Try the Viral Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs TikTok Hack

Real talk: Cooking hard-boiled eggs can feel like a hassle, especially first thing in the morning. (Undercook them, and they’re runny. Overcook them, and they smell sour.) However, what if we told you there’s an easy viral TikTok hack for making hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer—in under 15 minutes? Follow these tips for perfect air fryer hard-boiled eggs you can enjoy on your way out the door.

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Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe

Forget waiting for a pot of water to come to a boil to make your hard-boiled eggs. As we learned from many TikTok users, all you need is your air fryer and some ice-cold water to cook them to perfection—and, best of all, there’s essentially no clean-up involved. Here’s the process TikTok user @kortneyandkarlee follows for making hard-boiled eggs in your air fryer.

Place the egg in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 270 F.
Then immediately remove the egg and put it in an ice bath (bowl with water and ice) to stop the cooking process.
After the egg has had a chance to cool down, peel it completely, and voilà: A perfectly cooked hard-boiled egg.

Results of Making Hard-Boiled Eggs in an Air Fryer

Because there are various types of air fryers out there, we tested this hard-boiled eggs hack using two separate air fryers at different temperatures. Both methods yielded surprisingly accurate and satisfying results every time. With the simplicity and minimal clean-up factor of this hack, it’ll be very difficult to go back to cooking hard-boiled eggs the traditional way.

Air Fryer at 300 F

We set the first air fryer at its lowest temperature setting of 300 F and cooked the eggs for 9 minutes, 12 minutes, and then 15 minutes. As each egg was completed, they were soaked in an ice bath for about 3 minutes or until fully cooled. We found that this method yielded deliciously runny, slightly creamy, and then completely set centers at the 9, 12, and 15-minute marks, respectively.

Air Fryer at 270 F

We also ran through the same process with a second air fryer set at 270 F for 9 minutes, 11 minutes, 13 minutes, and 15 minutes. This resulted in very runny, runny but set, set but slightly creamy, and fully cooked centers, respectively. See below for delicious visual evidence, then choose your ideal cooking time based on which egg appeals to you most.

Maki Yazawa

Tips for Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs

Based on our testing of this air fryer hack, we suggest trying these additional tips when making hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer.

Modify Cook Time

The temperature of the air fryer can be modified to plus or minus 30 F (between 270 and 330 F) without risking burning or undercooking the eggs. However, time acts as the most critical variable for determining the doneness of each egg.

If you add more time, you’ll end up with hard-boiled eggs suitable for your favorite deviled egg recipe. Eggs cooked for less time would be ideal for avocado toast.

Make Peeling Easier

Placing the eggs in an ice bath after they’re done can help make peeling easier. We also recommend using the back of a metal spoon to tap and crack around the egg’s exterior lightly. If you’re having trouble removing the shell, soak the egg in the water as you go along to help release the small shards.

Cook Many Eggs at a Time

You don’t have to cook a single egg in the air fryer whenever you want a hard-boiled egg. Instead, cook up to a dozen eggs at a time (if they fit) for use throughout the week. This makes meal prepping easier as the hard-boiled eggs can be used for breakfast, lunch, or a protein-rich snack.

Use a Rack

Some air fryers may not come with a basket that easily holds a dozen eggs. In that case, place eggs on a rack, which allows the air to fully circulate and cook the eggs.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the USDA, hard-boiled eggs will last up to a week—whether peeled or not—if stored properly. You’ll want to refrigerate them quickly (within two hours after boiling them) and be sure they don’t get left out on the counter longer than two hours. This will provide you and your family a week’s worth of hard-boiled eggs for use in various meals.

Hard-boiled eggs are best stored on the middle shelf of the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Peeled eggs risk being exposed to bacteria and air, so it’s important to seal the container tightly. You can add a damp paper towel with the peeled eggs to keep them from getting dry.

On the other hand, the shell protects an unpeeled egg, so there is less risk of exposure to contaminants. Additionally, the shell helps the eggs retain their moisture.

Whole hard-boiled eggs should not be frozen as the whites can become rubbery and inedible when defrosted. Likewise, avoid freezing just the boiled whites of an egg. However, you can freeze the yolks of hard-boiled eggs for future use or, preferably, freeze pre-cooked egg dishes.

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