Pressure Cooker Hard Boiled Eggs

I’m often asked if an Instant Pot pressure cooker is worth the money or useful enough to take up limited counter space. While this is still up for debate in my head, there is one application I use mine for often and it does the job very well: hard boiled eggs. With no babysitting a pot of water and shells that practically slide off, Instant Pot hard boiled eggs are simple to make.

The common recipe for making pressure cooker hard boiled eggs is the 5-5-5 method. Five minutes cooking under pressure, five minutes reducing pressure, and a five minute dip in cold water. It’s that simple. If you prefer your yolks less cooked, simply reduce the cooking time a minute or so to achieve the desired consistency. And those shells. I avoided making hard boiled eggs for years because the shells always gave me attitude. With pressure cooked eggs, the shells peel right off without any effort.

Since the eggs are steaming in the pressure cooker, the cooking times will remain the same no matter the number of eggs. I typically cook anywhere from four to a dozen at a time. Make enough for a few days breakfast in one batch.

What to do with hard boiled eggs? The easiest is to slice them in half, sprinkle on a bit of salt and pepper. Egg salad sandwiches or wraps are always a convenient lunch. Just dice the eggs and mix in some mayo and seasonings. Hard boiled eggs are also great on salads for a bit of protein and texture. And how can we forget to add deviled eggs to the list? Slice the eggs in half, mash and mix the yolks with mayo and seasonings, them dollop back into the egg halves. Super quick appetizer, that is if you can resist eating them yourself.

Tip: Save egg shells to use in your garden. The calcium in shells is good for regulating acidity and adding nutrients to the soil. This may help some plants, such as tomatoes.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

• Eggs – Load in as many eggs as you want, the time will be the same.
• 1 cup water

Directions for Making Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

1. Place trivet rack in pressure cooker and add one cup of water to pot.
2. Place eggs on top of rack, then place on the lid and close vent.
3. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
4. Let pressure release naturally for five minutes, then open vale to quick release any remaining pressure.
5. Remove eggs to a mixing bowl or pot of cold water and let sit for five minutes. Periodically draining and adding fresh water will help eggs to cool quicker.
6. Gently tap eggs on all sides on counter to crack shells. The shells should easily peel off. Enjoy!