Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs (Easy How To Recipe!)

by Kayla Berman on January 19, 2024 4 comments

Air fryer soft boiled eggs are my new favorite “boiled” eggs! You need just about 10 minutes to prepare these stove-less eggs. No waiting for the water to boil needed. Plus the eggs come out of the trendy appliance with perfect runny yolks, and set whites each and every time.

Looking for more egg varieties? Check out my Perfect Jammy Eggs or Feta Fried Eggs next.

What are soft boiled eggs?

Soft boiled eggs are boiled eggs with runny yolks and set whites. Soft boiled eggs are also sometimes called half boiled eggs.

They are prepared in the way that hard boiled eggs are prepared – submerged in a pot of boiling water for your desired time! In this instance, that time is lower than what is required for hard boiled eggs … resulting in yolks that are still a bit runny with set whites. Although the whites can sometimes be not completely set.

This boiled eggs in the air fryer guide actually spins that definition on its head! Because well … these eggs are not boiled. The air fryer replaces the boiling pot of water but results in the same type of egg!

Soft boiled eggs, whether prepared in the air fryer or not, are difficult to master. Cooking the eggs for one or two minutes too long or too little can have significant effects. You could easily get medium boiled, jammy eggs or even undercooked ones!

However, do not fret! I’m sure you’ll discover perfecting soft boiled eggs will be a breeze if you follow the instructions and tips included below.

Equipment Needed

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Air Fryer – Instant Slim 6Qt Air Fryer Oven
Tongs
Small Bowl

How To Air Fry Soft Boiled Eggs

These air fryer eggs are so incredibly quick and easy to make! I find the air fryer cooking process to be much better than the traditional method of preparing boiled eggs – no need to keep watch on a boiling pot.

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 275 degrees F. Once preheated, add the large eggs to the air fryer basket.

Step 2: Air fry for 9-10 minutes.

Step 3: Ice Bath & Peel. Immediately transfer the eggs to an ice water bath for at least 3 minutes. Peel carefully. See the full blog post for all of my peeling tips!

Step 4: Serve and enjoy! Cut the air fryer boiled eggs in half. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

air fried soft boiled eggs in a bowl of ice cold water

Exact Cooking Times

Perfecting an air fryer soft boiled egg is a very tricky thing to do! It is a journey that I do think every individual must go on their own. For two main reasons:

Every person’s perfect soft boil egg is different
Each air fryer is different

However, I have done extensive work and research to give you a good starting place and guide. I find perfect soft-boiled eggs to be air fried at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. This is where I suggest you start. The yolks will be very runny in the center and slightly jammy on the edges. The whites will also be fully set.

If you prefer an even softer boiled egg, I suggest air frying at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes. This results in very dippy eggs, with even runnier yolks. I do love this texture! However, the whites will also sometimes turn out not fully set with this amount of time. This is not my preference so I like to do an extra minute.

However, whichever your preference, I always recommend doing some testing of your own. I have discovered these times and temperature while using the Instant Slim 6QT Air Fryer Oven, so if you are using a different brand and/or model you may need to adjust.

I simply suggest trying one egg with these instructed guidelines and then adjusting the cook time as needed!

How To Perfectly Peel Air Fryer Eggs

I think we all know that peeling your freshly boiled eggs or air fryer eggs is the most daunting part of the process every single time! I mean … everything could be ruined during this vital, final step. But do not worry!

I have tried every tip and trick in the world for peeling boiled eggs and I’ve included the most important and helpful ones below. However my number one tip is quite straightforward – be very gentle and move slowly!

This is especially true for these soft-boiled eggs. Since they’re not fully hard-boiled eggs, they are even more fragile. Which just means you have to peel with even more patience!

Ice Bath: This is very important – the shock of cold water makes the eggs easier to peel. First, make sure your bowl of ice water is cold enough. Like very cold! Use lots of ice cubes and cold water. I also find that for soft boiled eggs, at least 3 minutes in the bath is necessary for clean peeling. I find 2 minutes does not do the job.
Gentle Crack: Once the eggs are removed from the bowl of cold water, gently crack the boiled egg on a hard surface.
Find The Air Pocket: Boiled eggs typically have an air pocket that if you peel from, will help get those nice big peels. I recommend you start peeling towards the larger, rounder end of the egg to find the pocket.
Go Slowly: This is the most important tip! Just go as slow as possible with your peeling. It is a very delicate process that unfortunately will take some time to be done well.
Thin Membrane: Use the thin membrane that separates the egg white from the shell to help you. I find that peeling the membrane is the best way to get the shell to come off in bigger pieces rather than a bunch of small pieces.
Final Touch: After you have completely peeled off the shell, run the boiled egg under some water to get off the shell stragglers.

Expert Tips

Use good eggs! First, this means using high quality eggs. They will simply give the best results – best taste, most nutritious, etc. When purchasing eggs look for ones that are organic, pasture-raised, and USDA grade A or AA. Or better yet shop at your local farmers market for super fresh eggs! You also want the eggs to be in good condition. Look for a smooth, clean, un-cracked shell.

Prepare the ice bath in advance! You have to move quickly when it comes to this process of air frying soft boiled eggs. As soon as the cook time is up, you will want to immediately place the eggs in the ice bath. Therefore, it needs to be ready to go! It stops the cooking process, so if you have to use time preparing the bath after the eggs are air fried, they may cook past that soft boiled, runny yolk center.

Pay attention to timing! A minute makes a big difference with these air fried eggs. 9 minutes and 10 minutes result in completely different eggs. Make sure to use your timer!!

Room temperature eggs! This step is not extremely vital, but if you have the time or the forethought to leave your eggs out at room temperature ahead of time … do so. It helps achieve consistent results.

Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs Serving Suggestions

Soft boiled eggs made in the air fryer are the perfect eggs for so many occasions!

My personal favorite is freshly boiled with a sprinkle of sea salt and a crack of black pepper. It is simple deliciousness at its finest! The egg yolk is rich and creamy and it is the best snack or quick breakfast.

However if you want a bit more of an elevated experience, I suggest one of the below:

Extra Flavor: This is similar to the salt and pepper option, just a little bit more fun. Use everything bagel seasoning or red pepper flakes, instead of just s and p. Hot sauce too – Frank’s Red Hot, Sriracha, or Tabasco.
Toast: I think toast with soft boiled eggs on top is a wonderful breakfast situation. Add a smear and you’re good to go! Avocado, cream cheese, cottage cheese, butter … whatever you like. Or even add an egg on top of some garlic bread toast. That would be insanely delicious!
Breakfast Taco: If I’m not going for toast in the morning, I’m going for a taco. I love to use these soft-boiled eggs for their dippy, runny yolk! It’s like adding another sauce. Pair with salsa, breakfast meat, cheese, fresh cilantro, red onion, and anything else your heart desires.
Grain & Salad Bowls: I think boiled eggs are a fabulous addition to salads, like my Burger Salad or Cobb Salad, and grain bowls! They add a boost of both protein and flavor. Plus the runny yolk acts as an extra dressing. It’s delicious! For a grain bowl try rice or quinoa, sweet potatoes, roasted veggies, and fresh herbs.
Egg Salad: I really love using soft boiled eggs in egg salad! When mashed up – the creamy, runny yolk makes egg salad extra creamy without the need for too much mayo. It’s kind of a dream!

Storing Suggestions

Store these boiled eggs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I recommend keeping them unpeeled, as they will last longer this way. They will keep for about 5-7 days.

Peeled soft boiled eggs will only keep for about 3-4 days in the fridge.

Air Fryer Soft Boiled Eggs FAQs

Can you boil an egg in an air fryer without water?

Yes! Preparing soft boiled eggs in the air fryer does not require any water at all.

You simply place the raw eggs right in the preheated air fryer and get cooking.

Why are are my air fryer boiled eggs so hard to peel?

I personally find boiled eggs to be hard to peel regardless if they are prepared in the air fryer or not! It is kind of a universal truth – boiled eggs are hard to peel.

However, I have included all of my tips for perfect peeling above. To keep it short and sweet … you must peel very carefully and very slowly. Patience is key!

Also make sure to keep your freshly boiled eggs in the ice bath for long enough, at least 3 minutes. This helps the peeling process immensely!

How many minutes is the perfect soft boiled egg in the air fryer?

The perfect soft boiled egg in the air fryer requires 10 minutes at 275 degrees F.

However, your perfect one may be a minute more or less. It is kind of personal preference!

How do you make soft boil eggs the air fryer?

Very easily! Preheat your air fryer, place the eggs in the basket, air fry for 10 minutes, transfer to an ice bath for 3 minutes, and peel. There you have it!

It is the easiest way to prep boiled eggs in my opinion.

Can I meal prep these soft-boiled eggs?

Totally! These eggs will keep for 5-7 days if unpeeled and 3-4 days if peeled.

I like to keep them in my fridge and enjoy throughout the week as a simple snack, in egg salad sandwiches, and more. Read my Serving Suggestions above for all of my ideas!

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