How do you peel a hard boiled egg?

Question

Every time I peel a hard boiled egg the shell always takes off a layer of the egg white, what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

While the eggs are still hot, drain them and fill the pot with COLD water. Then roll them around gently in the pan, so the shells crack. Drain them again and peel them. This helps shrink the shell away from the egg, and they come off cleaner.

Answer 2

Depends on the age of the egg. An older egg will peel much easier than a fresh one. If fresh, they seem to be easier to peel when warm. Just lightly crack the egg on a flat surface and use your thumb to apply pressure to the area around the crack until the majority of the egg is cracked then start peeling off the shell. I then rinse the egg to remove an small shell pieces.

Answer 3

Yeah just like the good sister advises. Roll it so you're cracking most of the shell and there is an under layer like a skin which you should be able to peel off without having to pick the shell off. It's like a white membrane that should allow you to peel off the whole thing in one or two goes.

Answer 4

A lot of good answers here. I usually tap the (thoroughly cooled) egg on the counter, then give it a roll. If you tap the narrow end, you might be able to slip your thumb under the shell there.
The main tip I can give you is that older eggs peel easier - as the egg ages, it shrinks; pulling away from the shell, and making peeling easier. (read this on Google)

Answer 5

You first boil them and when they start to boil, put on the timer for 8 minutes. after the 8 minutes, pour out the hot water and rinse the eggs with cold water a couple of times. When u do that , hit the egg gently on the table. The egg shell has to be completely with cracks. Then peal and it comes out perfect :) and voila!

Answer 6

Your eggs are too fresh!

The other thing to do is to plunge them into cold water straight from the saucepan and leave until handleable - this helps getting more shell off in one go and also stops that ugly grey ring forming around the yolk.

Seriously, very fresh eggs are notoriously difficult to peel. Leave them for a while and they will get easier.

Answer 7

before peeling it, let it sit in cold water for about 30 minutes. this will cause the egg to shrink away from the shell, making it easier to peel without destroying the white.

Answer 8

put it under cold water first for like 5 mins then start to peel the egg

Answer 9

I don't think you are doing anything wrong, that has/still is happening with a lot of people. Here is a lil hint to try, makes it easier, after you have put the amount of water on your eggs to boil them, add a small amount of salt. has worked each time for me

Answer 10

tap it with a spoon until it's cracked everywhere, then peel slowly.... there is a membrane that will come off with the shell... this is not part of the egg, it's the membrane that holds the shell together... if the egg itself is coming apart then your eggs are probably going bad...