We love a good hard-boiled egg. They make breakfast and lunch so easy (not to mention nutritious) and when it comes to appetizers, we have two words: deviled eggs. Enough said, right? Perhaps ease isn’t even the best thing about hard-boiled eggs, but rather the fact that the stovetop isn’t the only tool you can use to make them. Air-fryer hard-boiled eggs are as simple as they sound, plus they save room on the stove when you need the space for an impressive feast of entrees and side dishes.
Air-Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Ingredients
- Eggs: A one-ingredient recipe might seem too good to be true, but that’s really all it takes for hard-boiled eggs. For the freshest outcome, make sure to do the float test before cooking your eggs in the air fryer.
- Ice water: While ice water isn’t needed for the actual boiling, it is important to have for the follow-up step so that the eggs don’t continue to cook once removed from the air fryer.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the eggs
Preheat your air fryer to 275°F. Once the air fryer is ready, place all six eggs in a single layer on the tray of your air fryer basket. Cook the eggs for 15 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: In our testing, we find cook times vary dramatically between brands of air fryers. As a result, be sure to check your eggs after 15 minutes. If one isn’t done enough, place the remaining eggs back in the tray for a few more minutes.
Step 2: Cold water rinse
Remove the eggs from the air fryer gently and rinse them under cold water. This begins halting the cooking process. Once rinsed, place the eggs in ice water until they’re completely cooled. Make sure the shells don’t crack against the ice.
Step 3: Refrigerate
If you’re not going to use the eggs right away in a recipe, drain them and place them in the refrigerator unpeeled.
Editor’s Tip: You can also remove the shells before storing the eggs for easier grab-and-go access.
Recipe Variations
While hard-boiled eggs themselves don’t lend well to much variation in their shell (unless you want a soft- or medium-boiled egg!), once cracked, it’s a different story. Here are some of our favorite uses for air-fryer hard-boiled eggs.
- Air-fryer Scotch eggs: Hard-boiled eggs peeled and then wrapped in sausage, these air-fryer Scotch eggs will certainly fill you up. Serve them alongside lighter appetizers so your dinner guests still have room for the main course.
- Deviled eggs: Simple deviled eggs might be the most obvious way to use hard-boiled eggs, but that’s just because they’re the most delicious! Because deviled eggs are all about presentation, don’t forget to turn your egg carton on its side the night before you boil the eggs. This will help center the yolk.
- Pickled eggs: For an intriguing appetizer or snack that isn’t deviled eggs, try pickled eggs. All you need is a jar, water, vinegar and a few other pantry staples.
- Egg salad: Even though it’s considered a vintage sandwich recipe, we think the egg salad sandwich will never lose its charm. Chop your hard-boiled eggs into a soft mixture with mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and lemon juice, then top it over toast.
How to Store Air-Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs
Unpeeled hard-boiled eggs last for one week in the fridge. You can store them in an airtight container. If you prefer to peel all your eggs at once, make sure the unpeeled eggs are in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag so that they’re not exposed to air.
Can you freeze air-fryer hard-boiled eggs?
Since they’re no different than regular hard-boiled eggs, the consensus is still the same: freezing isn’t a fantastic option for hard-boiled eggs. The American Egg Board notes that the whites of the egg can become tough or rubbery in texture. You can, however, freeze just the hard-boiled yolks if you want to save them for extra-eggy egg salad later or for using yolks in cookie recipes like grandma did.
Air-Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Tips
What is the best air fryer to use to make hard-boiled eggs?
Our test kitchen took the guesswork out of purchasing the best air fryer for your needs.
How do you remove the hard-boiled eggs from the air fryer when they are done?
The safest way to remove the hot eggs from the air fryer is using a silicone-coated tongs with a long handle. The silicone coating will hold the eggs without slipping, and the long handle will keep the hot air-fryer basket a safe distance from your hands. Another safe method is placing the eggs on a wire rack inside the fryer basket and removing the rack when the eggs are done—be sure to use oven mitts for this method.
How do you soft boil eggs in an air fryer?
Hard- or soft-boiled, the method is the same, according to former Taste of Home Food Editor Rashanda Cobbins. Set the air fryer to 275°. Soft-boiled eggs will be ready in seven minutes, and hard-boiled in 15. Once you’ve made your air-fryer hard-boiled eggs, here are some hard-boiled egg recipes to try!
