Eggs prepared in an air fryer offer a hands-off approach to breakfast, whether you want them hard boiled or soft. So how long do you put eggs in the air fryer for? The short answer is 8 to 16 minutes, depending on how you like the yolk. The exact time shifts with your air fryer model, the size of the eggs, and whether you preheat the basket.
This guide breaks down every style of egg you can cook in an air fryer. You will get times, temps, and simple steps for each one. No guesswork, no rubbery whites, no runny surprises.
How Long Do You Put Eggs In The Air Fryer For
Here is the quick reference table in list form. Times are based on a 350°F to 360°F setting with large eggs straight from the fridge. Add or subtract a minute based on your own machine.
- Soft boiled eggs: 8 to 10 minutes
- Medium boiled eggs: 10 to 12 minutes
- Hard boiled eggs: 12 to 16 minutes
- Baked or shirred eggs: 8 to 12 minutes
- Scrambled eggs in a ramekin: 10 to 14 minutes
Every air fryer runs a little hot or a little cool. Treat these numbers as your starting point, then adjust after your first batch. A cheap oven thermometer placed inside the basket can help you dial things in fast.
Why Air Fryer Eggs Are Different From Boiling
In a pot of water, heat moves through liquid and hits the shell evenly. In an air fryer, a fan pushes hot air around the basket. That dry heat cooks the egg from the outside in, and it can dry out the shell if you skip the ice bath.
The upside is speed and zero pot watching. You set the time, walk away, and come back to cooked eggs. The downside is that the shell can crack if the temperature spikes. Keep the temp at 350°F or below to lower that risk.
What You Need Before You Start
- An air fryer with a basket or tray
- Large eggs, cold from the fridge
- A bowl of ice water for the cool down
- Tongs or a slotted spoon
- Optional: a pinch of salt or a splash of oil for baked eggs
Do not stack eggs on top of each other. A single layer is key. If you crowd the basket, the air cannot move, and you get uneven cooking.
Step By Step: Hard Boiled Eggs In The Air Fryer
- Set your air fryer to 350°F. Most models do not need a long preheat, but 2 to 3 minutes helps.
- Place the eggs in the basket in a single layer. Leave a little space between each one.
- Cook for 12 minutes for a firm yolk with a slight creaminess. Go to 15 or 16 minutes for a fully set, crumbly yolk.
- Pull the eggs out with tongs and drop them straight into ice water.
- Let them sit for 5 minutes. This stops the cooking and makes peeling much easier.
- Tap the shell on the counter, peel under running water, and serve.
If you want the classic deviled egg texture, aim for 14 minutes. That gives you a yolk that holds its shape but still tastes rich.
Soft And Medium Boiled Eggs
For a soft boiled egg with a jammy center, cook at 350°F for 8 to 9 minutes. The white should be just set and the yolk should run when you cut it. Medium boiled lands at 10 to 11 minutes, where the yolk is thick but not solid.
These times are less forgiving than hard boiled. A single extra minute can push a soft egg into medium territory. Stay close to the machine on your first try.
Tips For Peeling Soft Eggs
- Use older eggs. Fresh eggs cling to the shell and peel badly.
- Shock them in ice water right away.
- Peel slowly under a thin stream of cold water.
Other Ways To Cook Eggs In An Air Fryer
Baked Eggs In Ramekins
Grease a small ramekin, crack in one or two eggs, and add salt and pepper. Cook at 350°F for 8 to 12 minutes. The whites set first, so check the middle with a knife. Add cheese or herbs in the last few minutes if you like.
Scrambled Eggs In A Ramekin
Whisk two eggs with a splash of milk, pour into a greased ramekin, and cook at 320°F for 10 to 14 minutes. Stir once halfway through. The lower temp keeps the eggs soft instead of rubbery.
Egg Bites And Muffin Tin Eggs
Mix eggs, milk, and your fillings in a bowl. Pour into a silicone muffin mold and cook at 330°F for 10 to 12 minutes. These freeze well, so make a big batch on Sunday. Reheat them in the air fryer at 300°F for 3 minutes.
Factors That Change Your Cooking Time
Air Fryer Brand And Wattage
A 1500 watt unit cooks faster then a 1200 watt one. Basket shape matters too. A wide, shallow basket heats more even then a tall, narrow one. Test one egg first and note the result.
Egg Size And Starting Temperature
Large eggs are the standard for most recipes. Jumbo eggs need about 1 to 2 extra minutes. Cold eggs from the fridge take longer than room temperature ones. Keep your eggs cold for boiling, since warm eggs peel worse.
Preheating And Basket Load
Preheating shaves off about a minute. A full basket of six eggs needs more time then a single egg. Add 1 minute for every two extra eggs you add past the first pair.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Setting the temp above 360°F, which cracks shells
- Skipping the ice bath, which leads to gray yolks
- Stacking eggs instead of using a single layer
- Peeling while the eggs are still hot
- Using fresh eggs for hard boiling
Gray or green rings around the yolk come from overcooking, not from the air fryer itself. The ice bath is your best defense. It cools the egg fast and keeps the yolk bright yellow.
Storing And Reheating Cooked Eggs
Hard boiled eggs keep in the fridge for up to one week. Leave the shell on until you are ready to eat them. Store them in a covered container, not loose on a shelf.
Peeled eggs should be eaten within two or three days. For egg bites, freeze them for up to two months and reheat straight from frozen. A quick pass at 300°F brings them back to life without drying them out.
The next time you plan breakfast, skip the pot of water. Set your air fryer, drop in your eggs, and let the machine do the work. Start with 12 minutes at 350°F for hard boiled, then tweak from there. You will find your perfect number in a batch or two.