This Instant Pot no shell hard cooked eggs method is a quick and simple way to prepare eggs for egg salad sandwiches without peeling shells. It is especially helpful when you want chopped hard cooked eggs for a recipe and do not need the eggs to stay whole.
Instant Pot No Shell Hard Cooked Eggs
Catherine’s Plates
About This Recipe
These Instant Pot no shell hard cooked eggs are made by cracking fresh eggs directly into a solid pan, then pressure cooking them over water on a wire rack. Instead of boiling eggs in their shells and peeling them one by one, this method cooks the eggs together in a pan. Once cooked, the eggs can be turned out onto a cutting board and chopped into the size you need.
This recipe is ideal when you are preparing egg salad sandwiches, chopped eggs for a salad, or any dish where the eggs do not need to remain in a traditional oval shape. It keeps the process simple, reduces the time spent peeling, and gives you cooked eggs that are ready to chop and mix. The ingredients are minimal: eggs, water, cooking spray, and the right pan and rack to fit inside your Instant Pot.
The key to this recipe is using a solid pan that fits comfortably inside the Instant Pot and placing it on a wire rack above the water. The cooking spray helps the cooked egg release from the pan more easily. After a short pressure cook time, a brief natural release, and a quick release, the eggs are ready to remove, drain, and chop.
Ingredients
- 6-8 eggs
- cooking spray
- solid pan to fit Instant Pot
- wire rack to fit Instant Pot
- 1 cup water
Instructions
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Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Place the wire rack inside the pot. Spray the solid pan with cooking spray, then set the pan on top of the wire rack. Make sure the pan sits securely and is positioned so the lid can close properly.
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Crack the eggs one at a time directly into the prepared pan. Keep the eggs inside the pan and avoid getting any shell pieces into the mixture. This no shell hard cooked eggs method works best when the eggs are cooked together and then chopped after cooking.
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Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it into position. Check the knob on the lid and make sure it is set to “sealing,” not “venting.” This step is important because the pot needs to build pressure before the cooking time begins.
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Press the pressure cooker button and set the cooking time to 5 minutes. Once the Instant Pot comes to pressure, allow it to cook for the full 5 minutes. When the cooking time is complete, let the pot naturally release pressure for 3 minutes. After that, perform a quick release and wait until the pin drops. Open the lid carefully, tilting it away from your face to avoid the steam.
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Using a towel or heat-safe gloves, lift out the wire rack and the pan with the cooked eggs. Drain away any water that may be in the pan. Turn the pan upside down over a cutting board and gently tap the bottom of the pan to release the cooked egg form.
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Chop the cooked eggs into your preferred size. For egg salad sandwiches, chop them small enough to mix easily with the other ingredients you plan to use. Serve the chopped hard cooked eggs right away in your recipe, or prepare them as part of your meal prep.
Recipe Notes
This Instant Pot egg method is designed for recipes that call for chopped hard cooked eggs rather than whole peeled eggs. Because the eggs are cooked without their shells, they will come out as one cooked form instead of individual eggs. That makes them easy to dice, mash, or chop for egg salad sandwiches.
For the best release, coat the solid pan well with cooking spray before adding the eggs. Use caution when removing the pan from the Instant Pot, as both the pan and rack will be hot. Always open the lid away from you after pressure cooking.