How to Blow the Shell off a Hard Boiled Egg

Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

While anyone can peel a hard boiled egg, it's a neat trick to whip the shell of in a few seconds. Try it!

Steps

It helps to gently hit the ends against a hard surface to create small cracks. Do this to an area about the size of a dime on the smaller end (18 mm diameter) and about the size of a nickel on the larger end (21 mm diameter).
This should produce small cracks throughout the shell.

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Keep the smaller end toward you.
Form a circle with the thumb and index finger of your right hand that is about the same size as the opening on the smaller end of the egg. Be sure your thumb is over your index finger. Place the thumb/index finger circle over the opening on the small end.
Be sure that your fingers fit together and make a seal. This seal is key in directing all the air into the shell and not letting it escape around it.
It takes more air pressure than you think to push the egg from its shell. If necessary, repeat until the egg is out.

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Boil the eggs in salty water to loosen the bond between the egg and the shell.

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Helpful 72 Not Helpful 25
If the egg doesn't come out on the first try, try again. Some are stubborn, but with coaxing, will finally yield.

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Really fresh eggs do not respond well, if at all, to this style of peeling. The shells do not pull from the egg when cooked because they are so fresh.

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Don't let the egg fly out of your hands. All your efforts will be for naught if the egg takes flight and lands on the floor.

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Especially during flu season, you probably want to save this technique for eggs you're planning to eat yourself, not serve to others.

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Helpful 24 Not Helpful 8
Don't do it near carpets, curtains or any hard-to clean objects.

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