The Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs
By :Instant Brands Culinary Team
instant pot, instant pot recipes, instant pot eggs
This method is super simple. From fridge to cooker, you can make 1 to 12 eggs with the same recipe. We call it the 5-5-5 method.
instant pot, instant pot recipes, instant pot eggs
Votes: 72
Rating: 4.47
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Course Breakfast
Cuisine Modern
Difficulty Easy
Duration less than 15 min
Cooking Technique Pressure Cook
Main Ingredient Eggs
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
1 - 12 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1-12 large eggs
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Modern
Difficulty Easy
Duration less than 15 min
Cooking Technique Pressure Cook
Main Ingredient Eggs
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings
1 - 12 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1-12 large eggs
instant pot, instant pot recipes, instant pot eggs
Votes: 72
Rating: 4.47
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
Instructions
  1. Pour water into the inner pot and place in your Instant Pot.
  2. Place eggs in the inner pot on the included steam rack.
  3. Set steam release to the Sealing position.
  4. Select Pressure Cook or Manual, set to High pressure and adjust to 5 minutes.
  5. After cooking, let sit 5 minutes for Natural Release, then Quick Release.
  6. Let soak in ice water bath for 5 minutes for fast cooling and easy peeling.
119 replies
  1. swhitm
    swhitm says:

    I followed instructions and had beautiful eggs with the 5-5-5 method and i do not have an egg setting.

  2. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    You don’t need an egg setting to make perfect eggs.

    The egg setting is simply preprogrammed with times for soft, medium and hard boiled eggs.

  3. Samantha
    Samantha says:

    The Duo Plus mini instructions say that you have to have a minimum of 2 cups of liquid in the pot in order for it to work properly. The instructions above say to use 1 cup. If I increase the amount of water does the cooking time need to change as well?

  4. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi dfreeves,

    If you are using the app, use the Tabs on the bottom of the recipe screen to switch between ingredients, instructions and comments.

  5. classicanne
    classicanne says:

    Truly wonderful! I had just about given up on hard-boiled eggs before my IP, but now these turn out perfect and easy to peel every time! Yay!

  6. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi stranaghan,

    For delicate foods, typically the Keep Warm is turned off. This avoids overcooking.

  7. Deb Stevenson
    Deb Stevenson says:

    I used both fresh eggs and some that I had for a week or so. Fresh eggs do not have the air pocket at the end – much better for making deviled eggs!
    This recipe works great!

  8. Dave
    Dave says:

    Why did most of my eggs have cracked shells after following this recipe ? The eggs or over cooked ? I used the 2 rack holder from instant pot.

  9. 808kiddo
    808kiddo says:

    This recipe was very helpful, I finally made good & edible perfect boiled eggs. I dont eat eggs but family does, & when it comes to boiling them, the eggs are either under done or over done. This recipe was easy to follow & it was done quickly. Thanks a bunch!

  10. chebdon
    chebdon says:

    Very easy!!! I’ve been looking for a long time for an easy peel egg recipe that actually works ! Thank you!!!

  11. hell_on_wheels
    hell_on_wheels says:

    Not sure if my elevation has anything to do with it, but everything I have tried takes more time. The yolks weren’t quite done in the middle. Next time maybe 1 minute more cooking or should I let natural release extend for a couple more minutes?

  12. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Elevation is critical when pressure cooking. Anything over 2000 feet will need 5% increase to cooking time for every 1000 feet

  13. Nirby506
    Nirby506 says:

    I agree with jreeves the complete recipe and instructios should be all on one tab scrolling for each thing isnt normal

  14. PCM
    PCM says:

    The “Ingredients” tab says that 1 cup of water is sufficient for “1-12” eggs which is 1 serving (!). If you increase the number of servings to say, 12, it says you need to add 12 cups of water, or 3 quarts! That can’t be right otherwise the eggs would be submersed, right? So… how much water for 12 eggs?

  15. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi PCM,

    The recipe is god for 1 – 12 eggs without the need to increase the serving size. The water is only used to pressurize and steam, which does not need to be increased if the amount of food being cooked increases. There is no need to submerge the eggs like when you cook them on the stove.

  16. lynneheintz
    lynneheintz says:

    I have followed this recipe exactly and at least one of my eggs end up cracked every time. I use the trivet that came with the instant pot. What is going wrong?

  17. Humpty_Dumpty
    Humpty_Dumpty says:

    I followed your instructions eggsactly, and achieved eggcellent results! I wish to eggstend my gratitude to Instant Pot’s eggspert Staff for providing an eggsemplary recipe. And some of the replies? They cracked me up!

  18. Send22me@yahoo.com
    Send22me@yahoo.com says:

    Just got an aura instant pot so no pressure cooker selection. Is there a location for recipes?

  19. Christine Davis
    Christine Davis says:

    Wow…I am AMAZED! I have always struggled with hard boiled eggs, especially the peeling part, but these were SO EASY to peel! I was about halfway through the “Natural Release” stage, when I began to wonder if the “Keep Warm” function should be enabled. I read through the comments and decided eggs are “delicate,” so I pressed “Cancel,” to turn the Instant Pot off. I waited another 2-1/2 minutes, put them in the ice bath and had no issues. Not only were they easy to peel, the whites are tender, not rubbery, and the yolks are nice and yellow without any green tint! After not making hard boiled eggs for years, I am going to be making them every week! Thank you Instant Pot!

  20. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi Send22me,

    For our multi-cooker recipes, please search “multicooker” .

    The Instant Pot Aura is our Slow Multi-cooker which doesn’t have pressure cooking capabilities.

  21. Joan
    Joan says:

    Should steam be coming out of the vent continuously during steaming? The same thing happens when I make soups.

  22. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi Joan,

    The Instant Pot should make a complete seal. Check your sealing ring, as well as, your steam release.

  23. HOGFAN57
    HOGFAN57 says:

    OUR SECOND ATEMPT USING OUR NEW INSTANT POT WE FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS SET TIMER FOR 5 MINUTES,LET COOL 5 MINUTES,LET SOAK IN ICE BATH 5 MINUTES. DUO NOVA 60.
    PERFECT BOILED EGGS 5 EGGS WERE COOKED DELICIOUS.

  24. Instant Pot
    Instant Pot says:

    Hi Holli2400,

    We are sorry to hear that your hard boiled eggs didn’t turn out.
    There are a few reasons that could have caused this:
    The unit didn’t come to pressure.
    Release the pressure too soon.

    Regards,
    Chris Wrinn

  25. Neenleb
    Neenleb says:

    Hey ya’ll i made 4 hard boiled eggs using instant pot. If you factor in the time it takes to reach proper temp and then the time it needs to release all pressures, this is no quicker than boiling eggs the old fashion way. JUST SAYIN…

  26. Ezekiel Thomas
    Ezekiel Thomas says:

    OMG! I was skeptical, but they came out perfect! Peeled easily and a perfect yellow yolk—no gray like when I had made them on the stove! Yum!

  27. Peanutpat43
    Peanutpat43 says:

    My 12 eggs came out light brown. Did I cook them too long?? I am confused as to how to start them in the Instant pot.

  28. Evg
    Evg says:

    Followed the steps exactly for 10 eggs. Four of them burst open because whites are mega plump, distorted shape. Peeled one of the others relatively easily but the skin was light brown. Yolk was perfect. Definitely not faster than on the stove but you don’t have to be watching the boiling egg.

  29. Jeanne
    Jeanne says:

    I was so happy going to make hard boiled eggs followed it to the letter. IT DID NOT WORK I WILL STICK TO THE STOVE

  30. DesireeB718
    DesireeB718 says:

    Worked perfectly I did 12 eggs per the instructions I did tweak the time to 6 minutes however should have left at 5 minutes

  31. LadyDeye
    LadyDeye says:

    Followed recipe exactly. Way too done- tasted burnt. Did 6 eggs, 2 so far were slightly discolored. Will try 4 minutes instead of 5. Had a foolproof stovetop recipe after personally testing 10+ recipes, so I’m a tough convert! Never say never!

  32. Baz48
    Baz48 says:

    Perfect. Used 2 large cold eggs from the fridge and followed the time exactly in my 8 qt lux. 5-5-5 as they say. Done perfectly and a breeze to peel.

  33. Valeri Kaminski
    Valeri Kaminski says:

    Ugh. I did the 1 cup water and 6 eggs on the 5 5 5 method in my brand new duo. They were not hard boiled. Completely runny inside. I followed the instructions to a T. I’m disappointed and really don’t know what to do. I’d like to have some hard boiled eggs but the instructions didn’t work for me. Now what?

  34. Juliaraebradshaw
    Juliaraebradshaw says:

    Im confused the recipe says to use the manual setting, so what is the egg setting used for ?

  35. Smacioce
    Smacioce says:

    I used my 8qt Instant Duo Evo Plus for this recipe. 6 eggs 1 cup of water using 5 min at high 5 min natural lease and 5 min in ice bath. Eggs came out perfect and super easy to peel. If i could add a pic i would.

  36. KimberleyMaden
    KimberleyMaden says:

    I made this recipe just as it said, and perfect eggs. I did a ice bath and they peeled very easily I will use this recipe always.

  37. Dlevy64
    Dlevy64 says:

    I make eggs all the time. Takes at least 10 minutes high pressure on wifi model. Used to be 5 minutes on my old bluetooth model. Not the end of the world, but clearly this pot does not cook the way others think. Same problem with cabbage which always takes me longer as well.

  38. Knightriderlv
    Knightriderlv says:

    Using my instant pot, This is the perfect recipe. Followed it by the tee and the eggs came out perfect, even pealing the egg was so easy. This will be the way I make hard boiled eggs.

  39. GrannieAnnie47
    GrannieAnnie47 says:

    Tried my pot for the first time with these eggs. How do you know when they’re done? Heard steamfor awhile. Then saw burn something so i opened. Seem okay. In ice bath now

  40. Margieroc
    Margieroc says:

    I recieved my Instant Pot for Christmas and just made the eggs. They came out perfect. Will definitely do it this way again

  41. CarcyCav
    CarcyCav says:

    I must be cursed to never make the perfect hard boiled egg. I was so excited when I got my pot bc everyone said you cant mess up hard boiled eggs. Well guess what? I DID! They were only slightly hard boiled on The outer layer. All runny on the inside.

  42. MCabello
    MCabello says:

    This is frustrating. I got a duo nova for Christmas. I have it on pressure cook, high. It only allows me to set the time for 4 minutes. I have the vent up for seal like the book says, steam is coming out of the valve, then stops. I read that steam should not be released in seal mode. I am a terrible cook and need clear step by step directions! Ok it’s been 21 minutes and the timer says 03:44. I cancelled it and am releasing the steam. The machine is warm and the steam isn’t even hot. I’m SO disappointed.

  43. Dmiller.ksnow@gmail.com
    Dmiller.ksnow@gmail.com says:

    Timing is everything. Turn off the keep warm. When the valve clicks, i start a 10 minute timer. (5 to cook and 5 for natural release.) When it goes off, i vent the remaining pressure, and move the liner to the sink. I add cold water untill the liner is cool, dump the water, add ice cubes snd enough water top cover the eggs. Stir occasionally for 5 minutes then immediately peal. Shells come off so easily!

  44. Hank
    Hank says:

    Remember after pressure cooking for 5 minutes you must use Natural Release. Using Natural Release you must cancel heat or unplug pot. If pot goes into L (low heat), eggs will overcook! So, 5 minutes at pressure, 5 minutes no heat, then release any pressure left, little or none, then 5 minutes cool with cold or ice water, peel.

  45. Gregory Horwitz
    Gregory Horwitz says:

    Yes! Perfect hard boiled eggs everytime!

    The trick to peeling them is peel them as soon as you can. I used to put them in the refrigerator and peel them as I went. The problem with that is eggs dehydrate through the shell and that makes them difficult to peel.
    So I peel them as soon as I get them out of the ice water, put them in a Ziploc bag, and the egg shells in my compost bin.

  46. Resist
    Resist says:

    Not perfect hard boiled eggs, the yokes were not completely cooked! The 5 minute pressure cooking time is not enough.

  47. Terri
    Terri says:

    Well that was a waste of 8 eggs! I followed your recipe to the letter and they exploded in the pot. All but 2 and they were overcooked. Yes I did 5 minutes cooking, 5 minutes low/off, and 5 ..well they didn’t get to the ice bath because they exploded. Not happy

  48. Carole McOmie
    Carole McOmie says:

    I’ve use this recipe many times and I have not had any failures. Today i made some eggs turned out perfect, no green around the edges. I’ve past this along recipe to others and liked it. I don’t overload the basket and watch the time.

  49. Melissa
    Melissa says:

    I have used this method many times with excellent results until last night. The yolks were beautiful until I bit into one and it was like rubber. The hard bouncy rubber ball kind of rubber. All 18 eggs were exactly alike. Even tried to smash them with the food processor, nope, it was like little bb’s. So sad, but I’m not giving up.

  50. YaY4
    YaY4 says:

    Works like a charm. I had tryed 2 dozen and that resulted in a few cracked eggs, but nothing inedible. I am not sure what happened for the folks with exploding eggs and rubbery yolks. Make sure to use the rack and 1 cup water.

  51. Pat
    Pat says:

    IP DUO…time doesn’t work for jumbo eggs. After 3 or 4 tries I finally got cooked yolks and non-rubbery whites at 9 minutes cooking, 5 minutes resting and then releasing vent, then into ice bath for 5 minutes.

  52. Ray
    Ray says:

    I would like to reply to Instant Pot comment from May 23, 2019, regarding elevation. I live at 6400 feet. I used the 5 5 5 methods to hard boil two eggs. My first time. They both pealed and cooked perfectly. I did not add the 1.1 minutes to the cooking time to compensate for elevation.

  53. Mike McDonald
    Mike McDonald says:

    Checked the density altitude…4600 ft. Put one measured cup of water into 3 qt Instapot.
    Placed 8 eggs on trivet. Set instapot on stove and turned on burner… kidding.. just seeing if you’re paying attention..
    used 5 5 5 method and voila perfect eggs.
    I’ve kinda worn out the patience of all my friends trying to talk them into buy a Instapot. They’ll all thank me in the end 🙂

  54. Mary Komosinski
    Mary Komosinski says:

    I left my reply somewhere else sorry, but I have to add it here. I have an 8 qt. 5, 5, 5 gives me overcooked eggs. I have finally settled on 2, QR, Ice water for large eggs
    Jumbo eggs are 3, QR, Ice water. This is perfect for me so if 5-5-5 doesn’t work for you please don’t give up. You will find the perfect method for your Instantpot.

  55. Teresa Santos
    Teresa Santos says:

    I was skeptical…oh so happy! 5-5-5 worked perfectly. Easy to peel, no rubbery white and luscious, creamy yellow yolk ! Thank you Instant Pot.

  56. Sheilagh
    Sheilagh says:

    Hi, trying to follow your instructions for making the hard boiled eggs but my new Duo Nova does not allow 5 minutes, 4 minutes is the maximum it seems to have.

  57. Christi Lutgen
    Christi Lutgen says:

    I tried one egg the 555 method…turned out great…then I did 12 THE EXACT SAME WAY & they’re raw!! HOW COME??!!!!
    Now what..do I cook longer or pressure release longer?

  58. jarmas
    jarmas says:

    The timing is wrong. Too many reviews stating eggs were not cooked. That was my experience just now. NOTE: I’m using the smart wifi pot ☹️

  59. Mort in Oregon
    Mort in Oregon says:

    I live in High Altitude. I have boil my L or XL eggs 20 min to be totally set.
    How long in an Instapot then ?
    Thanks. Need to know this morning. 12/26/20 for late Christmas dinner today.

  60. Nicole297
    Nicole297 says:

    I jist git this for cheistmas and eecoded to makw aomwthing easy first… The eggs came out sooooo perfect I listened to the directions exactly!

  61. yuuann
    yuuann says:

    Wow! Today I cooked 10 eggs following this recipe and OMG it’s totally the BEST way ever! Incredibly, the final result ends so well and easy for everyone! Most important of all, those eggs can be peeled so clean and perfect! Thanks for sharing!

  62. Wendy
    Wendy says:

    I have just tried the eggs for the first time, 4 large eggs, 1cup water, did 5/5/5 method, the whites were slimy runny. Had to throw them in the pan and fry them. Bust for me.

  63. Mel
    Mel says:

    After you cook the eggs for 5 mins and while waiting for the 5 mins of Natural Release, are you supposed to leave it on the “Keep Warm”, or press “Cancel”, until your 5 mins is up and you hit the Quick Release?

  64. Mel
    Mel says:

    When the eggs have finished cooking the 5 mins, and you are starting to wait the next 5 mins for the natural release, are you supposed to let it stay on “Stay warm”, or are you supposed to press “Cancel”, until you hit Quick Release at the end of those 5 minutes?

  65. PW
    PW says:

    Worked great!! I used my egg setting instead since mine has that option. Followed the timing and ice water as recommended. So easy! Thanks!

  66. Carla
    Carla says:

    Thanks to this method we enjoyed delicious deviled eggs for Easter yesterday!This method worked perfectly in my 8 qt Instant Pot! Thank you so much – had pretty much given up on hard boiled eggs.

  67. Thai4i3n
    Thai4i3n says:

    Followed the recipe exactly with 8 eggs using 555 method…all 8 came out delicious and ridiculously easy to peel. Crack the wide end first and gently roll to crack the sides, the shell practically slides right off. Don’t even have to pick off small shell fragments that I hate. I think with any of the cooking methods, the ice bath immediately after is key to easy peeling.

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