Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
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Air fryer hard-boiled eggs will become your favorite way to make hard-boiled eggs- no water needed. This hands-free, no-boil method for hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer comes together in 20 minutes for easy-to-peel eggs time and time again.
It’s no secret I love the many different ways I can cook up foods in the air fryer. The convenience of cooking foods quicker and hands-free just cannot be beaten.
From crispy Brussel sprouts to juicy chicken wings, the air fryer never ceases to amaze me. I can now add eggs to the long list of foods the air fryer cooks quickly and perfectly time and time again.
This simple air fryer recipe makes perfect hard-boiled eggs in 20 minutes. Without waiting for water to boil, carefully submerging eggs so they don’t crack, and with no hands-on effort, these hard boil eggs are perfect for your weekly meal prep needs.
Health benefits of eggs
Believe it or not, eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. So what makes this superfood so good for your diet? Here are just a few of the benefits you can get from adding eggs to your daily diet.
- Vitamin packed – Vitamins A, B, D, E, and K are just some of the vitamins you will find in a single egg.
- High in minerals – They contain folate, phosphorus, zinc, calcium, and selenium.
- Low calorie – With just 77 calories per egg, you can fuel up without feeling overly full.
- High protein – Each egg consists of about 6 grams of protein.
If you’re curious about other ways eggs benefit your health, you can check out this article: Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Eggs.
Reasons to love these air fryer eggs
- Quick and mess-free – No need to wait for the water to boil since it doesn’t require water for cooking.
- Completely hands-free – Set the eggs in the basket and let the air fryer do the work.
- Great for meal prep! You can make a batch of hard-boiled eggs up to 7 days in advance.
- Easy to peel – The shell slides easily off when you make boiled eggs in an air fryer.
Here’s what you need to make hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer
Ingredient notes/swaps
- Eggs – Any eggs will work in this recipe but for the healthiest eggs with the richest flavor I would suggest free-range or pasture-raised eggs. You can use cold eggs or the ones kept at room temperature.
Selecting eggs
When it comes to making the best hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer, the first step is selecting quality eggs. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are shopping for fresh eggs.
- Clean and crack-free – Check inside the carton to make sure all eggs are clean and free from cracks.
- Look at the best by date – Be sure you select eggs that are still fresh.
- Grade A or AA tend to work best for cooking and baking.
For additional information about the different labels, you might find on egg packaging check out the article How to Choose Quality Eggs from The Real Food Dietitians.
Tools
You’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. Here are the two that I recommend
- Basket style (Phillips 7 QT, 1725W) – easier to flip food but cooks a smaller amount (2-3 servings).
- Oven-style (Ninja Dual Heat Air Fryer – 1800W) – The oven-style ones usually take more space but what’s unique about this Ninja one is that it flips vertically for easy storage on the countertop. Most importantly, it allows you to cook six chicken breasts, 2 lbs roast, or 4 lbs of fries – perfect for families of 4 or more.
TIPS
- Experiment with 1-2 eggs the first: Cooking time will vary depending on the model you have. Most air fryers take 15-18 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. This recipe has been tested in a Ninja Air fryer.
- Cooking time does not change based on the number of eggs.
- No overcrowding – Always arrange eggs in a single layer and leave space between them. The eggs will roll as you place them in the air fryer basket and that’s fine.
- Overcooking will result in a green ring around the yolk. The eggs are still edible just reduce the cooking time next time.
Alternative variation
Don’t have an air fryer? Try making Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs.
How to prep ahead
If you want to make hard-boiled eggs in advance, here’s how you can do it –
- Centered eggs: Turn eggs on their side 24 hours in advance to center the yolk. (See steps in FAQs)
- Chill the egg: Cook it up to 7 days in advance of when they are needed and refrigerate to chill.
Storage tips
Refrigerate: Store the eggs in the refrigerator in an air-tight container within 2 hours of cooking. Lasts in the refrigerator peeled or unpeeled for 7 days. Do not slice – the yolks will dry out.
Freezer: The yolks stay fine in the refrigerator but the exterior white turns rubbery. So it is best to avoid freezing boiled eggs.
Serve it with
While you can easily snack on hard-boiled eggs plain, here are a few different ways you may want to serve these easy-peel hard-boiled eggs.
- Salads – Use hard-boiled eggs to top a Cobb Salad.
- Egg salad – Mix chopped hard-boiled eggs with mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, and lemon juice for an easy egg salad.
- Deviled eggs – Use for this easy entertaining appetizer.
- Grated egg toast – Grate the egg over plain toast or avocado toast and top with salt and pepper.
Frequently asked questions
Depending on how you plan to use your hard-boiled eggs, it might be important for you to center the yolks. To get the yolks perfectly in the center of the egg:
1) Place eggs in a carton.
2) Wrap the carton with two rubber bands at the ends.
3) Turn the carton on its side.
4) Refrigerate at least 24-hrs in advance.
Typically brown spots show up if the air fryer is not completely cleaned out before using to make hard-boiled eggs.
Placing your hard-boiled eggs from the air fryer into an ice bath stops the cooking process and prevents the eggs from over-cooking.
300°F yields perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer time and time again.
Other egg recipes to try
Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups ice cubes
- 3 cups cold water
Seasonings
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper as needed
Instructions
- Line the air frying tray with parchment paper.
- Place the eggs on the parchment paper.
- Place the air fryer tray in the air fryer and cook at 300°F. Set the timer for 18 minutes (see note) for hard boiled eggs.
- Add water in a large bowl along with ice cubes.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, remove the eggs immediately using tongs and soak them in ice water for 10 minutes.
- To peel, start by cracking the bottom of the egg (wider end), it makes it easier to peel. Use your fingers to peel insread of nails to peel to avoid dents.
- Slice into half and season it with salt and pepper.
Notes
Storage tips
Refrigerate: Store the eggs in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. Lasts in the refrigerator peeled or unpeeled for 7 days. Do not slice – the yolks will dry out. Freezer: The yolks stay fine in the refrigerator but the exterior white turns rubbery. So it is best to avoid freezing boiled eggs.Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.
