Air Fryer Boiled Eggs: How Long Does It Take?

Boiling eggs in an air fryer is a fast and easy approach to cooking eggs. It is also a hands-off method, as you don't need to wait for the water to boil. The cooking time varies depending on the desired result, ranging from 7 to 17 minutes. For soft-boiled eggs, the cooking time is between 7 to 12 minutes, while hard-boiled eggs require 14 to 17 minutes. It is recommended to place the eggs in an ice bath after cooking to stop the cooking process and make peeling easier.

Preheat the air fryer to 250°F

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the process of making boiled eggs. While some recipes suggest that you can skip this step and simply add a couple of extra minutes to your cooking time, preheating your air fryer to 250°F is generally recommended. This is because preheating your air fryer helps to ensure that your eggs are cooked evenly and thoroughly. It also helps to mimic the process of boiling eggs in a pot of simmering water, which is the traditional method of preparing boiled eggs.

To preheat your air fryer to 250°F, simply turn on your air fryer and set the temperature to 250°F. Allow your air fryer to heat up for a few minutes until it reaches the desired temperature. This step is especially important if you are using an older model or a less powerful air fryer, as it may take longer for your air fryer to reach the desired temperature.

Once your air fryer has preheated, you can then place your eggs into the air fryer basket. It is recommended to use room-temperature eggs, as they will cook more evenly. Leave some space between each egg to allow for proper air circulation. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to cook up to 12 eggs at once.

After placing the eggs in the air fryer basket, you can then set the timer for your desired cooking time. For soft-boiled eggs, cook the eggs for 9-13 minutes, for jammy eggs, cook for 11-13 minutes, and for hard-boiled eggs, cook for 14-17 minutes. It's important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the model and strength of your air fryer, so you may need to experiment a little to find the perfect cooking time for your desired level of doneness.

In summary, preheating your air fryer to 250°F is an important step in the process of making boiled eggs. It helps to ensure even cooking and mimics the traditional method of boiling eggs in simmering water. By following the steps outlined above, you can successfully preheat your air fryer and prepare delicious boiled eggs with your desired level of doneness.

Cook for 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs

Cooking hard-boiled eggs in an air fryer is a fast, hands-off approach that doesn't require any water. It's an easy method, and the eggs peel easily. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking hard-boiled eggs in an air fryer for 15 minutes:

First, preheat your air fryer. Set your air fryer to a low temperature of around 250°F (120°C-135°C) to mimic a simmering pot of water. Preheating is not mandatory, but it helps ensure consistent results. If you choose not to preheat, add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.

Next, place the eggs in the air fryer basket or rack. It is recommended to cook between four and twelve eggs at once, depending on the size of your air fryer. Leave some space between each egg to allow proper air circulation. If your air fryer doesn't have a basket, you can use a grill rack or mesh rack.

Now, it's time to cook the eggs. Set the timer for 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your desired level of doneness and the model of your air fryer, so you may need to experiment a little to find the perfect setting for your appliance.

Once the timer goes off, remove the eggs from the air fryer. Immediately place them in an ice bath or a bowl of ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. This step is crucial to achieving the desired doneness and preventing overcooking. Let the eggs cool down in the ice bath for about 8 to 10 minutes.

Finally, when the eggs are cool enough to handle, crack and peel them. Start peeling from the larger end, as there is a small air pocket that makes it easier to separate the membrane and egg white. If you have any difficulty removing the shell, gently crack the egg on the counter and roll it to create a mosaic-like pattern on its exterior.

Your hard-boiled eggs are now ready to be enjoyed! You can sprinkle them with salt and pepper, smoked paprika, furikake, or everything bagel seasoning according to your taste.

Soft-boiled eggs take 9-11 minutes

Soft-boiled eggs are delicate and require slightly different handling than hard-boiled eggs. To make soft-boiled eggs in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 270° F to 275° F (132-135°C). If your air fryer doesn't go lower than 300° F, set it to this temperature instead. Leaving a little space between each egg, add them to the air fryer basket. Close the air fryer and cook for 9-11 minutes.

While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl halfway with ice and then adding cold water. When the eggs are done, remove them from the air fryer and place them in the ice bath for 4-5 minutes, or until they are cool but not cold. This step not only stops the cooking process but also makes the eggs easier to peel.

Once the eggs are cool, gently crack the shells by rolling them a bit along a hard surface to create cracks along all sides. Peel and enjoy your soft-boiled eggs!

It's important to note that there may be some variation in cooking times depending on your particular air fryer model, so you may need to experiment a bit to find the ideal cook time for your desired level of doneness. Additionally, if you set your air fryer to 300° F, remember to reduce the cooking time by about 1-2 minutes.

Use an ice bath to cool the eggs

Using an ice bath to cool the eggs is an important step in the process of making boiled eggs in an air fryer. Here's a detailed guide on why and how to do it:

The ice bath serves two main purposes. Firstly, it helps to quickly lower the temperature of the eggs, ensuring they don't overcook and allowing you to control the doneness. Secondly, it makes peeling the eggs much easier. The cold temperature causes the egg white to shrink slightly, creating a gap between the egg white and the shell, making the peeling process faster and neater.

Preparing the Ice Bath

To prepare an ice bath, fill a bowl halfway with ice. Then, add cold water until the bowl is about three-quarters full. Have this ready before you start cooking the eggs so that you can immediately place the eggs in the ice bath as soon as they're done in the air fryer.

Cooling the Eggs

Once your eggs are cooked to your desired level of doneness, carefully remove them from the air fryer and place them directly into the prepared ice bath. Leave the eggs in the ice bath for around 2 to 5 minutes, or until they are cool to the touch but not completely chilled. This duration should be long enough to stop the cooking process and make peeling easier, without making the eggs too cold.

Peeling the Eggs

After the eggs have cooled, remove them from the ice bath and gently crack the shells. Start peeling from the larger end, as this is where the air pocket is located, making it easier to separate the membrane from the egg white. If you're peeling soft-boiled eggs, be extra gentle as they are more delicate. For hard-boiled eggs, you can also try rolling the eggs on a hard surface to create cracks all over the shell before peeling.

Storing the Eggs

Once your eggs are peeled, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If you don't plan to eat them right away, it's best to leave the eggs unpeeled and store them in their shells, as they will stay fresh longer.

Peel the eggs from the larger end

Boiling eggs in an air fryer is a fast and hands-off approach to cooking eggs. It is also easy to peel them. However, the process of peeling hard-boiled eggs can be frustrating, with the shell sticking to the egg or tearing it up.

To avoid this, you should start peeling from the bottom/fattest part of the egg. This is because an air bubble usually forms at the larger end of the egg. By starting at this end, you can help separate the egg from the shell.

Additionally, the freshness of the eggs can impact how easy they are to peel. Fresh eggs tend to be harder to peel because the egg white has a relatively low pH level, making it more acidic. When cooked, these fresh egg whites bond strongly to the inner shell's membrane. As an egg ages, the pH level rises, and the inner membrane is less likely to bond to the egg white, making it easier to peel.

To make peeling easier, you can also try steaming the eggs instead of boiling them. This yields the same result as boiling but with shells that are much easier to remove. Simply place the eggs in a metal heatproof colander, then put the colander in a pot with a couple of inches of water. Bring the water to a boil and steam the eggs for 12 minutes before removing them and placing them in an ice bath.

Other tips for making eggs easier to peel include adding vinegar to the water before boiling, which dissolves some of the calcium carbonate in the eggshell, or using a spoon to slip off the eggshells, as the curved shape of the spoon can help remove the shell and membrane together.

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