Instant Pot: How to Make Perfect Hard and Soft Boiled Eggs

Learn how to make easy-to-peel soft or hard boiled eggs in your Instant Pot. With this simple steaming method, your eggs will turn out perfectly cooked and peel cleanly every time.

Hard and soft boiled eggs with toast on two plates.

Steaming eggs in the Instant Pot yields consistently easy-to-peel results and works whether your eggs are very fresh or a few weeks old. This approach is excellent for both soft boiled eggs with runny yolks and fully set hard boiled eggs.

Step by step instructions

Instant Pot Soft Boiled Eggs in egg cup — 4 MINUTES – SOFT BOILED EGG

instant pot hard boiled eggs with toast — 4 MINUTES – SOFT BOILED EGG

Place the metal trivet or a steamer rack into the Instant Pot liner and pour in 1 cup of water. Arrange the eggs on the trivet so they rest above the water, then secure the lid and set the pressure valve to SEALED.
Press the STEAM button and confirm the setting is NORMAL. Set the cook time to 4 minutes for soft boiled eggs or 12 minutes for hard boiled eggs. The cooker will need about 2–3 minutes to build pressure before the timer begins.
When the cook time finishes, immediately move the pressure valve to VENTING to perform a quick release. Once the steam has escaped, open the lid carefully.
Using tongs, transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Leave them in the ice bath for several minutes before peeling or storing.

Peeled eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Eggs left in their shells will keep in the fridge for about one week.

Tips for success

Use the Instant Pot trivet or a steamer basket so the eggs stay above the water and steam can circulate evenly around each egg.
Check eggs for hairline cracks before cooking; cracked shells can allow water inside and affect the final texture.
Always perform a manual quick release when the timer finishes and immediately transfer eggs to an ice bath to avoid overcooking.
Peeling soft boiled eggs requires patience—work gently since the whites and yolks are still soft and delicate.
If you live at high altitude (above about 2,000 ft), you may need to increase cook times slightly; test with one or two eggs to find the ideal timing for your location.

Other recipes you may like:

Turkey Sausage and Spinach Frittata
Instant Pot Egg White Bites
Easy Homemade Granola
Classic Deviled Eggs
Sweet Potato Toast

soft boiled eggs and hard boiled eggs on a plate with toast

Instant Pot Perfect Hard or Soft Boiled Eggs

Amy Duska

A foolproof Instant Pot method for soft and hard boiled eggs that peel easily.

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time
1 min

Cook Time
12 mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 72 kcal

Ingredients

1 cup water
6 eggs

Instructions

Place the trivet into the bottom of the liner and add 1 cup of water. Place the eggs on the trivet, lock the lid, and set the pressure valve to SEALED.
Press the STEAM button on NORMAL mode. Set the timer to 4 minutes for soft boiled or 12 minutes for hard boiled.
The cooker will take about 2–3 minutes to reach pressure. When the timer ends, immediately turn the valve to VENTING to release pressure, then open the lid.
Remove eggs with tongs and place them into a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Chill several minutes before peeling or storing.

Notes

To Store: Refrigerate cooked eggs up to 5 days.

Keyword easy peel eggs, hard boiled eggs, soft boiled eggs