Make perfect hard boiled eggs every time that are easy to peel and cooked just right! Great to have on hand for healthy snacks or quick lunches.
With these hard boiled eggs, I’m starting the new year off with a bang! And by bang I mean easy to peel, never fail, always perfect, boiled eggs! Whyyyy would I be posting about such a simple recipe? Because cooking a hard boiled egg to perfection is kind of tricky because there are so many variables. How cold the water is to begin with, how cold the eggs are right out of the fridge, how long to boil them for, how long it takes to bring the eggs to a boil, whether you use an electric cooktop or gas stove, whether you submerge in cold water or ice water, etc. etc.
Of course, I’ve been cooking eggs for years but my results have always been inconsistent. Just because I can cook them 8 minutes on my stove with great results doesn’t mean I can cook them on my mother’s stove with the same results. Rage.
Eggs to me were just super annoying to deal with because I could never get them right every time. SO! The only reason why I’m posting a simple recipe for hard boiled eggs is because I figured out the formula! I’ve tried cooking these eggs 6 times, ya’ll!! And they came out perfectly every time. Easy to peel with that quintessential bright yellow yolk.
What’s my secret? I steam them in my pressure cooker! I know I’m probably going to lose a lot of you readers because I’m suggesting using a pressure cooker in the first place, but hear me out! The electric pressure cooker works by bringing everything up to a steady temperature together, holding all ingredients (in our case, eggs, and water) at said temperature for 4 minutes and then slowly releasing that pressure for 5 minutes before removing the eggs and shocking them in a water bath. This method works perfectly for everyone who tries it because the pressure cooker removes all the variables I listed above that could potentially keep you from achieving success. And that’s why I’m sharing this with you today.
My husband loves having hard boiled eggs on hand for quick and healthy snacks and my kids love love love them too. We have started buying our eggs in bulk and I try to make a dozen or two hard boiled each week because we will go through them quickly. And they make a great healthy egg salad!
Easy Peel Hard Boiled Eggs
Make perfect hard boiled eggs every time that are easy to peel and cooked just right! Great to have on hand for healthy snacks or quick lunches.
Instructions
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Pour 2 cups of cold water into the bottom of a cold pressure cooker and place the steaming rack into water. The rack should stand just above the water, so no eggs ever come in contact with it. Place the eggs onto the rack, creating an even layer across the bottom. (You don't want them to be stacked on top of each other.)
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Close the lid and lock. Ensure the valve is sealed. Press "Steam" function and "High" pressure. Adjust cook time to 4 minutes and press "Start".
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After 4 minutes have passed, wait another 5 minutes before releasing pressure completely. Remove lid and transfer eggs to an ice water bath. Cool until they are easily handled.
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Gently crack shell all the way around and peel away using the side of your thumb. (It should come off in big pieces.) Rinse under cold water and place onto dry paper towels until all eggs are peeled.
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Store in air tight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
I found this article super helpful if you're looking for how to cook soft boiled eggs in the pressure cooker. Plus its really fascinating! Also, this post was super inspirational in getting me to actually try cooking eggs in my pressure cooker. I'm a believer!
Jackie says
January 2, 2018 at 9:18 pmMy pressure cooker does not have a steaming rack. Any suggestions on how to do this method without one?
Analida's Ethnic Spoon says
January 3, 2018 at 1:58 amThese look great! Getting eggy water all over my hands always keeps me from making hard boiled eggs. This method skips the hassle.
Zach says
January 3, 2018 at 3:42 amI just started using my Instant Pot so this will come in handy, especially for making Deviled Eggs at the last minute. So, thank you for the tutorial.
Also, this is the first video of yours I have seen and for some reason I thought your voice would be higher in pitch. I have no idea why. 🙂
Ranjini Pillai says
January 3, 2018 at 5:08 amDiscovered this rick last summer!Wonderful,isn’t it?Taught it to my son -the younger one ,who loves eggs!Thanks for publishing it!
Hannah H. says
January 3, 2018 at 5:27 amI always do mine in the Instant Pot now, too! Probably about the same total time, but soooo much less maintenance!
Cheryl Francis says
January 3, 2018 at 6:07 amHow like no for soft boiled?
Betty J Singleton says
January 3, 2018 at 8:20 amSuper! Could not believe it…so had to try it! Shells come off so easily and they are cooked perfectly! Thanks!
Beth G says
January 3, 2018 at 11:44 amActually, I’ve been doing this for over a year or so now. You can stack eggs, fit in as many as you want/ can. Only need about 1 cup of water… then keep the same settings or 5-5-5…. 5 high pressure, 5 hold, 5 Ice bath. My 14 yr old has been doing these as well… he loves egg salad. If that is your goal, make it a bit easier on yourself, crack all the eggs into a pot-safe bowl/ container (I use a silicone loaf pan). Add your 1 cup water, rack, pan… 4 min high, 5 wait, and then ice bath the bottom of the pan. You then can chop them up. Or use a cookie cooling rack (one with a grid pattern) just push the eggs through the grate into a bowl below for quick chopped eggs. Have fun with your electric pressure cooker, my favorite items in my kitchen, I have a small 4qt for sides and veggies and a large 8 qt for anything else.
Stephanie E says
January 3, 2018 at 1:04 pmWhen people ask me about my electric pressure cooker I always include how easily hard boiled eggs peel when done in the pressure cooker. Love that it finally takes the guess work out of cooking them!
Susan says
January 3, 2018 at 5:29 pmYou can do this on the stove top if you don’t have a pressure cooker. You will need a pot, a steamer basket that will fit in the pot, but not touch the water, and a lid to cover the pot. Put an inch or two of water in the pot and bring to a boil. Put the eggs in the steamer basket and place in pot making sure the bottom of the basket is above the water. Place the lid on top and let steam for 13 minutes. Remove from heat and using tongs, place eggs in a bowl of iced water. After about five minutes, remove each egg and crack in several places and put back into the iced water. The water must stay ice cold so keep adding ice if necessary until the eggs are cooled. Then peel and enjoy.
Jackie Colette says
January 4, 2018 at 8:42 pmMy pressure cooker does not have a cooking rack. Any suggestions on how to use this method without one?
Peggy says
February 13, 2018 at 2:44 amI just lay a dozen on the rack that came with my instapot voila so easy
Monica says
February 13, 2018 at 6:34 amMy husband and I like to eat hard boiled eggs during the week. I remember you blogging about this and searched it yesterday to forward to a friend as we both just bought Instant Pots over the weekend. I receive mine tomorrow and I’m beyond excited to try so many delicious recipes I see everyone posting; especially making hard boiled eggs! Thanks for this post, and the video!!
Brenda Brown says
February 13, 2018 at 6:35 amI’ll never boil hard boiled eggs again! Thanks for this trick. It’s the simplest way to get perfect eggs!
Courtney Cook says
February 14, 2018 at 8:27 amThis technique is perfect! At 32 I’ve finally mastered hard boiled eggs. Thank you so much 🙂
Mary Conaway says
February 15, 2018 at 5:38 amI consider myself a good cook who has always been hard boiled egg challenged! I think eggs are one of the healthiest foods!
Thank you for the great easy to follow recipe, I look forward to finally being able to make great hard boiled Eggs!
Jill Hershey says
February 17, 2018 at 9:49 amThis post has made me want to buy an Instant Pot–if for no other reason than to make perfect hard-cooked eggs! I never got consistent results in the past when I made them and I was never sure why.
Thanks for figuring it out and sharing it with us!
Kathy Bruner says
March 3, 2018 at 5:00 pmHi Lauren! Can you please share a link to the pressure cooker (or the name and size) you used in making your hard boiled eggs? I really like the rack in it. Many thanks!
Lauren says
March 4, 2018 at 6:03 pmI have a Crock-Pot Pressure Cooker. This is the cheapest one I found: http://shopstyle.it/l/Avnt