You may be wondering why you need to know how to boil eggs in an instant pot . We wondered too, until we checked out some experiments between eggs cooked in an instant pot and those cooked in ordinary pot and saw the difference.
As simple as it sounds boiling eggs is one tasks that has brought many newbies and even some homemakers to tears.
In this article, we would not only be showing you how to use your instant pot to boil eggs, we would also share some of the mistakes you should not make when using an instant pot. If we have some space left we’ll share some bonus tips.
So let’s go…
Advantages of Using An Instant Pot To Boil Eggs
Like we mentioned earlier, there’s always been this issue about “what difference does it make to boil eggs in an instant pot” Well, here are a few reasons why it’s beneficial to do so.
One predominant thing that anyone who have had issues with boiling eggs have experienced is messily peeled eggs (yuck!). Thankfully that’s one thing that you don’t have to contend with when you use an instant pot for boiling your eggs. The eggs boiled in an instant pot are very easy to peel and have a beautiful tinge to it. The yolks always maintain a beautiful golden color whether soft boiled, medium or hard boiled.
Furthermore, with an instant pot, your eggs are placed in a rack so they don’t bump into each other and crack. This means that you have perfectly cooked eggs for recipes that require boiled eggs.
Another advantage of using instant pot when it comes to boiling eggs is that it allows the user to multitask. You can set the pot and walk away to go and do other things without bothering that it would boil over.
With an instant pot, you can get consistent results. Once you have mastered which method (timing) works best for you, it would always be like clockwork whenever you want to boil your eggs. No more guess work and crossing your fingers that the eggs come out perfect.
Finally, you can boil as much as a dozen eggs at once with an instant pot. So you can volunteer to make the eggs for your next church Easter egg hunt.
Equal Time Setting Method For Boiling Eggs In An Instant Pot
Using an instant pot to boil eggs is very easy. Some people have experimented with many methods but the consistent thing with all the methods is that all you need is a cup of water.
For this method (equal time setting), whether you are boiling one egg or a dozen, the steps are the same.
The simple method used is setting the cooking time, pressure release and cooling time the same. For example 5-5-5 means that you set the cooking time for 5 minutes, the natural release time for 5 minutes and the cooling time for 5 minutes. This way, you’ll not forget how long to set for each step.
Steps For Equal Time Setting
- Pour about one cup of water into the instant pot and place the trivet or the steamer basket in the pot. Then place the eggs carefully in the basket or on the trivet.
- Cover the pot and ensure that the lid is set to the sealing position.
- Choose the manual setting and set to cook for 5 minutes on high.
- Prepare an ice bath while the eggs are cooking.
- When the 5 minutes cooking time is done, allow the pot to release naturally for the next 5 minutes. Then set the pot to venting to release the remaining steam.
- Finally, transfer the eggs to the ice bath to cool for 5 minutes.
This timing is for average sized hard boiled eggs. You may have to experiment with other sizes to find the right timing. If you want soft boiled eggs, then reduce the timing to 3 minutes.
Note that the egg would keep cooking while the pot is on natural release mode so factor it in for whatever timing you decide to use. That is also why you cannot use the quick release for this method because your eggs would not be cooked to the desired “doneness”
Additionally, some factors affect the timing to use. These include whether the eggs are refrigerated or room temperature and the freshness of the eggs
Finally note that the settings on different models of instant pots differ so you’ll do well to consult your user manual.
Other Equal Timings For Different “Doneness” of Egg
Below is a summary of all the other timings that were experimented and the results gotten:-
The 3-3-3 Method
As the name implies, in this method you cook the egg for 3 minutes, then release the pressure naturally for 3 minutes and finally cool for 3 minutes in an ice bath.
The result of this method is an egg that the shell was easy to peel, with the white fully cooked but still wet. The yolk however was soft with some little spots of runny yolk.
The 4-4-4 Method
It’s the same progression for all the timings and here’s the result:-
The shell comes off easily in a few large chunks. The egg white is firm and no longer wet and the yolk though soft is no longer runny.
The 5-5-5 Method
We have already said that a lot of people assert that this is the best timing to use. The result of this is an egg that’s easy to peel, with the white firm and easy to cut into and the yolk creamy without any tinge of discoloration.
The 6-6-6 Method
Here’s the result of this timing: – the shell is difficult to peel, sticks to the egg and is all crumbly. This results in ugly looking peeled eggs. The yolk also has a tinge of green around it. These are all indications that the egg was overcooked.
Expert Tips For Boiling Eggs In An Instant Pot
Here are some tips from homemakers and chefs that have experimented with several methods of boiling eggs. These tips would stand you in good stead especially as you set out to prepare boiled eggs for recipes that you’ll display whether to friends or family. These tips are also handy for newbie DIY caterers or home cooks.
- When you stack the eggs in the trivet or steaming baskets, ensure that they do not touch the water or the sides of the pot.
- You can use refrigerated eggs but it would affect the timing that you can use. If you start out with refrigerated eggs, then you have to add one or two minutes to the equal timing method (5-5-5 etc.).
- Always wear an oven mitten when opening an instant pot (better safe than sorry). Do not handle eggs that you have boiled with an instant pot with bare hands. It’s best to use tongs to remove the eggs and place in the ice bath.
- Eggs can explode if you cook them on high pressure for more than 5 minutes. So if you decide to cook your eggs for over 5 minutes then it is advised that you lower the pressure at which it is cooked.
- Eggs with a tinge of green around the yolk are overcooked but perfectly safe to eat. You can still use them for salads and other recipes. However, it is best not to overcook eggs so that they’ll not look unpleasant in food.
- Do not let your eggs stay in the pot after the natural release and the valve drops. This is because the instant pot remains hot for long after that. The eggs can get overcooked if left in the pot so remove and transfer to the ice- bath immediately.
- Since you can store leftover hard boiled eggs in the fridge for a week, you can save time by boiling eggs for your recipe ahead of time.
- Do not skip the ice bath as the last step in this process. This is because even after your eggs are out of the pot, they are still hot (more so with instant pot boiled eggs) and the heat would keep cooking the eggs. But when you place the eggs immediately in the ice bath, the cooking process stops.
Hacks For Making Potato Salad
You may wonder why this segment? We are nice like that (wink, wink).
We figured that since we are sharing how to make perfectly boiled eggs, we should as well throw in this bonus.
You can save yourself time and energy whenever you want to make potato salad by cooking your eggs and potatoes together.
When they are cooked, cool them in the fridge and use. However, to ensure that the eggs are not overcooked, you have to use the quick release method instead of the natural release. Check out our article on how to use an instant pot for more information on how to release pressure from an instant pot.
For those who are OCD about the eggs being a bit slimy or getting speckled from direct contact with the potatoes, you can place the eggs in an instant pot safe container before placing on top of the potatoes.
When the cooking and pressure release time is done, remove the eggs and place immediately in cold water. Then peel the eggs and proceed as called for in your recipe.
You can also use this opportunity to make extra eggs that you can store for other recipes.
Check out this video for more inspiration:-
Safety Tips For boiling Eggs In An Instant Pot
- Never underestimate the usefulness of a user manual/guide. Whenever you buy a new appliance, the first thing to do is read the user manual to get acquainted with all the safety precaution prescribed by the manufacturer.
- Always ensure that the pressure valve has dropped before you open the lid of your instant pot to avoid getting burnt by any residual pressure. Furthermore, when opening the lid, ensure that the valve is facing away from you. Keep your face away from contact with the steam.
- Always use tongs to remove eggs boiled in an instant pot.
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Using An Instant Pot
Placing the Instant Pot In Close Proximity To Heat
Do not place your instant pot on a stovetop, you might forget and put on the stove with the pot still on it. Even if you are careful not to do so, one of the kids, or a clueless adult might. Similarly, do not place the instant pot close to any source of heat such as an oven, gas range or stovetop.
The best spot to place your instant pot is on a countertop; away from the above mentioned items.
Not Checking The Power Cord And Source Of Power
If your instant pot comes with a detachable cord (most of the newer models do), then you have to constantly ensure that the power cord is fitted snugly into its position at the base of the pot.
This would ensure that there is no loss of connection in the middle of your cooking.
Unrealistic Expectations
Yes the instant pot cooks faster than a regular pot but you have to factor in the following:-
The time the pot takes to build up pressure, the cooking time and the natural release time. When it comes to using an instant pot to boil eggs, you do not really get the eggs done faster than on a stovetop.
But the advantage of using an instant pot over a saucepan on a stovetop is that you don’t have to babysit the cooking. You can stack your eggs in the pot, set to cook and go do other things around the house.
More so, you get consistently perfectly boiled eggs with the right timing. Therefore, do not expect “magic” when boiling eggs with an instant pot; estimate at least 30 minutes before you need the eggs to prepare it( not that you’ll need the whole 30 minutes anyway).
Not Inserting The Sealing Ring Into The Lid Of The Pot
The sealing ring of an instant pot is what gives the pot the ability to seal in heat and build pressure in the pot. So if you forget to insert the silicone sealing ring properly into the lid, you wouldn’t get the desired result from your instant pot.
We know that you may swamped with chores and juggling a thousand and one balls, but always ensure that the silicone sealing ring is properly inserted before you start cooking. One sure way of achieving this is by inserting it back right after you clean out your pot after cooking. We hope you clean out your instant pot immediately after use? Check out our article on how to use an instant pot to find out why you need to clean out your pot after each use.
Using The Wrong Method Of Pressure Release Or Doing It Wrongly
Some folks might be too impatient to follow the right pressure release method that’s called for in their recipe. In this piece on using an instant pot to boil eggs, the prominent method we discussed calls for natural pressure release.
On the other hand, there are some methods that advocate for quick/manual pressure release (we hope you have taken the time to read the previous post we recommended).
The truth of the matter is that if you don’t use the recommended pressure release method, you’ll not get the expected result.
Until you are ready to carry out experiments with your recipe to find out how each pressure release method affects your cooking, it is best to stick with the recommended method.
Factoring In Only Cooking Time
When cooking with an instant pot, never forget that it has 3 cycles to run before your food is done. This cycle include, the preheating time (when the pot builds up pressure), the actual cooking time and the pressure release time.
We can emphasize this enough, pay attention to this and factor it into your planning so that you wouldn’t run late.
Better still, start out using your instant pot by strictly following recipes. Almost all instant pots come with recipe booklets (whether soft or hard copy). This would help you get a hang of using your instant pot without ruining your meals.
Not Turning Off The “Keep Warm” Button
Do not forget to put off the “Keep Warm” button unless the recipe you are following specifically calls for it to be on.
This is because the food in the pot keeps cooking when the “keep warm” button is on.
Conversely, if you must leave the “keep warm” button on (maybe because you want piping hot food when you sit down to eat) then factor that into your cooking time.
For some recipes or models of instant pot, just leaving the pot in the sealed position after the pressure release keeps the food warm.
Whatever you choose to do just be aware of the effect it would have on your end product. This is applicable to boiling eggs in an instant pot as well as every kind of food.
More importantly for boiled eggs ; they must be removed from the pot immediately to avoid over cooking.
Using The Timer Button To Set The Time For Cooking
Unlike other kitchen gadgets, the timer button on an instant pot is not for setting the cook time.
The cook time of an instant pot is auto set when you choose the cooking method you want to use. This cook time is then adjusted with the plus or minus buttons and not the timer.
The timer is used to set a delay to the cook time. For example, you might decide that you want the food in the instant pot to start cooking in 10 minutes or 30 minutes. This where the timer comes in.
The timer feature is useful for slow cooking because you might decide to set the timer for the cook time to start maybe 30 minutes or an hour after you’ve left the house. Not that it isn’t handy in other circumstances though.
Conclusion
We took time to bring you all the above information because we want you to get premium value from your instant pot.
More, so with these tips and hacks up your sleeve you can always have boiled eggs at hand for rich protein filled snacks.
You can say goodbye to messy peeled boiled eggs, inadequately done or overcooked eggs.
