How Long Do You Cook Eggs In Air Fryer?

Most eggs in an air fryer cook in 8–15 minutes, depending on egg style, temperature, and preferred yolk texture.

Air fryers take a lot of guesswork out of breakfast, but egg timing can still feel tricky. One batch turns out with soft centers, the next one has chalky yolks. If you came here wondering “how long do you cook eggs in air fryer?”, you’re really asking how to match time and temperature to the exact texture you like.

This guide walks through air fryer egg cook times for every common style, why different recipes give different numbers, and a simple method you can repeat on busy mornings. You’ll see where to start with your own air fryer, how to stay within safe cooking ranges, and how to tweak the timing by one or two minutes instead of starting from scratch each time.

Quick Air Fryer Egg Cook Times Chart

This chart gives a starting point for the most common ways to cook eggs in an air fryer. Times assume a preheated basket and large eggs.

Egg Style	Temperature	Typical Time Range
Soft-boiled in shell	270–280°F (132–138°C)	8–10 minutes
Jammy yolk in shell	270–280°F (132–138°C)	11–12 minutes
Hard-“boiled” in shell	270–300°F (132–149°C)	13–15 minutes
Fried eggs in a small pan	350–375°F (177–191°C)	3–6 minutes
Scrambled eggs in a pan	300–320°F (149–160°C)	6–9 minutes with stirring
Egg bites or muffin cups	300–320°F (149–160°C)	10–14 minutes
Mini frittata or breakfast bake	320–330°F (160–166°C)	18–22 minutes

Every air fryer runs a little differently, so think of this chart as a range. Start in the middle of the window the first time you try a new style, then adjust by one or two minutes the next time.

How Long Do You Cook Eggs In Air Fryer? Factors That Matter

There isn’t one single answer to that question. The timing shifts with the style of egg you want and with the way your specific machine heats. A compact basket model at 300°F can brown faster than a large oven-style air fryer set to the same number.

Cook time changes mainly with these factors:

Egg size: Jumbo eggs need an extra minute or two, while medium eggs finish a bit sooner.
Starting temperature: Fridge-cold eggs cook slower and crack more often than ones that sat on the counter for 10–15 minutes.
Basket crowding: A single layer with space between eggs heats quicker than a packed basket.
Preheating: A cold basket adds several minutes. Most timing charts, including the one above, assume a warm basket.
Air fryer power and design: A 1700-watt machine with a shallow basket will cook faster than a small, low-watt model.

Once you understand these variables, that question turns into a range you can guide. The next sections walk through specific times for each style, plus a reliable method for shell-on eggs.

How Long To Cook Eggs In Air Fryer By Style

Egg timing depends heavily on the style you want on your plate. Use these sections as a practical reference, and treat the minutes as a starting point. If you like a slightly softer or firmer center, adjust in small steps until the result fits your taste.

Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Style Eggs In Shell

Air fryer “boiled” eggs skip the pot of water and go straight into the hot basket. This method works well when you want a batch of peel-and-go eggs for snacks or salads.

Here is a dependable approach for fully set yolks:

Preheat the air fryer to 275–280°F (135–138°C) for 3–5 minutes.
Place room-temperature eggs in a single layer in the basket.
Cook 13–15 minutes, aiming for the shorter end if your machine runs hot.
Transfer eggs straight into an ice water bath for 5–10 minutes to stop carryover cooking and make peeling easier.

If your first batch has centers that feel a bit dry for your taste, shorten the time by one minute the next time you cook a batch.

Soft-Boiled And Jammy Air Fryer Eggs

Soft-boiled and jammy eggs need slightly tighter timing. A one-minute change can shift the yolk from runny to thick and spoonable.

To get that just-set white with a flowing center:

Preheat the air fryer to 275°F (135°C).
Arrange room-temperature eggs in a single layer.
Cook 8–9 minutes for soft, runny yolks.
Cook 10–11 minutes for thicker, jammy centers.
Chill in an ice bath for 4–5 minutes before peeling or serving.

If your air fryer only goes as low as 300°F (149°C), shave about one to two minutes off these times so the yolk does not overcook.

Fried Eggs In An Air Fryer

For fried eggs, you’ll need a small oven-safe pan or dish that fits in the basket. A thin nonstick pan or metal cake pan works well. Grease the surface so the eggs release easily.

Use this basic pattern:

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (177°C) with the empty pan inside.
Crack one or two eggs into the hot pan.
Cook 3–4 minutes for set whites and runny yolks.
Cook 5–6 minutes for firm yolks, checking once toward the end.

A clear or light-colored pan helps you see the edges of the whites, which gives a quick visual cue for doneness.

Scrambled Eggs In An Air Fryer

Scrambled eggs in an air fryer need a deeper pan and a few pauses for stirring. The heat wraps around the pan, so the edges cook first.

For soft, creamy curds:

Whisk eggs with a pinch of salt and any dairy you like.
Grease a small pan or baking dish and pour in the egg mixture.
Preheat the air fryer to 300°F (149°C).
Cook 3 minutes, stir, then cook 2–3 minutes more.
Stir again and add 1-minute bursts until the texture suits you.

Pull the pan as soon as the eggs look slightly softer than you want on your plate. They continue to set from stored heat in the pan.

Egg Bites And Muffin-Cup Eggs

Egg bites and muffin-style eggs use silicone cups or a small muffin tin. They work well for grab-and-go breakfasts and freezer meal prep.

For bite-size cups:

Spray silicone cups or a muffin pan with oil.
Fill each cup two-thirds full with beaten eggs and mix-ins.
Place the cups in the basket so hot air can move between them.
Air fry at 300–320°F (149–160°C) for 10–14 minutes.
Check one cup by inserting a knife or toothpick near the center; it should come out without wet liquid.

If centers look a little shiny but not watery, leave the cups in the basket with the heat off for a few minutes. Residual heat finishes the set without overcooking the edges.

Mini Frittatas And Breakfast Casseroles

For thicker frittatas and baked egg dishes, you need slightly lower heat and a longer time window so the middle cooks through before the top browns too much.

Try this basic pattern:

Line a small cake pan with parchment or grease it well.
Pour in your egg mixture, filling the pan no more than halfway.
Preheat the air fryer to 320°F (160°C).
Cook 10 minutes, then rotate the pan if your air fryer has hot spots.
Cook another 8–12 minutes, until the center no longer looks wet and a knife comes out clean.

Let the frittata stand for 5–10 minutes before slicing so the structure firms up and slices hold together.

Food Safety And Doneness For Air Fryer Eggs

Time and texture matter, but safety matters too. Eggs carry a small risk of bacteria when they stay undercooked at the center, especially for kids, pregnant people, older adults, or anyone with a weak immune system.

Public health agencies advise cooking egg dishes until the yolk and white are firm, or until the center of mixed egg dishes reaches about 160°F (71°C) when measured with a food thermometer. That guideline appears in the FoodSafety.gov safe temperature chart, which draws on U.S. government food safety research.

For shell-on soft and jammy eggs, many people choose a slightly runny center. If someone in your home needs a more cautious approach, stick with fully firm yolks and whites and keep mixed dishes such as frittatas at or above 160°F in the center.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also shares advice on using air fryers for meat and poultry in its FSIS guidance on air fryers. Even though the examples focus on meat, the same thermometer habits help when you cook eggs, especially casseroles and larger bakes.

Step-By-Step Method For Shell-On Air Fryer Eggs

If you use your air fryer often for eggs, it helps to have one “house method” that sets a baseline. From there, you can nudge the time up or down by a minute for softer or firmer yolks.

Baseline Method For Large Eggs

Take large eggs out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for 10–15 minutes so the temperature evens out a bit.
Preheat the air fryer to 275°F (135°C) for 3–5 minutes with an empty basket.
Place the eggs in a single layer directly in the basket, leaving a little space between them.
Cook 9 minutes for soft centers, 11 minutes for jammy yolks, or 13 minutes for firm centers.
Move the eggs straight into an ice bath and cool for at least 5 minutes before peeling.

This method usually fits within the timing in the chart at the top. If your eggs come out underdone or overdone on the first try, write down the result and adjust by a minute or two the next time so you eventually dial in a time that matches your machine.

Fine-Tuning For Your Specific Air Fryer

Two air fryers set to the same temperature can still cook at different speeds. The fan strength, basket depth, and even the coating on the basket matter. A simple way to test your setup is to cook two or three eggs at the same time but pull them at different minutes.

Cook three eggs for 9, 10, and 11 minutes at 275°F. Mark each shell with a pencil or a small dot of food-safe marker before cooking so you know which time produced which result. Pick the one that matches your ideal yolk, then save that time in a note on your phone or on a sticky note near the air fryer.

Troubleshooting Common Air Fryer Egg Problems

Even with a good plan, air fryer eggs sometimes crack, develop green rings, or turn rubbery at the edges. This table lists frequent problems and small adjustments that fix them in later batches.

Issue	Likely Cause	Simple Fix
Egg shells crack in the basket	Eggs were fridge-cold or basket was not preheated	Bring eggs toward room temperature and preheat before cooking
Dry, chalky yolks	Cook time too long or temperature too high	Lower time by 1–2 minutes or drop temperature by 10–15°F
Rubbery whites	Eggs sat in hot basket after cooking	Use an ice bath and pull eggs when just done
Green ring around yolk	Eggs overcooked or cooled very slowly	Shorten time slightly and cool in ice water
Eggs hard to peel	Eggs too fresh or ice bath too short	Use eggs a week old and cool fully before peeling
Soft centers in thick bakes	Pan too full or center not checked	Fill pan halfway and test the center with a knife or thermometer
Uneven browning on top	Hot spots in the air fryer	Rotate the pan halfway and lower the rack if possible

Keep one or two of these common issues in mind the next time you cook eggs in your air fryer. Small changes in preheating, load size, or cooling often make a big difference in texture.

Storing And Reheating Air Fryer Eggs

Air fryer eggs work well for weekly meal prep as long as you cool and store them safely. That way you can cook once and add eggs to breakfasts and snacks for several days.

How To Store Cooked Eggs

Cool eggs in an ice bath until the shells feel fully cold, not just lukewarm.
Peel hard-cooked eggs before chilling if you plan to eat them within two or three days; leave shells on if you want them to keep a little longer.
Store eggs in a covered container in the fridge and aim to eat them within one week.
For egg bites or frittata slices, cool on a rack, then transfer to an airtight box once they reach room temperature.

A quick label with the date on the container prevents guessing later.

Best Ways To Reheat Air Fryer Eggs

Reheating the right way keeps leftover eggs from turning tough or rubbery. Gentle heat works best.

For hard-cooked eggs, eat them cold, or warm briefly by placing them (still in the shell) in hot tap water for 5–10 minutes.
For egg bites and frittata slices, warm in the air fryer at 300°F (149°C) for 3–5 minutes, checking once so the edges do not dry out.
Skip the microwave for soft-centered eggs; a short dip in hot water keeps the yolk texture much closer to fresh.

Planning Air Fryer Eggs For Busy Mornings

Once you have a handle on timing, eggs in the air fryer can slot into busy mornings with less stress. A little planning on the weekend pays off through the week.

Pick one standard cook time for hard-cooked eggs and keep it on a note near the air fryer.
Batch-cook a dozen eggs on Sunday, then peel a few at a time through the week.
Mix and freeze uncooked egg bites in silicone cups, then cook them straight from frozen with a few extra minutes in the air fryer.
Pair air fryer eggs with toast, bagels, or leftover roasted vegetables so breakfast feels complete with almost no extra cooking.

Final Thoughts On Air Fryer Egg Cook Time

The core idea is simple: match temperature and minutes to egg style, then fine-tune by one or two minutes based on how your own air fryer runs. With that habit, you can answer how long do you cook eggs in air fryer? for your kitchen with confidence, whether you like soft, jammy, or fully firm yolks.