These air fryer hard-boiled eggs go straight from the refrigerator to the basket at 270°F (130°C) for 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute ice bath. No pot of boiling water required.

Hard-boiled eggs are about as basic as breakfast gets, but that does not mean I want to babysit a pot of water. The air fryer gives me a repeatable, hands-off option using cold eggs straight from the refrigerator. If you are still getting comfortable with the appliance, start with my beginner's guide to using an air fryer and keep the air fryer cooking times chart nearby.

I get why plenty of people stick with the stovetop. But if the air fryer is already on the counter, this method saves me from waiting for water to boil and gives me eggs that peeled easily after their ice bath.

Building a bigger breakfast? Start the air fryer bacon while the eggs cool, or make the eggs ahead and keep breakfast simple.

Why make hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer?

This is a true set-the-timer method. I tested it with eggs taken straight from the refrigerator: place them in the basket, set the air fryer to 270°F (130°C), and cook for 20 minutes. There is no need to bring the eggs to room temperature first.

As soon as the timer ends, move the eggs into a bowl of ice water for at least 10 minutes. That cold bath is not an optional garnish to the process—it cools the eggs quickly and made the shells much easier to peel in this test.

Air fryers can run a little hotter or cooler from one model to another, so treat this tested timing as your starting point. Make a note after the first batch and adjust a future batch only if your preferred yolk needs it.

A quick note about brown marks: loose crumbs or residue can circulate in the basket and land on the shells. Start with a clean basket and rinse the shells after cooking. For more help with crumbs and buildup, see How to Clean an Air Fryer Basket.

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Salt and pepper work just fine, but Everything Bagel Seasoning is an easy way to wake them up. For a fuller air fryer breakfast, serve the eggs with Air Fryer Bacon, Air Fryer French Toast, or a Keto Breakfast Sandwich.

Air fryer hard-boiled egg questions

Do the eggs need to come to room temperature?

No. This recipe was tested with eggs taken straight from the refrigerator, so there is no warm-up step to remember.

What temperature do I use?

Set the air fryer to 270°F (130°C) and cook the eggs for 20 minutes. Because air fryer models vary, use the first batch to learn whether your machine and preferred yolk need a small adjustment next time.

How long should the eggs stay in the ice bath?

Give them at least 10 minutes. The ice bath cools the eggs quickly and helped these shells peel cleanly.

Why are there brown marks on the shells?

They can come from loose crumbs or residue moving around the basket. Start with a clean air fryer basket and rinse the cooked shells after they come out.