Air fryer hard boiled eggs are a great alternative to the traditional method—there’s no need to wait for the water to boil or timing how long the eggs need to cook. Simply add the cold eggs to the air fryer basket and set to a low temperature, cooking for the recommended time below. Bonus: the eggs are also much easier to peel as the shell sticks less to the egg.
Air fryers are a great way to cook lots of your favorite items. They can cook quickly and without the addition of oil or water. Enjoy these hard boiled eggs as a snack, a quick breakfast on the go, or as part of your favorite recipes, like a Cobb salad.
“I absolutely love my air fryer. It’s multi-purpose and allows me to get rid of other appliances in my home. I cook hard boiled eggs weekly and being able to just throw them in the air fryer straight from the fridge and walk away for 15 minutes is a gift that will never stop giving.” —Renae Wilson
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
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4 large eggs
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Salt, optional
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Freshly ground black pepper , optional
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
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Add the eggs to your air fryer basket straight out of the fridge, so they are still cold.
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
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Heat the eggs at 275 F for 17 minutes for a hard boiled egg. Heat for 15 minutes for a soft boiled egg.
(Your air fryer might vary. Some recommend a lower temperature of 250 for 15-17 minutes. Do trial and error with one egg to find out what works best for your air fryer.)
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
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Prepare a bowl of ice water. Once the timer goes off, carefully add the eggs directly to the ice bath. Let them sit for two minutes.
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
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Feel the eggs: If there is any give and it feels soft when you gently squeeze them, they are not hard-boiled. Return them to the air fryer and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Peel the eggs. Cut them open to ensure doneness.
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
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Serve on their own or as a part of your favorite dish. Sprinkle the eggs with salt and pepper, if desired.
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to place the eggs in a water bath for 2-3 minutes and then peel the eggs. Any longer in the bath and they will be harder to peel.
- Each air fryer is different. Your cook time may vary from ours. Test the timing with one egg first.
- Make sure the temperature is low; between 250 and 275F. And you will need to cook for at least 15 minutes. Some air fryers take longer, it’s rare that it would take less time.
How to Use Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs are so versatile. They can be used in every meal, or just eat them on their own for a quick snack.
Breakfast Recipes:
- Instant Pot Congee
Lunch Recipes:
- Potato Salad
- Pasta Salad
- Cobb Salad
- Egg Salad Sandwich
Dinner Recipes:
- Nasi Lemak
- Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Snacks:
- Deviled Eggs
How to Store
- The best way to store hard boiled eggs is to place them in an air-tight container or plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can store them peeled or unpeeled, but they peel the easiest right out of the water bath. It’s also great to get all of the peeling out of the way and then store them.
- Freezing hard boiled eggs does not work well as it changes the texture of the whites and makes them rubbery.
How Do You Know When the Eggs Are Done?
The best way to know if the eggs are done is by giving them a little squeeze once they’re in the water bath. If there’s any give to the egg, then it is undercooked and needs to go back in the basket. You can cook one egg to start off with so you can figure out how long your air fryer takes to cook them.
