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    Home » Recipes » Pressure cooker

    Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs, or Is the 5-5-5 Method a Myth?

    Published: Jun 5, 2018 · Modified: May 2, 2022 by Mike Vrobel · This post may contain affiliate links · 38 Comments

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    Hard-boiled egg halves on an aqua colored plate
    Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs

    Have you done hard-boiled eggs in your Instant Pot? Are they easier to peel? What’s the normal process? Could a stove top pressure cooker be used?

    email from Terry

    I’m behind the trend on this one. Instant Pot hard-boiled eggs are all over the web - especially Facebook. People say they are quick, consistent, and easy to peel.

    Now, I love eggs, but I have not tried pressure cooking. I overdosed on hard-boiled eggs during a low-carb diet a few years back, so I’ve been avoiding them. Also, I was playing with sous vide eggs, trying to get the perfect soft-boiled egg.

    The other issue: hard-boiled eggs are easy to overcook, resulting in a green-ringed, rubbery yolk. I tried all sorts of stovetop methods, settling on one from Cooks Illustrated: start with cold water and eggs, bring to a boil, then finish off the heat with a 12-minute rest. It worked better than most, but it was still not consistent. Sometimes the eggs were not completely cooked. Years later, Kenji Alt explained why: the amount of water matters in this technique, because water acts as a thermal battery. A large pot of water cooks the eggs more than a small pot of water. I stuck with this method through my low-carb diet phase. (And I do mean stuck, the way the shells stuck to the eggs as I tried to peel them.)

    Researching this recipe, I couldn’t find the articles from ten years ago explaining how to boil eggs. I missed the hard-boiled shift to steaming a few years back. Both Cooks Illustrated and Kenji now say that steaming eggs is the way to go. (That’s right, the best hard-boiled eggs are not boiled.) Why? Steam is gentle, consistent heat compared to boiling water. That was my “Aha!” moment - steam power makes a pressure cooker a good egg cooker. I use my pressure cooker as a pressure steamer all the time for Pressure Cooker Cheesecake. I’m in! Time for some internet research, let’s compare recipes and see how everyone pressure cooks their eggs.

    Everyone uses the 5-5-5 method: 5 minutes pressure cooking, 5 minutes natural pressure release, 5 minutes in an ice water bath to chill. Done. That seems so easy, but I hear my mother saying “if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?”

    Hard-boiled egg halves on a cutting board, 4 undercooked, 4 cooked just right, 4 overcooked
    Undercooked (1-5-5), Just Right (5-5-5), Overcooked (5-15-5)

    I test 5-5-5, and it does work - hard boiled eggs, easy to peel, just the way I like them. I try some variations - shorter times under pressure or quick releasing the pressure immediately undercook the eggs; longer cooking times or a full natural pressure release overcook the eggs. I should have trusted the wisdom of the internet: everyone uses 5-5-5 because it works, and works well. (Sorry Mom, everyone was right.) 1

    Everyone was right about the easy peeling, too. After chilling, the shells don’t stick to the pressure cooker hard-boiled eggs, like they used to with my stovetop eggs. I’m a pressure cooker egg convert, and I think I’m ready for some more hard-boiled eggs.

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    Hard-boiled egg halves on a teal plate

    Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs, or Is the 5-5-5 Method a Myth?


    ★★★★★

    4.9 from 15 reviews

    • Author: Mike Vrobel
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 12 eggs 1x
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    Description

    Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs, quick, consistent, and easy to peel, hard-boiled eggs are one of the killer uses for an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 12 large eggs

    Instructions

    1. Put the eggs in a steaming basket in the pressure cooker: Pour 1 cup of water into the pressure cooker pot. Put a steaming basket in the pot, then set the eggs in the basket. Lock the lid.
    2. Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes with a 5-minute natural pressure release: Cook at high pressure for 5 minutes in an electric pressure cooker or stovetop pressure cooker. (“Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode in an Instant Pot.) Let the pressure come down naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
    3. Cool the eggs in an ice bath (or with cold running water) for at least 5 minutes: Remove the lid from the pressure cooker and transfer the eggs to a bowl full of ice water (or cold running water) for at least 5 minutes. Remove the eggs from the water bath and pat dry. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to a week.

    Notes

    • Size matters: use large eggs for this recipe. I haven’t had the time to test medium or XL eggs, but I estimate 3-5-5 for medium eggs, and 7-5-5 for XL eggs.
    • Timing matters for the 5-minute pressure cook and 5-minute natural release: don’t wander off during the cooking time. Waiting longer, or for a full natural pressure release, results in overcooked eggs.
    • Extra time is fine for the 5-minute cold water bath: Colder is better for peeling eggs, so the 5 minutes in the cold water bath is a minimum.
    • The “Egg” button on the Instant Pot: Go ahead and use it if you want. It automatically sets the cooker for 5 minutes at high pressure. (Don’t forget the 5-minute natural pressure release).
    • The egg’s air pocket will have a brown color to it sometimes with this method. It’s not important - the browning is on the shell, not the egg, and doesn’t change the taste.
    • Want to cook fewer eggs? More eggs? Pile them in there - the cooking time stays the same.

    Tools

    • 6 quart or larger pressure cooker (I love my Instant Pot electric pressure cooker)
    • Steaming Rack or Steaming Basket
    • Bowl of ice water (or cold running water)
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Breakfast
    • Method: Pressure Cooker
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker, Hard-Boiled Eggs, Eggs

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @DadCooksDinner on Instagram and hashtag it #DadCooksDinner

    A grammar note: “hard-boiled” or “hard boiled” without the dash? Hard-boiled, with the dash, is the proper spelling, but both are common usage. I prefer the dash; I’ve always wanted to write a hard-boiled detective story, and a hard-boiled detective needs the dash.

    Halved hard-boiled eggs on a teal plate, sprinkled with salt and pepper, with a pepper grinder, salt pig,and paring knife in the background
    Instant Pot Hard-Boiled eggs, salted, peppered and ready to eat

    What do you think?

    Questions? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.

    Related Posts

    Pressure Cooker New York Cheesecake
    Pressure Cooker Penne with Sausage and Peppers
    Pressure Cooker Chicken Soup with Rice (from Scratch)
    My other Pressure Cooker Recipes

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    1. I can’t help myself with the “is 5-5-5 A Myth?” headline. It’s my chance to share Betteridge’s Law of Headlines: Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word “No.” ↩

    More Pressure cooker

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    • Instant Pot Chicken Legs and Rice (Arroz con Pollo)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Roberta Clayton says

      August 10, 2019 at 9:44 am

      After the 5 minutes of pressure is over, do you leave the IP on warm or cancel for the 5 minute NPR?

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        August 10, 2019 at 4:41 pm

        I leave it on warm, but in the end, it doesn’t matter - in 5 minutes, the heat doesn’t drop to the point where keep warm would kick in the heater.

        Reply
    2. PJinPA says

      May 22, 2019 at 1:42 pm

      Hmmm, well, my eggs are perfectly cooked, peeled perfectly in their ice bath, and my egg salad is delicious. However, I don't know the pressure cooking time or the NPR time, because I wasn't watching the display and the beeper didn't beep.
      My egg salad: 2 chopped hard-cooked eggs ( use a pastry dough blender/cutter to chop my eggs right in the bowl) a stalk of diced celery, maybe 1/4 tsp each of onion powder and mild curry powder, and around 1/4 c mayo (A few dollops from the jar using a rubber spatula).

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Kerry says

      April 08, 2019 at 5:29 pm

      I followed your recipe with 4 fresh large eggs in my new Zavor and made perfect "boiled"-eggs for the first time in my life! The shell fell off in 2 pieces. I am new to your website and really enjoyed reading your process. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        April 08, 2019 at 5:51 pm

        You’re welcome!

        Reply
    4. Mike G says

      February 08, 2019 at 1:32 pm

      I just did this recipe with large eggs in my instant pot pressure cooker and I can tell you it was perfect. Perfectly cooked hard boiled eggs and lusciously warm and moist out of the ice bath.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Stan says

      December 16, 2018 at 9:40 pm

      Great post. I especially like using the pressure cooker for cooking eggs that will be deviled. Use a trivet that allows the eggs to be put in pointed side down. This keeps the yolk centered while cooking; better for deviled eggs.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Douglas Davis says

      August 07, 2018 at 4:28 pm

      Hi, Dad,

      From one dad to another.....you rock! I just got an Instant Pot on "Prime Day" 2018, and have only used it for a few things (several batches of yogurt), and was excited to try hard-boiling eggs. I did it according to your directions, and they peeled SO easily!!! Honestly, the easiest peeling hard-boiled eggs I've ever made, and I have made many!

      Thanks, and keep up the good work!

      Reply
    7. Andrea says

      June 23, 2018 at 6:41 am

      I switched to using LOW pressure, 9 minutes for fridge-cold XL eggs using 1 cup tap-cold water. Drop to 8 minutes for L eggs. Quick release and right into a big bowl of tap-cold water (can't bother with ice). I have found this to be not only easier but also more reliable. Love your blog, one of my go-to sites.

      Reply
    8. Va says

      June 13, 2018 at 4:20 pm

      I did seven x large farm fresh eggs in my 6 qt instant pot with a eggs stand in a cup of water but they were under cooked my friend did 16 for the 5-5-5- and her xl eggs from the same place were done how weird is that so next time I will try 6-5-5

      Reply
    9. Leslie says

      June 07, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      I just did 6 eggs in my 3 qt Instant Pot using this 5-5-5 method and they came out perfectly. I usually steam eggs in my rice cooker (22 min) but that appliance was in use cooking rice! LOL. This is a great alternative and I am glad to know the timing works in my smaller IP. Thanks, Mike!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Douglas says

      June 06, 2018 at 5:03 pm

      Older eggs seem to shell easier so I always buy them a couple of weeks before I boil them.

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        June 07, 2018 at 7:03 am

        I've heard that, but in my testing (some with eggs approaching their use-by date, some fresh bought from the store) I didn't notice much of a difference. If it's working for you, though, keep doing it!

        Reply
      • Razzy 7 says

        July 09, 2018 at 10:17 pm

        Doug,
        Eggs typically are easier to peel if older and cooked on a regular stove, but if you use the pressure cooker technique Mike describes, very fresh eggs work perfectly as well. I'm glad because I prefer to have fresh eggs rather than "older" eggs.

        Reply
    11. low and slow says

      June 06, 2018 at 4:33 pm

      For a s/t p/c do we just turn off the heat or remove it to cool burner?

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        June 07, 2018 at 6:52 am

        I remove to a cool burner, especially on an electric stove.

        Reply
        • low and slow says

          June 07, 2018 at 4:34 pm

          Thank`s b/c I think it`s important.

          Reply
    12. Terry says

      June 06, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      Thanks Mike for both the email response, and then this follow-up research. We don't have an Instant Pot, so I'll have to give this a try in our stove top pressure cooker.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    13. Melody Gardner says

      June 05, 2018 at 9:57 pm

      I still like 6 IPR, and cold sink water. I am low carb and eat these eggs every morning, and they turn out perfect. However, I can see how 5-5-5- works, but is more fiddling for the cooker. I will stick with my recipe.
      BTW, love your blog!!!

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        June 07, 2018 at 7:05 am

        Thanks! 5 with IPR left my eggs undercooked - I'll try 6 when I get a chance.

        Reply
    14. razzy 7 says

      June 05, 2018 at 4:42 pm

      Hard boiled or hard-boiled? I've always been taught in various cooking classes I've taken that one shouldn't hard boil eggs at all. They should be hard cooked and thus the water never brought to a boil. Of course, all this is immaterial now that we've converted to pressure cooking eggs.

      P.S. Mike I think our moms went to the same "Mom School." I too heard, "if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?” Then there's the corollary you might also have heard when you wanted to do something and said, "Everybody else gets to do this, mom." Mom responded, "Well, maybe everybody else gets to, but you don't."

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        June 07, 2018 at 7:06 am

        "Everybody else gets to do this, but you don't." - I love it!

        Reply
      • Dacie says

        April 17, 2019 at 10:02 pm

        This made me giggle! I have to chime in too though... My mom used to say, "I'm not so-and-so's mother!" If I ever complained that someone else got to do something that I didn't. Aaaaand now I say the same thing to my own kids, lol!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
      • Shirley says

        February 23, 2020 at 8:33 am

        My moms favourite, when I couldn’t find something she would say “if it was a bear, it would jump out and bite you.”

        Reply
    15. Polly Ester says

      June 05, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      I can't imagine getting tired of eggs; and I use my IP frequently for the perfect boiled egg. I did find that 4-5-5 was a bit better for me - still qualified as hard boiled, but not completely crumbly dry. Yep, I've got some cooked up right now that will go on my salad!
      Thanks for your blog and videos; always so helpful.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Mike Vrobel says

        June 05, 2018 at 4:08 pm

        Thanks Polly!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
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