Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs (Plus Soft-Boiled)
You do not need a pot of boiling water for air fryer hard boiled eggs. Cooked in the dry heat of the basket at 300 °F for 15 minutes, then cooled in ice water, the eggs have firm whites, set yolks and shells that peel easily. The same method gives soft-boiled and jammy eggs by changing the time.
- Temperature
- 300°F150 °C
- Total time
- 28min
- Prep time
- 3min
- Servings
- 6
- Per serving
- 70kcal
Why the air fryer works for hard boiled eggs
A hard boiled egg is not boiled in the air fryer, it is baked in hot air. The shell holds the heat, and the egg inside slowly sets as the temperature rises. The proteins in the white firm up at about 150 °F, and the yolk sets a little higher. Because the air is dry and steady, the eggs cook evenly, with no risk of cracking against the pot or boiling over.
An air fryer is useful when you want to make a lot of eggs for meal prep, since the time stays the same whether you cook 2 or 12, as long as the eggs sit in one layer. The ice bath afterward is essential. It stops the cooking, so the yolk does not turn gray-green, and it makes the egg contract slightly from the shell, which is why the eggs peel cleanly. Cooked eggs should be firm throughout, and USDA guidance for egg dishes is 160 °F.
How to make hard boiled eggs in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Preheat Preheat the air fryer to 300 °F for . Start with a hot basket so the timing is consistent.
- Add the eggs Use tongs to place the eggs in a single layer in the basket, with a little space between them. Do not stack them and do not add water. Up to 12 eggs fit in a 5-quart basket.
- Cook Cook for for firm hard boiled eggs. Use for fully chalky yolks, or see the variants for soft-boiled and jammy eggs.
- Ice bath While the eggs cook, fill a bowl with the ice and cold water. When the timer sounds, move the hot eggs into the ice bath with tongs and leave them for . This stops the cooking and loosens the shell.
- Peel Tap each egg on the counter, roll it gently to crack the shell all over and peel under cool running water. Hard cooked eggs are firm throughout, and the yolk should have no liquid in it.
Times and temperatures
| Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs (Plus Soft-Boiled) | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hard, firm yolk | 300 °F (150 °C) | 15 min |
| Fully hard, chalky yolk | 300 °F (150 °C) | 17 min |
| Medium, creamy yolk | 300 °F (150 °C) | 12–13 min |
| Jammy yolk | 300 °F (150 °C) | 11–12 min |
| Soft-boiled, runny yolkServe in an egg cup | 300 °F (150 °C) | 9–10 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size and wattage of your air fryer. See also air fryer cooking times for all foods.
Tips
- Start with cold eggs. Eggs straight from the refrigerator give consistent timing. If they are room temperature, subtract a minute.
- Do not crowd. Eggs touching each other cook unevenly and can crack. Keep a single layer.
- Label the batch. Mark soft-boiled eggs with a pencil. Soft-boiled eggs should be eaten the same day and kept refrigerated until you serve them.
What to serve with hard boiled eggs
Slice them onto air fryer toast with salt and pepper, make egg salad for sandwiches, or add halves to a Cobb salad. For a classic snack, serve deviled eggs at your next game day or Easter table. A soft-boiled egg is great for dipping strips of toast into the yolk.
Storing and reheating
Keep unpeeled hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to 7 days; peeled eggs should be eaten within 2–3 days. Do not freeze whole eggs, since the whites turn rubbery. Eggs are best eaten cold or at room temperature, but you can warm a peeled egg in hot water for 2 minutes. Do not reheat whole eggs in the microwave, which can make them burst.
Variations
- Soft-boiled eggs: Cook at 300 °F for 9–10 minutes, move to an ice bath for 2 minutes and serve right away in an egg cup.
- Jammy eggs: Cook for 11–12 minutes for a creamy, spreadable yolk, good on ramen and avocado toast.
- Deviled eggs: Halve the cooked eggs, mash the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard and a pinch of salt, pipe back into the whites and dust with paprika.
If it does not turn out right
- The shells are hard to peel
- The eggs skipped the ice bath, or they were very fresh. Cool for a full 10 minutes in ice water and use eggs that are a week or two old.
- The eggs have brown spots on the shell
- Dry heat can leave light brown marks on the shell. It does not affect the egg inside. Lower the temperature to 270 °F and add 2 minutes if you want clean white shells.
- The yolks are green or gray
- They cooked too long. Use the timer, cool in ice water right away and eat the eggs within a week.
Questions and answers
How long do hard boiled eggs take in the air fryer at 300 °F?
15 minutes for firm eggs with set yolks. Use 17 minutes for fully hard yolks, and the time is the same for 1 egg or 12 eggs, as long as they sit in one layer.
How long do you cook a soft boiled egg in the air fryer?
9–10 minutes at 300 °F for a runny yolk and a set white. 11–12 minutes gives a jammy yolk. Cool them in ice water right away.
Can I cook hard boiled eggs in an air fryer without water?
Yes. The eggs cook in dry heat, so no water or pot is needed. The ice bath afterward is what makes them easy to peel.
Can I cook hard boiled eggs at 400 °F?
It is not recommended. A higher temperature browns the shell, can crack the eggs and makes the whites rubbery. Stay at 300 °F.
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