Hard boiled eggs! Hard boiled eggs! You have to get an Instant Pot just to make hard boiled eggs! Those are the words I heard over and over again from Instant Pot users as I began my deep dive into testing North America's trendiest kitchen gadget.
But I don't like hard boiled eggs. IT DOESN'T MATTER! YOU HAVE TO MAKE HARD BOILED EGGS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO EASY TO PEEL!!
Barf. O.K. fine, in the name of research I'll make hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot so I can see how easy they are to peel.
As you may know, fresh eggs are much harder to peel because there's no air between the shell and the egg. So you end up chipping away tiny bits of shell until 3 hours later you've voluntarily admitted yourself to a mental institution where as luck would have it, they're serving egg salad sandwiches for lunch.
For my test I used both fresh (laid within the previous 3 days) and old (laid 2 months ago) eggs.
I cooked half of them in a pot on the stove and the other half I cooked in the BBQ. Just kidding. I cooked the other half in my Instant Pot (which I bought a month ago to see if this thing is all hype or hoax).
Here's how it went.
In case you couldn't understand that, basically all the eggs peeled the same.
The Instant Pot cooked eggs were slightly easier to peel but it was nothing anyone could legally brag about in a midnight infomercial.
These are the 2 cooking methods I used:
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs in water
- Place eggs in pot of cold water and bring to the boil.
- As soon as pot boils, turn off the heat and let them sit until the water cools (around 15 minutes)
This is the method Signe Langford's uses in her book Happy Hens & Fresh Eggs which features me and my chickens.
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs in an Instant Pot
- Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Put a steam basket or trivet in the Instant Pot and add your eggs.
- Close the lid and set the manual timer to 8 minutes.
- When done, quick release the steam and handle the eggs when they're cool enough to touch.
- It will take longer than 8 minutes to cook the eggs because the Instant Pot has to come up to pressure before it cooks them.
THE RESULTS
WATER METHOD
With the water method all the eggs came out cooked perfectly and were moderately difficult to peel.
INSTANT POT METHOD
With the Instant Pot my first batch of eggs came out perfectly cooked but the second batch was very slightly undercooked (possibly because I peeled them while they were still very hot thinking this would make peeling them easier). It did not. The Instant Pot eggs didn't seem much easier to peel.
VERDICT
A couple of the Instant Pot eggs were slightly easier to peel than the water boiled eggs. But if I hadn't had it knocked into my head over and over again about how much easier these eggs would be to peel than regular cooked hard boiled eggs I never, ever would have noticed a difference.
For me it was a fail on both batches that I tried.
I know there are those of you who will dispute this, and I don't disagree. I've seen the videos! It's entirely possible that your hard boiled Instant Pot eggs burst right out of their shells and danced directly into the potato salad, but for me that's not what happened.
My eggs didn't dance. Angels didn't sing and rainbows didn't fart kittens.
Just when I thought I was leaning towards a recommendation for the Instant Pot this happens. Next week I will present you with my cheesecake results. It's pretty difficult to make a cheesecake that doesn't fart rainbows AND kittens so ...
Jody
Will the follow up video be"Will They eat it?" Instant Pot or water bath eggs?
Sarah
I know everyone has their own "perfect" method for making hard boiled eggs, but thought I'd share mine anyway. This works perfectly with both farm fresh eggs and store bought refrigerated eggs.
1) If you have time, let the eggs sit on the counter for a while to warm up, but this isn't necessary.
2) Boil a pot of water
3) Use a slotted spoon to place eggs into boiling water (if you have a basket to lower them all in at once, even better). You don't want to drop them in because they're more likely to pop. The room temp eggs are also less likely to pop than cold eggs directly out of the fridge.
4) Boil for 8 minutes
5) Remove from heat and let stand an extra minute, then remove eggs from hot water and put on a plate to allow to cool
6) DO NOT RUN UNDER COLD WATER!!
7) Start peeling them when they are still pretty hot to the touch, but not so hot that they burn you. If you let them cool all the way, you'll be fighting with the shells.
Mary W
Thanks for researching the hard boiled egg mystery even when you don't like to eat them. You are a "true" trooper! I love deviled eggs and make them all the time. I buy my eggs from the store, let them sit in refrigerator for over a week. Put them in pot with water, bring to boil, then remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes. I usually do a dozen at a time. THEN, I let them cool in cool water by placing them in a large tub of cold water. Finally, I crack them all over and roll slightly to loosen the shell. While holding them under water, I start with fat butt end, press my thumb slightly down on egg just under the edge you want to lift so water gets under, then just slip off their shell jackets. (There is always one asshat that screws with me.) During family get-togethers I cook 4 dozen to make deviled eggs so I've gotten pretty fast and people say they love my eggs. I pretty sure no one wants to make them for their family due to the shell issue so they all just compliment me to keep me bringing them. The real trick is old eggs, cold water cooling, crack all over, begin at butt end, press egg white to let water under edge you are lifting. I also have wine while peeling. I can't wait to see how to make yogurt and other stuff you have made with your new cooker. But, especially after what you tested on eggs, I'll stick to my old way and not listen to the advertisements.
Grammy
"I also have wine while peeling."
You should have just put that at the beginning of your instructions. Then it doesn't matter what method you use, everything will turn out perfectly. Thanks for this tip -- it's the one I'm going to try first.
Mary W
Grammy, you are absolutely right. Wine before cleaning the bathroom, bird cage, dirty dishes, and reading the latest news. The whole world looks better. LOL
Michael Deleon
I switched to the pioneer lady method - bring water to a boil - gently roll the eggs in and boil for 14 minutes. Cool eggs in ice bath. You'll have to get Opal nugget ice maker to have plenty of ice. I boil eggs once a week and they are always perfect - peeled beautifully.
https://firstbuild.com/products/opal/?gclid=CjwKEAjw6e_IBRDvorfv2Ku79jMSJAAuiv9YiDed9X0mBW5EX0CDX5VdcnMBaz9wXIO8EM0816lMqxoCMaXw_wcB
Linda in Illinois
Rainbows did not fart kittens !!! ROFL
I think if the Instant Pot takes too much brain power to run/figure/or get what they claim/etc. then it isn't making my life any easier.. I won't waste my money on the thing.
ktr
I prefer to cook my eggs in the instant pot on low pressure for 4-5 minutes depending on how large the eggs are. I like that I don't have to watch it and I can cook 2 dozen eggs at one time.
billy sharpstick
Steaming in a steam basket works best for me. America's Test Kitchen posted this with a very scientific explanation about temperature, protein breakdown and other voodoo science, but steaming makes boiled eggs easier to peel for my about 9 out of 10 times.
Tammy
Ooops! That is "1/4 CUP" water! Sorry!
Tammy
Hello everyone! Try peeling eggs by putting 1/4 water in a small jar, put the egg in and lid on the jar, then shake it until you can see egg white through the cracks in the shell. The peel will fall off so much easier! Try it!
Jennifer Hellie
Karen - I'm a relatively new IP owner and I LOVE it! I think I know why your second batch didn't work as well as the first. I learned the hard way this Easter that the insert pot has to be cold or room temperature when you start your batch of eggs in the IP. If you attempt a second batch right away with a hot pot it will only soft boil the eggs not hard boil. We found this out after we had colored our Easter eggs....oops. I could not convince the kids that soft boiled eggs are ok to eat too. nope!
Elaine
Good morning, Karen ... I just wanted to say a big thanks for all this in-depth research you are doing for us regarding the Instant Pot. While we are on the subject of eggs, can you answer a question, please? If I buy some grocery store eggs and find I have some left that are past the "sell-by date", are they safe to use IF they PASS the freshness test that you taught us readers?? (The freshness test being: if an egg sinks, it's still fresh.). I'm assuming you must toss any eggs that float, right? Thanks again!
Ev Wilcox
Ah, eggs. Hard boiled. Easy. Peeling-not so easy, especially if they are fresh eggs! Method: Put eggs in pan, cover w water. Bring to a boil. Boil for 4 min. Remove pan from heat; let sit covered 10 min. Drain in pan, run tap water over and drain a couple of times. Cover eggs with tap water; put lid on pan; shake to crack eggs all over. Drain & peel eggs-some easily, some not (freshness = hard to peel)! Supposedly the water leaches out the green making stuff from the well-cracked eggs. Seriously, the bottom line seems to be: If the eggs are fresh they WILL be hard to peel!
Ruth Hirsch
yes yes yes
you are validating what Cooks Ill said re: IP.
They also did recommend the steam hard/soft cooked eggs things, and that at least makes sense.
And works. I copied the soft cooked directions below; I find it easier to do good hard cooked than soft. You might could want to take a peek at CI.
Definitely, 'shocking' the poor things in ice water: makes sense plus works. Also starting at the fatter end helps: as I understand it, if there's an air bubble it is at that end. In any case, thanks, many, for validating: no need for IP.
SOFT-COOKED EGGS:1. Bring ½ inch water to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Using tongs, gently place eggs in boiling water (eggs will not be submerged). Cover saucepan and cook eggs for 6½ minutes. For hard, 13 mins.
1. 2. Remove cover, transfer saucepan to sink, and place under cold running water/in ice water for 30 seconds. Remove eggs from pan, peel and serve.
Deb
Hey Karen
I found a really super easy way to peel fresh, I mean fresh, right out of the coop fresh, hard boiled eggs. This is without a new expensive device. STEAM them. I use a dollar store steamer basket, cook them for 20 to 22 minutes, then ran cold water over them to cool so you could handle without scorching my hands off. They peeled as if I was using year old eggs (just kidding). I did have one egg that blew out its innards, but maybe it just wanted to get out of there or there was a hairline crack that these old eyes didn't see. Thought you might like to give it a
try...
sharon
You need to try golden eggs - maybe would make you like hard boiled eggs a bit more - take the raw egg and place in a sock (a clean sock is best :-) or something similar. Take each end of the sock and spin it - this distributes the yolk throughout the egg and when you hard boil it the peeled egg is yellow throughout - a great look for salads
Karen
Huh! No, I still think I'd hate them, but I'd love to try to do it just for the fun of it, lol. :) ~ karen!
Ella
Ew! Just the thought makes me queasy. I like my eggs to look like eggs
Ann
The easiest to peel eggs are ones done in a electric rice steamer. You know the kind that will set you back less than 20 bucks at any big box household store or even the grocery. I have honestly taken eggs laid by my girls and an hour later I steam them and about 90% of the time the eggs almost fall out of the shell. The other times, I may have to chip off some of the peel, but nothing like if I had boiled them. If you wait til eggs are a couple days old they always peel effortlessly and pristine. I use that old steamer constantly, best 20 bucks ever
Cary
I was so excited with my first eggsperiment with the instant pot. i peeled the 1 day old egg in 4 seconds.! with one hand. while holding my phone in my other hand. gotta use the crack and roll method :-) i've been experimenting with the IP ever since I got it. My favorite things are risottos, rice (brown rice cooks in 22 minutes!) and rice pudding, bone broth, ribs, and any tough meat braise. but back to the eggs…first off, the ice bath is crucial. I have a 6 quart so I use 1 cup of water. If you have an 8 quart you use 1 1/2 cups. I have been making hard-boiled eggs and soft boiled eggs with the IP almost daily. It is a miracle worker! hard boiled eggs… 1 cup water. Trivet. Eggs. HP 6 minutes. quick release. Ice bath immediately. Soft boiled eggs… HP 3 minutes, quick release, ice bath immediately. salad with goat cheese, avocado, etc. and two soft boiled eggs with olive oil and balsamic. Oh my!
Julia
I read a Cooks Illustrated article once about cooking eggs. And they recommended steaming them. Bring a little water to a boil and add the eggs to the steamer basket for maybe 13 minutes? Something about the quick change in temperature is supposed to break down the membrane that makes eggs hard to peel. I think it works- but I also like it because it takes less time to get hard boiled eggs than to boil them in a pot of water.
Meredith
Yes! I made deviled eggs for two events recently and used my fresh eggs, cooked by steaming them. They were a breeze to peel. I"m sad that I am 47 years old and have just learned this. Oh well. Here is the method I used.
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_steam_eggs/
I didn't use the steamer basket, just used like 1/2 inch of water. 16 minutes for a dozen worked well for me. No pricey kitchen gadget and no wasting gallons of water peeling them under the spigot. Win!
carswell
I haven't found steaming eggs makes them easier to peel.
I have a vintage egg steamer that does 4 eggs at a time. No pots, no boiling water. You just put 2 1/2 tablespoons of water in the thing, set the eggs in the rack and put the lid on. Plug it in, the water makes the electrical connection and steams, cooking the eggs. When the water is totally evaporated it shuts off. Easy peasy. If you want soft eggs you just use less water.
This is my unit exactly - they come in other colours. I used to have yellow one but the ceramic base cracked. Luckily I tracked another one down at the Aberfoyle Flea Market.
http://www.eclectisaurus.com/appliances_11.html
I then pop the eggs in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking and peel them when they are cool.
Lush
I am a chef & the best thing I ever learnt with boiled eggs is to use a good pinch of salt in the water.
Shells may not pop right off but come off much easier.
Way way cheaper than an instant pot.
Cheers Lush
Lynne
I can't figure out how to comment specifically on the shaved cat belly story on my phone. The cats may be coming home with shaved bellies because they were trapped in a TNR
(Trap, neuter, return). Females get their bellies shaved then get ultrasound to see if they have been spayed. If they have they are released. I live in a college town with free-roaming cats. TNR is an important operation to stem pet overpopulation. I work at an animal shelter and have seen first-hand how many kittens one free-roaming mother can produce. It's a real problem.
Karen
Hi Lynne. If that were the case I'm sure the town would know about the program. ~ karen!
Renee Rydzewskiz
Also, the usual protocol is to ear tip the left ear once spayed. Maybe they are actually spaying them....