How to Boil an Egg So That It Peels Easily

Co-authored by Anne Lloyd

Last Updated: September 26, 2023 Approved

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Have you ever cooked a tasty egg, only to try and peel it, and end up with chips and craters? If you are making an egg salad, a messed up egg white may not be an issue. If are making deviled eggs, however, a messed up egg white will take away from the overall appearance. Luckily, there are a few simple tricks you can use to boil eggs so that they peel easily and neatly.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Giving the Eggs a Cold Start

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Try to use eggs that are at least 7 to 10 days old. Many people find that the fresher an egg is, the more difficult it is to peel.
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This will help the eggs cook slowly at first. They will continue to cook, even after you turn the heat off later on.
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Turn the stove off, cover the saucepan with a lid, and wait 11 to 13 minutes. Keep the saucepan on the burner during this time. The heat from the burner will continue "cooking" the eggs. If your burner doesn't stay hot after you turn it off (such as gas), reduce the heat to low, simmer for 1 minute, then turn it off.^{[3]
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- If the eggs are small or medium-sized, cook them for 11 minutes.
- If the eggs are large or extra large, cook them for 13 minutes.^{[4]
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Prepare an ice bath. Fill a large bowl with cold water and lots of ice. When you put the eggs into this, the coldness will "shock" the eggs, and make the shell easier to peel off.
- Cooling immediately after cooking makes a perfect hard-boiled egg.
Use a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs to lift the eggs out of the water and place them into the bowl. During this time, the eggs will cool down; cold eggs are easier to peel than hot eggs.
Keep the bowl of water handy. You can dip the eggs into the water once you peel them to get rid of any broken shell bits.
Try to crack both ends of the shell first, as this is where the air pockets tend to be. To make the shell even easier to peel, roll the egg across the counter with your palm. This will help loosen the membrane from the whites.^{[5]
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From time to time, dip the egg into the cold water. This will help loosen the shell from the whites even more. It will also help rinse away any broken shell fragments that might be stuck the to whites.
At this point, you can use the eggs in your recipe, or you can store them in a sealed container in your fridge. If you do store them, be sure to eat them within 3 to 5 days.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Giving the Eggs a Hot Start

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Don't add the eggs to the water yet; it needs to be boiling first.
Avoid dropping them into the water, or you will risk cracking them. Instead, consider using a slotted spoon, a pair of tongs, or even a wire basket.
If the eggs are smaller, cook them for 11 minutes. If the eggs are larger, cook them for 13 minutes.
Fill a bowl with cold water, and lots of ice. When you put the cooked eggs into the icy water, the coldness will "shock" the eggs, and make the shell easier to peel away.
Once the time is up, use a pair of tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs from the saucepan and into the ice bath. During this time, the eggs will cool down; it is easier to peel cold eggs than hot eggs.
Keep the ice bath nearby. You can dip the eggs into the water after you peel them to get rid of any broken shell bits.
Tap both ends of the egg against a hard surface, then roll the egg across the surface with your palm. This will help loosen the membrane from the whites, and make the egg easier to peel.
You may want to dip the egg into the cold water from time to time. This will loosen the shell from the whites even more, and help rinse away any broken shell pieces. ^{[6]
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At this point, you can add the eggs to your recipe, or store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator. If you do store them, be sure to eat them within 3 to 5 days.

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Question

What do I do if it's still difficult to peel?

Community Answer

Crack the shell, but don't peel it and place the egg back in the cold water for 5 minutes, then try peeling the shell. The water will get between the shell and whites and make it easier to peel.

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Can the boiled eggs be stored in the shell in the refrigerator?

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Yes of course! Just don't leave it in the refrigerator for too long.

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Is there a faster way to peel eggs?

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Not really. Older eggs tend to peel easier than fresh ones.

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Tips

Tap the larger end of the egg first, and start peeling from there. This end usually has an air pocket, and makes it easier to pierce the membrane. If you pierce the membrane, you'll be able to peel the shell off in larger pieces.^{[7]
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You can also peel the eggs under cold, running water instead.^{[8]
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If the shell is difficult to peel: crack the shell, but don't peel it, soak the egg in cold water for 5 minutes, then try peeling the shell. The water will get between the shell and whites, and make it easier to peel.^{[9]
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Warnings

Be very careful when you are moving the eggs from the hot water to the cold water; you should never use your hands as the eggs are extremely hot.

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If the uncooked egg floats in cold water, it probably went bad, so discard it.

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