How to boil eggs in an air fryer: perfect formula for soft and hard boiled

It’s notoriously difficult to master — how to soft or hard boil eggs. But Taste food experts have found the perfect recipe … using an air fryer.

When it comes to perfecting the art of air fryer cooking, experimentation (at least in the early days) is everything.

Thankfully for those wanting to avoid the mess and chaos that often comes with kitchen trials, we’ve found the ultimate air fryer hack that will change your meal game forever. We’re talking about the perfect boiled eggs, of course.

Notoriously difficult to master for even the best chefs but an oh-so-delicious accompaniment to any meal at any time of the day, the perfect soft boiled egg should boast a solid white and delectably oozy yolk that’s not too runny but not too hard, either.

Though it sounds easy in theory, anyone who has ever tried to nail it will know there are just about a million different techniques and theories as to how to get there.

With the air fryer, though, striking the perfect balance just got a whole lot easier and a whole lot more hands-off.

Eggs can be boiled in the air fryer.

Forget gently rolling boiling water, slotted spoons and watching and waiting with bated breath. Three steps, some eggs, an air fryer and some cold water for cooling are all you need for the perfect breakfast accompaniment when you want minimal mess and maximum convenience.

How to make boiled eggs in an air fryer

Perfect for camping or for when you don’t want to bring a pot up to the boil, this guide to making boiled eggs in an air fryer explains it all – whether you’re looking for perfect soft-boiled eggs or hard boiled eggs for sandwiches.

Simply add your eggs to the basket, cook at 120C, consult our cooking times depending on the size of your air fryer and how you like your eggs cooked, and let your air fryer do the hard work.

The length of time in the air fryer makes a difference.

One taste.com.au reviewer has deemed the hack “my new favourite thing”, while another declares it “works a treat”.

How can I tell if an egg is still fresh?

The quickest (and easiest) way to tell if an egg is still good is to place it in a bowl filled with water gently. A fresh egg will sink to the bottom, whereas an egg that is off will float to the surface.

Where’s the best place to store eggs for maximum freshness?

Keep fresh eggs between 4C and 20C. When stored at room temperature, eggs will age more in a day than they will after a week in the fridge.

So, unless you use them quickly, store eggs in their carton in the fridge. The carton will prevent the flavours of other foods penetrating the porous shells and affecting the taste of the eggs.

We recommend storing eggs in the main part of the fridge, not the fridge door, as the temperature inside the fridge is consistently cooler.

Is bacon good in an air fryer?

If a breakfast feast is what you’re after, why not add some bacon to the menu? Just like your boiled eggs, bacon can also be cooked in the air fryer to crispy perfection and makes a scrumptious addition to your morning start.

Here’s how to cook bacon in an air fryer.

Other air fryer recipes you might like:

Scotch eggs

Pancakes

Cheesy toast

Croissants Lorraine

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as How to boil eggs in an air fryer: perfect formula for soft and hard boiled