Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs
An air fryer cooks eggs in their shells with dry heat, so there's no pot of water to bring to the boil. Large eggs straight from the fridge take about 9 minutes for a soft yolk, 12 for jammy and 15 for fully set. An ice bath as soon as they come out stops the cooking and loosens the shells for peeling.
Published
- Prep Time
- 2 mins
- Cook Time
- 16 mins
- Ice bath
- 10 mins
- Total Time
- 28 mins
- Servings
- 6 eggs
How do you make Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs?
Preheat the air fryer to 130°C (270°F) for 3 minutes. Put 6 large eggs straight from the fridge in the basket in a single layer and air fry for 9-10 minutes for soft yolks, 11-12 minutes for jammy yolks or 14-16 minutes for hard-cooked eggs. Move them straight into ice water for 10 minutes, then peel.
- Total time
- 28 mins
- Calories
- 72 per serving
- Protein
- 6.3 g
- Yield
- 6 eggs
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Method
- Air frying
Ingredients
Equipment
Air fryer · Tongs · Large bowl
Quick Directions
Preheat the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 130°C (270°F) for 3 minutes.
Air fry the eggs
Air fry 9-10 minutes for soft, 11-12 for jammy or 14-16 for hard.
Chill in ice water
While the eggs cook, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water.
Peel
Tap each egg all over on the counter and roll it gently to crack the shell.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Every step for making air fryer hard-boiled eggs, written out in full.
Preheat the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 130°C (270°F) for 3 minutes. If your air fryer doesn't go that low, use 150°C (300°F) and take 1-2 minutes off each cooking time.
Air fry the eggs
Take the eggs straight from the fridge and set them in the basket in a single layer with a little space between them. The times assume 6 large eggs in a 4-6 L basket. Air fry for 9-10 minutes for soft eggs with runny yolks and set whites, 11-12 minutes for jammy yolks, or 14-16 minutes for fully set, hard-cooked yolks.
Chill in ice water
While the eggs cook, fill a large bowl with ice and cold water. Lift the eggs out with tongs and put them straight into the ice water. Leave them for 10 minutes, or for 2-3 minutes if you want to eat soft eggs warm.
Peel
Tap each egg all over on the counter and roll it gently to crack the shell. Peel it under cool running water, starting at the wide end where the air pocket is.
Recipe Tips
- Air fryers vary more with eggs than with most foods, and a minute changes the yolk. Cook one test egg the first time and adjust by a minute either way.
- Up to 12 eggs fit in one layer in most 5.5 L (6 qt) baskets. A full basket can need 1-2 minutes more, so test one egg first.
- Large eggs are the standard here. Medium eggs need about 1 minute less and extra-large eggs about 1 minute more.
- Eggs that are a week or two old peel more easily than very fresh ones.
- Small brown spots can appear on the shells where they touched the hot basket, sometimes with a faint mark on the white underneath. They are harmless.
- Soft and jammy eggs have yolks that aren't fully set. For young children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system, cook the eggs for 14-16 minutes until the yolks are firm, or use pasteurized eggs.
Variations
- Marinated jammy eggs: peel 6 jammy eggs and refrigerate them in a mix of 120 ml (1/2 cup) soy sauce, 120 ml (1/2 cup) water and 2 tbsp mirin for 4-24 hours. Use tamari labelled gluten-free to keep them gluten-free.
- Egg salad: chop 6 hard-cooked eggs and mix them with 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp chopped chives, salt and pepper.
- Everything bagel eggs: halve hard-cooked eggs and sprinkle them with everything bagel seasoning and a pinch of flaky salt.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 72 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6.3 g |
| Carbs | 0.4 g |
| Fat | 4.8 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.6 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0.2 g |
| Sodium | 71 mg |
Estimated from the listed ingredients; values vary by brand.
Related Recipes
Storing & Reheating
- Fridge
- Refrigerate within 2 hours. Unpeeled hard-cooked eggs keep for up to 7 days. Peeled eggs keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container lined with a damp paper towel. Eat soft and jammy eggs within 2 days.
- Freezer
- Don't freeze whole cooked eggs. The whites turn tough and watery when thawed.
- Reheat
- Eat them cold, or warm peeled eggs in a bowl of very hot tap water for 2-3 minutes. Never reheat whole eggs in the microwave, because they can burst.
Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs FAQs
How long do you cook eggs in the air fryer?
At 130°C (270°F), large eggs straight from the fridge take 9-10 minutes for soft yolks, 11-12 minutes for jammy yolks and 14-16 minutes for hard-cooked eggs. Move them into ice water as soon as they come out so they stop cooking.
Do you need to preheat the air fryer for hard-boiled eggs?
It's best to. Preheating for 3 minutes makes the cooking time predictable, which matters with eggs because one minute changes the yolk. If you start from cold, add 1-2 minutes and test one egg first.
Why are my air fryer eggs hard to peel?
Very fresh eggs stick to their shells, and eggs that cool slowly are harder to peel. Use eggs that are a week or two old, put them in ice water straight from the air fryer, and peel them under cool running water from the wide end.
How long do hard-boiled eggs last in the fridge?
Unpeeled hard-cooked eggs keep for up to 7 days in the fridge, and peeled ones for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Refrigerate them within 2 hours of cooking. Eat soft and jammy eggs within 2 days.
Why do eggs get brown spots in the air fryer?
The spots form where the shell touches the hot basket. They can leave a faint mark on the white underneath, but they are harmless and don't change the taste of the egg.
Are soft and jammy eggs safe to eat?
Their yolks aren't fully set, so they aren't recommended for young children, pregnant people, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system. Use pasteurized eggs, or cook the eggs for 14-16 minutes until the yolks are firm.
Disclaimer
- Nutrition information is an estimate based on the listed ingredients. It changes with the brands, portion sizes and swaps you use.
- Read ingredient labels for allergens and for diet claims such as gluten-free or vegan. Products and their ingredients can change.
- Cooking times are a guide, since ovens, air fryers and slow cookers all run differently. Use a food thermometer and cook meat, poultry and fish to the safe internal temperatures in government food safety guidance.
- This recipe is general information, not medical or nutrition advice. If you have an allergy, a health condition or a special diet, check with a qualified health professional.
