Easy-to-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs - Downshiftology (2024)

Learn how to make hard boiled eggs that are easy to peel! Spoiler alert: it’s the sequence of steps that’s most important. And with the extra tips I’ve listed below, you’ll always have beautiful, perfect hard boiled eggs.

Hard boiled eggs are a frequent ingredient in many meals. They can be cut in half for deviled eggs, diced into egg salad, placed on top of a cobb salad, or eaten on their own with a dash of salt and pepper. And when it comes to prepping, there’s nothing more satisfying than peeling the shell off with no sticking or divots.

But I know the struggle with hard boiled eggs as I’ve been there before. You’re peeling your eggs and chunks of egg white pull off with the skin, leaving you with ugly, pocketed eggs. It’s super disappointing.

So I set out on a mission to test all the tutorials I could find online. And what I learned was that it’s actually no one trick, but rather a series of steps that makes hard boiled eggs easy to peel.

How To Make Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs

Cutting to the chase, it’s a combination of how you cook the eggs, how you cool them, and how you crack the shell afterwards.

The first mistake most people make is starting with cold water to boil eggs. The key is to have a hot boiling start, time it correctly, then shock the eggs in an ice water bath. I describe this in more detail in my how to boil eggs post, but here’s the process.

Prep the Hot and Cold Water

Bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil. Make sure there’s enough water to cover the eggs by about an inch. And while you’re waiting for it to boil, remove the eggs from the fridge (set them on the counter) and prep an ice water bath in a large bowl.

Cook the Eggs Until They’re Hard Boiled

Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and use a skimmer to gently and slowly add the eggs into the water. Then, turn the heat back up to a boil. Set a timer and cook the eggs for 12 to 14 minutes. See my egg timer chart.

Put the Eggs in the Ice Water Bath

Once the eggs have cooked to your preferred time, use the skimmer to remove the eggs and immediately submerge them in the ice water bath to stop them from cooking. You’ll let the eggs sit here for about 5 to 10 minutes before peeling.

Tap, Roll, Then Peel the Eggs

To peel hard boiled eggs the easiest way possible, make sure to tap, roll, then peel:

1. First, tap the egg on the bottom.
2. Then, gently roll the egg on your countertop with the palm of your hand. Cracks will start to form and loosen the outer shell.
3. Start peeling from the bottom first (always), as there’s a little air pocket and you’ll be able to get under the membrane. The shell should come off easily from there!

How Long Can You Store Hard Boiled Eggs

You can store hard boiled eggs (with the shell on) for up to a week in the fridge. You can also store peeled eggs in the fridge for up to three days in a storage container without any issues.

Hard Boiled Egg Recipes

Congratulations, you’ve now made the perfect hard boiled egg! You can of course eat them plain with a sprinkle of salt and pepper for a snack. Or you can enjoy some of my favorite hard boiled egg recipes. Here are a few deviled egg recipes I love:

• Bacon Deviled Eggs
• Avocado Deviled Eggs
• Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
• Spicy Deviled Eggs
• Beet Pickled Deviled Eggs

Hard Boiled Eggs Video

Want to see how I make hard boiled eggs in my own kitchen? Watch this quick video below!

More Ways to Cook Eggs

If you’re like me and love eggs, you’re in luck. I have a ton of delicious egg recipes on the website. Here are a few other methods to keep up your sleeve:

• Create the perfect poached egg
• Get crispy edges with this fried egg recipe
• Bake into egg muffins

Recipe originally published April 2020, but updated to include new information.