For perfect soft-boiled eggs, set your Instant Pot to 3 minutes and low pressure. The eggs will have perfectly jammy yolks and will peel like a dream!

A bowl of brown rice, crispy tofu and mushrooms, and perfect instant pot soft-boiled eggs.

My first Instant Pot success was a hard-boiled egg, my second was a soft-boiled. The virtues of making “boiled” eggs in an Instant Pot can be summed up as follows: 1. They peel like a dream. 2. They come out perfectly every time. Recipe is below.

My Instant Pot egg successes led me to make rice, which also came out perfectly. I’m keeping this entry short because I shared my Instant Pot story and some thoughts on to buy or not to buy an Instant Pot here: Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice with Sesame, Soy, and Scallions.

PS: The Instant Pot Miracle: One-Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce

PPS: Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs

Here’s how to make Instant Pot soft-boiled eggs: Pour 2 cups water into the IP, place steamer insert inside, place eggs on top.

Overhead shot of instant pot with steamer basket inserted, 4 eggs on top, and 2 cups of water.

Set Instant Pot to 3 minutes at low pressure. {See recipe notes: times vary}

Instant Pot set to 3 minutes, low pressure, manual.

Open lid and …

Instant Pot with its lid open after the 3 minutes has lapsed.

… transfer eggs to a water bath to cool briefly.

Instant pot soft boiled eggs cooling in ice water.

Peel the eggs (this is an incredible experience if you’ve ever struggled peeling boiled eggs).

Two instant post soft-boiled eggs, freshly peeled.

Eat on toast 🍞🍞🍞🍞🍞

Perfect Instant Pot soft-boiled eggs on toasted quinoa-flax bread.

… maybe with some dukkah sprinkled on top. This is quinoa-flax toasting bread.

Perfect Instant Pot soft-boiled eggs on quinoa-flax bread topped with dukkah.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Instant Pot soft-boiled eggs on homemade quinoa-flax bread

Perfect Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 51 reviews

Print Recipe
Save Recipe

Description

I have this 6-qt Instant Pot, which is important only because the size of the pot may affect the timing. These instructions work perfectly for my IP, but it did take some trial and error to get the timing down.

Another variable that could affect the timing is altitude: at higher elevations, you’ll need to increase the cooking time. Again this may take some trial and error to get right.

Instant pot boiled eggs peel so incredibly easily. As the title says, these instructions are for soft-boiled eggs, which are so delicious on many a dish, namely toast: quinoa-flax toasting bread. 

If you want to make hard-boiled eggs, follow the instructions here: Perfect Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 4 eggs

Instructions

  1. Pour the 2 cups of water into the insert of the Instant Pot. (Note: Do measure 2 cups as opposed to using the markings on the inside of the insert.) Lay the steamer insert inside. Place 4 eggs on top.
  2. Cover the pot. Using the manual button, set the pot to 3 minutes and low pressure. Make sure the valve on top is set to sealing. Fill a bowl with ice water or cold tap water. (See notes above regarding timing: timing will vary based on what model IP you have; timing will vary based on elevation as well. It may take some trial and error to get right.)
  3. When the 3 minutes are up, which will take more like 9 minutes, switch the valve to venting, let the steam escape for no more than 1 minute, carefully remove the lid to avoid steaming your face, transfer eggs to water bath, let cool for 30 seconds or so, then peel, season and eat.
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Instant Pot
  • Cuisine: American