How To Cook Hard Boiled Eggs in an Instant Pot

100% natural, eggs are one of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods. With 6 grams of protein per egg with zero sugar and carbs, they really are one of the world’s most perfect foods. In addition to being nutritious, they also have impressive health credentials. Not only do they contain all nine essential amino acids (which are necessary for the body), but they also contain 13 essential vitamins and minerals. Considering all that, it’s easy to see why eggs should be included in every balanced diet.

Of course, there are many different ways to cook an egg- scrambled, sunny side up, over easy, poached, etc. When it comes to that, it just boils down to is personal preference; do you prefer runny yolks? Hard egg whites? Or the two mixed together in a scrambled dish? While all of those options can be mighty delicious, today we will be focusing on the simple, easy-to-make, hard boiled egg.

A hard-boiled egg is exactly what it sounds like- an egg that has been boiled gently until both the yolk and the white have solidified (with the shell still intact). Incredibly versatile, they’re great whether they’re eaten alone, in sandwiches, or chopped up and included in salads. In fact, they’re also the foundation for another yummy dish- devised eggs (stuffed hard-boiled eggs).

Like most dishes, however, perfecting hard-boiled eggs can take a few tries. If you’ve ever tried making them, then you’re probably run into one or more of the following:

• The shell sticks to the egg and is incredibly hard to peel
• The hard-boiled egg is watery
• The hard-boiled egg is rubbery

If so, don’t worry- these are all easy fixes! While hard-boiled eggs can be cooked in just a pot, we will be talking about how to cook them in an Instant Pot in this article.

First things first- Choosing Healthy Eggs

As you probably already know, there are many options when it comes to buying eggs. Organic? Free-run? Free-range? These points should all be taken into consideration the next time you’re shopping for this protein-packed staple at the supermarket.

Organic: The eggs are produced through organic means. In other words, the poultry that laid them were fed a 100% organic feed. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hens that lay organic eggs must also have access to the outdoors (i.e. not raised in cages).

Free Run: The eggs are produced by hens that are able to run free in an indoor barn (i.e. not housed in cages).

Free Range: The eggs are produced by hens that are not only able to roam indoor, but are also permitted outdoors, as they please. In other words, they’re able to go outside, where they’re able to peck, forage, and nibble on bugs.

If healthy, delicious eggs are what you are after, you’ll want to purchase, organic, free-range eggs. As with most organic, healthy foods, however, the price will also be higher than what you’re used to paying for regular eggs. In the end, however, it’s all worth it. Not only are eggs from free-range hens typically more delicious, but you’ll also be supporting better practices. Remember, happy hens- that is, free range-hens, are able to roam freely and bask in the sunlight as they please.

What is a Good Egg?

Still, it’s inevitable that eggs can go bad over time. So, how do you know if a carton of eggs has passed their expiry date in the fridge? Though it’s generally safe to eat “expired” eggs (some brands may have an expiration date stamped on the shell), it’s probably best to run a quick test to see if they’re still fresh.

The Egg Test, as I like to call it, only takes a few seconds. First, you’ll want to fetch a bowl and fill it with cold water. Next, place the egg in question inside. If it ends up sinking to the bottom, it’s still fresh and good to eat; if it sinks all the way to the bottom but stands on its “point”, you should probably eat it soon. On the flip side of things, if the egg ends up floating on the top, you’ll want to discard it.

How does this work? This test mainly relies on the fact that egg shells have tiny pores. As such, the liquid inside an egg is able to evaporate away over a period of time, and is instead, replaced by air- this would make “old eggs” float to the top of the bowl.

How Long Are Eggs Good For?

Generally, eggs stay fresh anywhere from four to five weeks after they’ve been packed. According to the Department of Agriculture, all brands of branded eggs are also required to have a pack date visible on the carton.

How to Keep Your Eggs Fresh for Longer

Storage is incredibly important when it comes to keeping eggs fresh. Obviously, you’ll want to tuck them away in the main part of the fridge, where the temperature is generally more stable, and colder. While many refrigerators nowadays have egg compartments on the door, it’s typically not a good idea to store them there as the temperature tends to fluctuate way too much.

How To Cook Hard Boiled Eggs in an Instant Pot

If you own an Instant Pot, then you should already be familiar with its variety of functions. Not only is it able to cook things such as rice and stew, but it’s also capable of making the perfect hard-boiled egg. In fact, it’s incredibly easy! No more fiddling with pots, and hot water- just let the Instant Pot do everything for you! Extremely no fuss, you’ll get perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs in about five minutes.

Ingredients:

– Eggs (as many as you’d like to cook/fits in the steam rack)

– 1 Cup of Water

Instructions:

1.) Seeing as how we’re making hard-boiled eggs, you’ll want to fill your Instant Pot with water (approx. 1 cup)

2.) Next, you’ll want to place a steam rack (which is included with the pot) inside, on the bottom

3.) After that, place the eggs gently on the rack; make sure they’re nice and secure

4.) Close the lid of the Instant Pot, and set the toggle to “Sealing”

5.) Press the “Manual” button and set the cooking time to 5 minutes on the Instant Pot. This will use high pressure to cook the eggs

* Depending on how you like your hard-boiled eggs, you can play around with the cooking time. For instance, if you prefer very, firm eggs, you can cook it for an additional 1-2 minutes. Still, 5 minutes tends to be the sweet spot for the perfectly cooked egg.

6.) While the eggs are cooking, prepare a medium-sized bowl with cold water

7.) After the eggs are cooked, allow the steam to release completely from the Instant Pot before opening the lid

8.) Carefully, transfer each egg to the ice water bath that you’ve prepared previously. Allow them to sit for a few minutes until cool

* This step is extremely important. If skipped, the eggs can continue to overcook outside of the pot as they’re still hot. Placing the eggs in the water can also help to make them easier to peel once they’ve cooled.

9.) Eat the delicious hard-boiled eggs that you’ve just made

How To Cook Hard Boiled Eggs in an Instant Pot – FAQ’S

Why is it so hard to peel the shell off of my hard-boiled eggs?

As it turns out, the fresher the egg, the harder it will be to remove the shell once it’s been hard-boiled. The way it is, egg white tends to stick to the shell of a fresh egg. For easier peeling, you’ll want to place the eggs in a cold or ice-water bath after cooking.

Why is the yolk of my hard-boiled egg green/gray?

A hard-boiled egg with a greenish, grayish yolk is overcooked. If this happens, you’ll want to decrease the cooking time. Fortunately for us, overcooking is not generally an issue when using the Instant Pot.

Why is the yolk of my hard-boiled egg still gooey?

If the yolk of your hard-boiled egg is still “soft”, you’ve most likely made soft, or medium-boiled eggs. While they’re tasty on their own, you simply have to cook it for a bit longer for the ideal results.