5-5-5 Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs (Easy Peel)

Making hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot is a total game-changer — and the 5-5-5 method makes it practically foolproof! Once you try this quick meal prep trick, you’ll never boil eggs on the stovetop again. They peel easily, have bright yellow yolks (no green ring!), and are perfect for prepping healthy breakfasts, snacks, or salads for the week.

Why You’ll Love These 5-5-5 Instant Pot Eggs

• Perfectly cooked every time — no guesswork or broken shells
• Easy to peel — the shells slide right off
• One of the easiest Instant Pot meal prep basics — make a batch on Sunday and you’re set for the week
• Use them for grab-and-go breakfasts, protein snacks, deviled eggs, or quick egg salads

I’ve tested countless methods for cooking eggs in the Instant Pot, and the 5-5-5 timing is hands-down the most reliable for easy peeling and perfect yolks! Plus it's easy to remember for later 😉

What is the 5-5-5 Instant Pot Method?

“5-5-5 eggs” means:

• 5 minutes cook time (high pressure)
• 5 minutes natural pressure release (NPR)
• 5 minutes in an ice bath

That’s it — just remember 5-5-5 for perfect Instant Pot hard boiled eggs every time.

If you've been trying to eat more protein, hard boiled eggs are a great source! We've been making healthy high protein recipes since 2018. Be sure to download our printable protein list below.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

• 6 large eggs (you can cook up to 12 at once — same timing)
• 1 cup cold water

Equipment

• Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker
• Trivet or steamer basket - The steamer basket that comes with your Instant Pot works perfectly fine, but if you plan to cook a dozen or so eggs at a time regularly, you might consider a stackable egg steaming rack.
• Bowl for the ice bath

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How to Make 555 Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Step 1. Add Water & Eggs

Pour 1 cup cold water into the Instant Pot. Place the trivet or steamer basket inside. Arrange the eggs in a single layer, not stacked.

Step 2. Pressure Cook

Lock the lid and set the valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook (or Manual) and cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.

Step 3. Natural Release

When the timer ends, let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 5 minutes. Then carefully turn the valve to Venting to release any remaining steam.

Step 4. Ice Bath

Transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes. This stops the cooking and makes peeling easy.

Step 5. Peel & Store

Gently crack and peel the eggs. Store them in the refrigerator for up to one week — they’re ready to grab whenever you need them.

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Meal Prep Tips

• Cook a double batch if you want plenty of grab-and-go protein for the week.
• Store eggs peeled or unpeeled in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
• Use them in egg salad, breakfast wraps, snack boxes, or as a quick protein boost for salads.
• Check out our Instant Pot Meal Prep Basics (coming soon!) for more batch cooking ideas.

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FAQ's

Why use the 5-5-5 method for Instant Pot eggs?

The 5-5-5 timing makes the process easy to remember and repeat: fully cooked yolks without green rings, consistent results, and shells that peel right off. It’s the easiest way to meal prep a batch of eggs with no fuss.

How long do Instant Pot hard boiled eggs last?

Store cooked eggs in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Keep them dry and in a single layer for best freshness.

Can I use this for farm-fresh eggs?

Yes! Farm-fresh eggs are naturally harder to peel when boiled the traditional way because the inner membrane sticks tightly to the shell. The Instant Pot helps solve this problem: the pressure cooking environment changes how the egg white sets, making it separate more easily from the shell. Use the same 5-5-5 timing for fresh eggs straight from the coop, and be sure to chill them in an ice bath — this makes peeling so much easier, even for backyard eggs!

How can I cook a larger batch of Instant Pot hard boiled eggs?

You can easily cook a dozen or more eggs in your Instant Pot using the same 5-5-5 method — no need to adjust the timing. For larger batches, a stackable egg rack works well because it keeps the eggs organized in layers and helps them cook evenly without cracking.

If you don’t have a rack, you can carefully stack eggs on top of each other on the trivet or steamer basket, but be gentle when arranging them to prevent cracks. Always use enough water (at least 1 cup for a 6-quart Instant Pot) and the same ice bath at the end.

Do I need a rack or can I make these without one?

Using the metal trivet or a steamer basket is recommended because it keeps the eggs lifted above the water and helps them cook evenly with less risk of cracking. If you don’t have a rack, you can still make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs by placing them gently in the water — just be aware they’ll sit directly on the hot bottom of the pot, which can sometimes cause minor cracking or slight overcooking where they touch the metal. For best results, try to use a rack if you have one.

More Egg Recipes

We love eggs! They're a great source of protein on their own or mixed into recipes. Here's a few of our favorites.

• Perfect air fryer hard boiled eggs
• Bacon egg and cheese cups
• Egg white bites (Starbucks copycat recipe)
• Creamy cottage cheese scrambled eggs
• Instant Pot egg drop soup

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More Instant Pot Meal Prep Basics

These are Instant Pot meal prep recipes we make on repeat! They've been game changing for helping to eat healthier and for weight loss.

• Instant Pot Frozen Chicken (protein staple)
• Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken - great as a high protein freezer meal
• Instant Pot Quinoa (easy side)
• Pressure cooker cubed sweet potatoes or diced potatoes - great for pureed potatoes or even a simple side.

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