The Best Ways to Peel a Hard Boiled Egg Like a Pro

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Perfectly peel stuck on shells and prevent future difficulties
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If you are having trouble peeling your hard-boiled eggs, you can easily use water to help remove the shell. Try storing your eggs in cold water for about 1 hour, and hold your egg under running water when you peel it. To prevent shells from sticking in the future, try using either vinegar and salt or baking soda when boiling your eggs. With a bit of lubrication, you can easily remove even the most stubborn egg shells.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Storing Boiled Eggs in Water

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  1. Turn on your faucet and make sure your water is cool. Place a plastic container under the faucet until it is about ⅔ of the way full. Then, turn off your water. [1]
    • Eggs peel easily when they are cold because the whites of the eggs constrict away from the shell.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Peel a Difficult Hard Boiled Egg
    After you boil your eggs and let them cool for about 30 minutes - 1 hour, you can store them in water so the shell easily peels off. You can fill your plastic container up with your eggs, or grab another if you have too many eggs for 1 container. No need to put a lid on the eggs! They will cool fine without a lid. [2]
    • You can pour out some of water if it is close to overflowing.
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  3. The cool temperature of the refrigerator will chill your water, making it easy to peel even difficult eggs. They should easily peel off after about 1 hour. You can leave them in your fridge for up to 3-4 days. [3]
    • Storing eggs in cold water helps the egg separate from the shell, so you can easily peel it away.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Peel a Difficult Hard Boiled Egg
    Peel your eggs using your hands and remove the shell entirely. After your eggs sit in cold water for a bit, take them out of the fridge and pour out the water from your container. Tap the egg with a spoon or on your counter to break the shell, and chip away the pieces using your fingers. [4]
    • Once you peel off some of the shell, you can easily remove the remaining layer.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Peeling Under Running Water

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  1. Putting your eggs in the cold constrict the whites of the eggs, making it easier to remove the shell. To use the cold water, let your water run for a few seconds so the temperature can adjust. [5]
    • Your water does not have to be ice cold, but the colder the water, the easier it may be to peel away the shell.
    • It is helpful to wash any dishes in your sink and wipe your sink with a soapy sponge.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Peel a Difficult Hard Boiled Egg
    Cup your hand around your hard-boiled egg, and place it under the running water. Let the water run over your egg for 5-15 seconds or so. [6]
    • You can leave it under the running water for more or less time if you’d like. Holding it under the water helps the egg adjust to the new temperature.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Peel a Difficult Hard Boiled Egg
    After your egg soaks under the running water for a few seconds, tap it a few times on your sink. It is best to tap your egg at the bottom for best results. This breaks the shell so you can easily peel it away. [7]
    • Alternatively, you can tap it on the side of your faucet instead. Take it out from under the water, and tap the bottom of your egg on the top of your faucet.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Peel a Difficult Hard Boiled Egg
    The base of the egg is slightly wider than the tip, and it is easier to peel since there is more surface area. Remove the shell where you made your dents, and pull back on the shell using your finger. Do this as running water pours on your egg. [8]
    • Since the shell should easily slip off in the water, you should be able to easily peel even difficult hard boiled eggs.
  5. Collect the shells and dispose of them in your compost bin or trash can. Turn off your water, and place your egg on a plate or in a bowl. Then, scoop up the eggshell pieces from your sink. Eggshells make great compost, so toss them in your bin! If you don’t have a compost bin, you can simply throw them in the trash.
    • It is best to use a collector at the bottom of your sink so the shells do not go down your drain.
    • If you have a garbage disposal, you can turn it on to get rid of any shells that fall down your drain.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Peeling Problems

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Peel a Difficult Hard Boiled Egg
    Use medium heat to bring your water to a boil, and pour in your vinegar and salt. You can pour in your ingredients when the water starts to bubble. [9]
    • These ingredients help separate the shell from the egg so you can easily remove them, even from difficult eggs.
  2. Rather than using vinegar and salt, you can also use baking soda to make it easier to peel your eggs. Fill your pot up with about 1 quart (0.95 L) of water, and add 1  tsp (4.9 mL) of baking soda once the water starts to boil. [10]
    • The baking soda gets absorbed into your eggs, loosening the bond between the egg white and membrane of the shell.
  3. Before you boil your eggs, poke a hole in them so more water can absorb into the egg, making them easier to peel. You can use a push pin or a sewing pin to make your holes. Hold your egg in 1 hand, and insert your pin with gentle pressure to pierce through the shell. Then, gently place them inside your boiling water. [11]
    • Extra water in your eggs helps separate the egg white from the shell membrane.
    • Poke your hole with care to prevent shattering the eggshell.
  4. Eggs can continue cooking even after you remove them from the heat. To stop their cooking, place them in cold water immediately after you boil your eggs . If you overcook your egg, the egg will start to expand from excess water, making it more difficult to remove the shell.
    • Alternatively, fill a bowl with ice and place your eggs inside the bowl. Then, place the bowl inside the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How to prepare to peel a carton of eggs at one time?
    Karley Snyder
    Community Answer
    Boil 1 quart - 2 quarts of water in a pot big enough for all of your eggs. When the water starts to boil, add your eggs to the pot. Once they boil, you can store all of your eggs together in the fridge or cool them down using water or an ice bath.
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    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 6
  • Question
    What if I don't have a microwave?
    Community Answer
    You should not use a microwave to peel eggs. This can result in pieces of the shell injuring you or damaging the microwave. Always use boiling water on a stovetop to make hard boiled eggs.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 8
  • Question
    What if you boil the eggs the night before?
    Karley Snyder
    Community Answer
    If you boil your eggs the night before, you can easily stick them in the refrigerator overnight! Then, when you are ready to boil them, your shells should easily peel off since your eggs are already at a cool temperature. To make the shells even easier to peel off, consider storing them in a tub of water.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Warnings

      • Be careful of sharp pieces when handling your eggs. Sometimes the sharp corners can scratch your hands or poke your fingers.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/yDaMDfHO3Eg?t=15s
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/yDaMDfHO3Eg?t=22s
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/yDaMDfHO3Eg?t=29s
      4. ↑ https://greatist.com/eat/how-to-peel-hard-boiled-eggs
      5. ↑ https://www.today.com/food/how-peel-hard-boiled-eggs-t11861
      6. ↑ https://www.today.com/food/how-peel-hard-boiled-eggs-t11861
      7. ↑ https://www.today.com/food/how-peel-hard-boiled-eggs-t11861
      8. ↑ https://www.today.com/food/how-peel-hard-boiled-eggs-t11861
      9. ↑ https://www.forkly.com/food-hacks/use-vinegar-to-peel-hard-boiled-eggs-with-ease/
      1. ↑ http://www.businessinsider.com/we-tried-2-tricks-that-make-eggs-easier-to-peel-heres-what-worked-2017-6
      2. ↑ https://gethealthyu.com/how-to-make-perfect-hard-boiled-eggs-that-are-easy-to-peel/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To peel a difficult hard-boiled egg, hold the egg under cold, running water for 5-15 seconds to help the egg whites constrict and make the shell easier to remove. Tap the bottom of the egg a few times on your sink or counter to break the shell, then hold your egg under running water again and start peeling the shell from the bottom. If you’re still having trouble, soak your egg in cold water in the refrigerator for up to an hour to loosen the shell even more. If you want to learn more, like how to poke a hole in the shell to make it easier, keep reading!

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        Mar 31, 2018

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