. This is an clever name to remember the method's steps – 5 minutes of pressure cooking, 5 minutes of natural pressure release, and 5 minutes of soaking in ice water.
Once your water, trivet, and eggs (anywhere from 6-12) are in the Instant Pot, lock on the lid to sealing and set your cooking time by pressing the manual button (aka high pressure) and setting for 5 minutes.
Allow that cook cycle to run, letting the pressure natural release for 5 minutes before a quick release of the remaining pressure (simply turn the valve to venting to quick release).
Step 3: Cooling Your Boiled Eggs
Once the timer is over and pressure is released, carefully (tongs recommended) remove eggs from the trivet. Place eggs in a bowl of ice water for at least 5 minutes. The cold water will stop the cooking and loosen up the shells.
If the shells break in transit from the cooker to the ice bath, not a big deal. The egg should be cooked enough to stay intact. That being said, be gentle when transferring!
Step 4: Peeling
After soaking for at least 5 minutes in an ice water bath, gently roll the egg on a hard surface to break the shell slightly.
The trick to getting these eggs to peel easily is to get underneath a membrane that holds the shell onto the egg. The ice bath helps this membrane separate from the cooked egg white. Once you break the egg, use your finger to pry under this membrane. If you can do this, the shell should come off very easily (usually in one or two pieces, even with all of those breaks). You'll have peeled eggs in no time!
The 5-5-5 method is such an easy way to make boiled eggs in an Instant Pot. If you're looking to keep a low-sodium, high-protein snack in the fridge, this is such an easy way. These are also great for egg salad, deviled eggs, or easy meal prep for the week.
And for those who are concerned about the dreaded green yolk, this method is a great way to prevent that! Yolks almost always come out perfectly cooked (just make sure you don't go over the time; overcooking them can make them a little discolored).
Video
5-5-5 Method FAQs
Hope you guys enjoy your Instant Pot hard boiled eggs! See some of my other popular Instant Pot posts below:
