Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs are super easy to make and have firm whites (no slime!) and wonderfully runny yolks. This is the best method I've found for consistently perfect soft-boiled eggs every time!
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Soft-boiled eggs were missing from my life for a long time. My mom made them a lot when I was a kid, but I never made them for myself and had pretty much forgotten about them.
I recently rediscovered soft-boiled eggs using my Instant Pot, and I am definitely making up for lost time (#obsessed)!
My mom had making soft-boiled eggs down pat. Me? I could never get consistent results cooking them on the stove. More often than not, they would either be undercooked and slimy {gag} or overcooked (which is not terrible - I love hard-boiled eggs - but I wanted soft-boiled eggs).
For me, the perfect soft-boiled egg has whites that are cooked through and firm with ZERO slime and a runny yolk...and that's EXACTLY what I get every single time when I cook the eggs in my Instant Pot (just one more reason to love it!).
Before we get started, I just want to let you know that there might be a little bit of trial and error involved in making soft-boiled eggs in your Instant Pot - but ONLY at first! Here's why:
- Different Instant Pot models and sizes may cook a little differently.
- You might like your soft-boiled eggs cooked a little more or a little less than how I like mine.
- Any of the following can affect how long it takes the Instant Pot to come up to pressure (thus affecting how long the eggs are actually cooking):
- The temperature of the eggs.
- The size of the eggs.
- The number of eggs.
- The temperature of the water.
- The amount of water.
- Your altitude.
The method I'm giving you today is what works in both of my Instant Pots (I have an 8-quart IP DUO and a 6-quart IP DUO PLUS).
It took me maybe 3 tries to get the timing right at first. Once I got it, though, I never needed to make an adjustment again. I now get perfectly cooked eggs every time!
This method, if not spot-on for your Instant Pot, should get you pretty darn close. Your eggs may be perfect the very first time, or you may need to make an adjustment or two to the cooking time.
I recommend cooking only 1 or 2 eggs at a time until you find the sweet spot for your Instant Pot so you don't waste a lot of eggs.
Okay. Let's get to it, then!
Ingredients You Need
- Eggs (standard store-bought large eggs)
- Water
- Ice water
Special Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot
- Steaming rack/trivet (comes with Instant Pot)
How to Make Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs
I have successfully used this method for 1 egg up to 6 eggs at a time. The cooking time and the amount of water will be the same whether you cook 1 egg or 6 eggs. I have not tried cooking more than 6 eggs at a time (never needed more than 6 all at once!).
To get consistent results, use cold water and cold large eggs straight from the refrigerator every time.
When the eggs are done pressure cooking, immediately quick-release the pressure, and then immediately place the eggs in ice water. If you let them linger in the pot at all, they will still be cooking, which can result in overcooked eggs.
You only need to put the eggs in the ice water for about 30 seconds - just until they have cooled off enough to handle. Don't leave them in there too long if you still want your eggs to be warm when you eat them (plus, they will continue to cook just a bit, so you may risk the egg being more cooked than you like).
I don't know the reason, but I find that sometimes my soft-boiled eggs don't peel as easily as the hard-boiled eggs I make in my Instant Pot. Maybe it's the cooking at low pressure, the shorter cooking time, or the shorter time spent in the ice water.
No worries, though. If you find that your eggs aren't peeling easily, just carefully cut the egg in half and scoop the egg out of the shell. This is actually how my mom always did it.
How to Serve Soft-Boiled Eggs
I eat my soft-boiled eggs three different ways. It's nice to have some variety!
My favorite way to eat them is how my mom used to make them for me - chopped up in a bowl and mixed with some butter, salt, and pepper. Add some buttered toast on the side to mop up all that yummy yolk, and I am in breakfast heaven!
Then there's the fun way to eat them: in an egg cup with the top cut off (note: the egg is not peeled for this one) and strips of toast "soldiers" for dunking.
This is how my gram always made them for me whenever I slept over at her house (such good memories - I think of her every time I make them this way).
Back then, I didn't like the egg whites, so I dunked my toast until all the yolk was gone. Gram would eat the whites (no food was ever wasted in that house!). Now, of course, I love the whites, and I scoop them out of the shell when I'm done dunking.
(Yep, that's a shot glass I'm using to hold my egg. Sadly, I don't own any of those cute little egg cups - YET.)
Sometimes I just butter a piece of toast, cut the eggs in half, place them on top, and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. If you like avocado, this also really good with some mashed avocado spread on the toast!
Soft-boiled eggs aren't just for breakfast or brunch. You could also use them in other ways, such as a topper for salads or noodle bowls. Sometimes I use them instead of poached eggs (Eggs Benedict, anyone?) because I think they are so much easier to make, and I like the texture much better!
I hope you try this Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs recipe and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
More Egg Recipes to Try
If you make this recipe, I'd love to know how it went! Please leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
📋Recipe
Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 to 6 large cold eggs, straight from the refrigerator (you could cook 1 egg at a time up to 6 eggs at a time, depending on how many you need)
- 2 cups cold water
- ice water (for cooling the eggs)
Instructions
- Place the steaming rack/trivet in the Instant pot; set the cold eggs on top of the rack.
- Pour the cold water into the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid and set the steam release valve to SEALING.
- Set the Instant Pot to cook at LOW pressure for 3 minutes (for an 8-quart Instant Pot) or 4 minutes (for a 6-quart Instant Pot). Note: It will take the Instant Pot about 8 minutes to come to pressure before the cooking time starts to count down.
- When the time is up, immediately quick-release the pressure.
- Immediately place the eggs in a bowl of ice water for about 30 seconds or just until they have cooled enough to safely handle.
- Peel and serve immediately.
Notes
- There may be a little trial and error when you first try cooking soft-boiled eggs in your Instant Pot. You may like your eggs cooked more or less than I like mine. Also, many things can affect the cooking time (such as Instant Pot model and size, water temperature and amount, egg temperature, size, and quantity, altitude, etc.). Once you get the timing right, you will get consistent results every time! This recipe should be pretty darn close, though, if not spot on!
- Sometimes I find that the eggs are a not as easy to peel as I would like. If you are having difficulty peeling the eggs, just cut the egg in half and scoop the egg out of the shell.
- I tested this recipe using standard store-bought large eggs and both an 8-quart IP DUO Instant Pot and a 6-quart IP DUO PLUS Instant Pot.
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