How to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs: 3 Tips for Peeling Eggshells

The best way to peel hard-boiled eggs is by shocking them in an ice water bath after cooking the eggs. Follow the steps below for easy-peel hard-boiled eggs that are foolproof: 1. __Cover the eggs with water__. Place eggs in a pot of water on the stovetop with at least an inch of water covering the eggs. 2. __Simmer the eggs__. Turn on the heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. Simmer the eggs in boiling water for fifteen minutes to get firm whites and egg yolks. (The cook time will vary depending on your desired doneness for the eggs. For example, to make [soft-boiled eggs](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/all-about-soft-boiled-eggs-how-long-to-boil-eggs-and-easy-recipe#whats-the-difference-between-soft-boiled-and-hardboiled-eggs) with a runny egg yolk, boil for three minutes.) 3. __Remove the cooked eggs__. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the pot and place them in an ice bath in a large bowl. Cooling the eggs in cold water will halt the cooking process and will make it easier to handle the eggs when peeling. 4. __Tap the eggs__. When the eggs are completely cool to room temperature—about fifteen minutes—gently tap the egg on the counter or table to crack the peel. Tap the top end of the egg and the bottom end of the egg before tapping the sides of the egg to break up the eggshell. 5. __Peel the egg__. Carefully peel the egg, starting from the wide bottom end of the egg to break the air pocket between the egg and the shell. Gently peel off the shell to avoid breaking the egg whites. You can use hard-boiled eggs as a topper in a healthy salad, an appetizer (such as deviled eggs), or in a sandwich (such as an [egg salad sandwich](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tamago-sando-recipe)). Follow these tips to prepare easy-to-peel eggs for egg recipes: 1. __Use older eggs__. The eggshells of fresh eggs just laid by chickens are more difficult to peel. Older eggs, such as a carton of a dozen eggs from the grocery store, have less moisture, and the shell can more easily separate from the egg membrane. Use older eggs to ensure an easier peeling process. 2. __Use vinegar and salt__. Add a quarter cup of vinegar and a teaspoon of salt into the water that you use to boil the eggs. The salt and vinegar will soften the eggshells and make them easier to peel. 3. __Peel the eggs in water__. After you boil the eggs, place them in an ice-water bath to cool them down, then place the eggs in a bowl with room temperature water. Crack the egg against the bowl and peel the eggs under the water. The water will help the eggshell and membrane separate from the egg whites. Become a better chef with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, and more. Peeling hard-boiled eggs can be a delicate process. Follow these simple steps to learn how to peel hard-boiled eggs.