Hard-boiled eggs are notoriously tough to peel. You know the drill: standing over the sink, picking off stubborn shards of shell until the egg looks like it survived a rockslide. But TikTok may have cracked the code—literally.
The secret happens before the boiling even starts. All it takes is one tiny tap to break the membrane inside the shell. That little move saves you from the dreaded frustration of peeling and turns hard-boiled eggs into the easy snack they’re supposed to be.
@purelychickens @aymlessleigh84 you are genius! Thanks for sharing!!! 🐔After tapping gently I covered them in cold water 1 inch above the eggs. Brought them to a rolling boil then turned off the heat, covered for 10 min. Ice bath to cool! #hardboiled #hardboiledegg #hardboiledeggs #eastereggs #eggs #chickeneggs #egghack #hardboiledegghack #easypeeleggs #chickens #purelychickens #eggtapping #deviledeggs #egg #eggpeeling
How to Do It
According to a TikTok video, all you need is the back of a spoon. Give the raw egg a few light taps, just enough until you hear a faint snap or crack. You’re not trying to smash it open, only to break that inner membrane.
Once you’ve got the subtle crack, drop the eggs straight into boiling water. Cook them however you like, whether you’re team jammy yolk or team well done.
After boiling, you can stick them in an ice bath. Transfer the eggs into a big bowl of ice water to cool them down quickly. This not only keeps your fingers from burning, it makes the shell practically slide right off. We’re talking seconds here. Faster than you can say “hard-boiled egg.”
Hard-boiled eggs are already a powerhouse. They work in egg salad, breakfast sandwiches, or straight up as protein-packed bites. But with peeling out of the equation, they’re about to become your new go-to meal prep staple.
Related: Chopped spinach Cobb salad
Does It Actually Work?
Plenty of commenters swear by the hack. One user wrote, “I tried this today! Life changing!.” Another found that the hack worked consistently: “I tried it with 10 eggs and all peeled perfectly.” Some users shared that they use a large needle to poke a hole at the end and works just as easily.
Of course, no hack is totally foolproof. Some commenters said their eggs cracked open too far while boiling. That’s more about technique than the method itself. The key is a gentle tap, not a heavy smash. You may want to test this hack out with a single egg first before wasting an entire carton.
Still, even with the slim chance of a misfire, it’s hard to imagine this making peeling worse. And if it means saving time, frustration, and a few ugly eggs, this trick is definitely worth a try.
Related: FDA Issues Recall on Eggs That Left Nearly 100 People Sick
