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Deceptively hard to make the traditional way, hard boiled eggs are a favorite for salads, deviled eggs, or just a healthy breakfast option. Try making Crockpot Express Hard Boiled Eggs for a faster cook time and super easy peel!
The easiest thing to make in a pressure cooker (either Instant Pot or Crockpot Express) is probably hard boiled eggs. They aren’t exactly hard “boiled” since you’re essentially steaming them in a pressure cooker, but you get the idea.
It creates the same result: hard cooked eggs. There are plenty of benefits to making Crockpot Express Hard Boiled Eggs: they cook faster than the traditional stove method, they are crazy easy to peel, and you can make as few or as many as you like.
Personally, I like my egg yolks nice and firm. I don’t want any gooey gunk in the middle of my egg. But if you like yours a bit softer, you can just reduce the time.
There’s a 5-5-5 rule of thumb going around, which is 5 minutes cooking, 5 minutes of natural pressure release and then 5 minutes in an ice bath before peeling.
However, I didn’t find the texture to my liking with those times, so I adjusted for my own tastes.
I thought this was a great visual from Pressure Cook Recipes. They did a very thorough testing and show details and results of each minute increment. You can read all about their experiment here.
For my own Crockpot Express Hard Boiled Eggs, I went with high pressure for a longer time (than the 5 minute suggestion) and countered the longer cook time with a quick release and ice bath.
Some people have noticed a more rubbery texture in the egg whites when using high pressure, but I was totally fine with how mine tasted and felt. I actually prefer it to the more creamy white that you get using low pressure.
If you’re new to the whole pressure cooker thing, specifically the Crockpot Express, read this post full of FAQ’s and a handy printable Crockpot Express Cooking Guide for getting started! (Click on the picture to be taken to the post where you can download the printable PDF version without a watermark.)
If you haven’t figured it out yet, there’s a lot of leeway when it comes to making hard cooked eggs in a pressure cooker, so just play around with it (one egg at a time so you don’t waste food) until you get the results you love! Then get started on other great Crockpot Express Recipes!
Crockpot Express Hard Boiled Eggs
Instructions
- Place trivet in the pot and pour the water in the bottom. Add eggs to the trivet. Close lid (and steam valve) and set to “Steam” (manual pressure for Instant Pot) and adjust time to 7 minutes. After cooking, do a quick pressure release and remove eggs into an ice water bath.
Notes
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Brian Jones says
old country cook hint here.
Tap the round end of the eggs on the counter enough to spider-web crack the shell. This will let the air out as it cooks.
When they are done in the cooker the shells will fall off!
Gail says
Just a question- should pressure be on low or high?
Nicole Burkholder says
That’s really a question of preference. For this recipe, if it calls for “Steam” setting, then it’s going be on High. That’s the default setting for most of the preset buttons.
Daniel says
When making 24 eggs in the cardboard carton how do you stack them all in the pot?
Nicole Burkholder says
You have to pull the carton apart and rearrange it a bit. You can get 12 eggs in each layer. There’s a photo in the recipe card of this post that shows how they were arranged. You’ll also need to use the lowest/smallest trivet you have so there’s head space left. If you purchased a trivet that has really tall feet, it may not fit. I just use the one that came with the pot, since it’s the lowest one I own. A little foil balled up in the bottom to create a platform for the carton would be fine, too!
Bob Bay says
Good afternoon Nicole. I’ve been using my CPE for the last couple of years now. And I thought it was the CATS meow. But when I came onto your trick for hard boiled eggs I was absolutely blown away. This by far is the ticket for hard boiled eggs. Greatest thing since the pocket on a shirt. Keep up the good work Nicole.
Nicole Burkholder says
Isn’t it great? I love how easy they are to peel afterwards! Glad you’re happy with your CPE!
Beth says
I’ve been making deviled eggs/egg salad for 45 years and these are perfect. I’m “egg-static”. Too bad I only make them for me now. Sure wish I had a CPE 45 years ago!
Nicole Burkholder says
I keep saying, “Where was this when my kids were babies?!” 😀 Glad they turned out just right for you! We make egg salad and/or deviled eggs just about every week, too!
Peter says
Followed the recipe precisely but 5 out of 8 eggs exploded in the pot. Heard the first two pop almost immediately after the pot started heating. No bueno!
Nicole Burkholder says
Sounds like you had some old/cracked eggs mixed in there. I personally make eggs this way at least once a week, and thousands of other users are thrilled with cooking eggs in a pressure cooker. In this case, there’s something else going on-it’s not the “recipe” (which is more of a how-to, really, since the only ingredients are eggs and water) 😀 I’m sorry you weren’t successful this time, but give it another try!
Holly Smith says
Made eggs this morning, they came out absolutely perfect and the husband was happy, because of how easy they were to peel! I’ll never stovetop boil my eggs again! Thank you!
Nicole Burkholder says
They are the BEST! 😀
Jacqui B says
Hi, I just put the steam trivet in the pot, 1 cup of water, place as many eggs as I want, close the valve, and push the rice/risotto button. They cook for 12 min. and come out perfect as like a deviled egg consistency. I do a quick release and a cold bath. Perfecto!!
Nicole Burkholder says
The Rice/Risotto defaults to low pressure, and some people do prefer the texture of the whites when cooked on low pressure vs. high. Eggs are definitely a “try it until you find the way you like it” kind of thing! 🙂
Regina Sensing says
I followed recipe and perfect!!! Do you wash the silicone seal each time you use it???
Nicole Burkholder says
If it’s just eggs or something like that with no strong smell, I might skip it, but most of the time, yes. Remove the gasket and run it through the dishwasher. That’s where the cooking odors get trapped.
Heather says
Perfect eggs every single time!! Plus, they’re super easy to peel. ❤️
MARIA FORD says
Cooked 6 eggs for 14 minutes,low pressure. Did a quick release and then put them into ice water. Cooked perfectly! Shells practically fell off. Will do my eggs this way from now on!
Nicole Burkholder says
Everyone has their own preferences for how done they like their eggs, so I’m glad you found a time you like. The easy peeling is the BEST part!
Shireen says
Hi Nicole, thanks for all your great info and help. If I do 24 eggs, do I need to increase the cook time? Or will the extra time to get to pressure be enough extra time?
Nicole Burkholder says
Nope! No need to add time for more eggs. It may take a tiny bit longer to come to pressure, but not much. There’s a lot of air in there- it’s not like a full pot of soup 🙂 Whether I do 6 eggs or 24 eggs, I cook them for 7 minutes and do the quick release/egg bath. Comes out perfect for us!
Mert says
I finally got my eggs to come out perfectly. I’m ecstatic!!
Nicole Burkholder says
Congrats! They are so great in the CPE!
Christine Steinhoff says
I set timer for 7 minutes. They were soft inside. Was I supposed to wait 10 minutes before taking the eggs out of cooker?
Nicole Burkholder says
Did you cook on high or low pressure. No, you generally don’t wait. I pull them out right after the CPE “beeps” when the 7 minutes is up and they straight into the ice bath.
Melissa says
Okay, so I am constantly teased, because I am an great baker and cook, but I can’t make an hard boiled egg to save my life. Well got this handy dandy little appliance and followed your directions and we’ll, let’s just say I was doing a happy dance in my kitchen. Thank you as 7 minutes was perfect.
Nicole Burkholder says
I totally understand! Same here 😀
Bugawan says
If using the egg carton to cook the eggs, do you still use the wire rack inside?
Nicole Burkholder says
Yes, you need the carton to sit up out of the water on the bottom
Kerri Pailthorpe says
Help. I cooked tehm on Steam for 15 Min., Let them sit about 15 min., put in ice bath for about 15 min., they turned out “yellow-ish” in color not white. They taste fine, but look awful. Any ideas? Did I over-cook?
Nicole Burkholder says
You definitely overcooked them! They don’t need more than 7 minutes, and then you do a quick release and get them into an ice bath right away to stop cooking.
Kari says
Mine kept saying heating and never counting down?
Nicole Burkholder says
Sounds like you forgot to close the steam release valve. If the cooking cycle never starts, it’s because it can’t reach pressure inside. Make sure you have the lid closed, locked and the steam release valve switched to closed (X) and then try again. 🙂
Tammy Ingram says
First time using my CPE XL, followed your recipe and they came out great.
Nicole Burkholder says
Glad to hear it! I made eggs for my first recipe, too 🙂
Lynnette Smith says
Easy directions. Thanks
Deanna says
Help want to do this but have no ice… Can I just let them cool on their own or put in cold water? Will they still be easy to peel? Just wondering if anyone has tried it . Thanks
Nicole Burkholder says
If you don’t have an ice bath to help them quickly stop cooking, I would reduce the cook time by a minute or two and then put them in cold water in the refrigerator. You’re just trying to quickly stop the cooking so the yolks don’t overcook.
Antti says
Great guide! Just got the Express Pot and I love hardboiled eggs. They are a part of a quintessential scandinavian breakfast. Sometimes I like them soft boiled or if I’m taking them to go I want them hard boiled. Your times are right on the money. If you add a aromatic flavor to the water it will slightly flavor your eggs. Fish sauce is the best.
Nicole Burkholder says
My kids love deviled eggs, so this is so much quicker for making them! (And way easier to peel, too!) I’ll have to try some different flavors as you suggested!
Judith loza says
Love love this ……