Why We're Peeling Hard-Boiled Eggs With A Spoon From Now On

Deviled eggs are one of the greatest foods on the planet. Whether you're eating the traditional version or something dolled up with pimiento cheese or pickled shrimp, there's nothing we don't love about eating the classic appetizer. The same can't be said about making them, though. That's because peeling the hard-boiled eggs can be a real pain. Luckily, there's a new trick to try that makes it a whole lot easier, and all you need is a spoon.

How To Make Hard-Boiled Eggs

For a one-ingredient food, hard-boiled eggs are pretty finicky. If you don't boil them long enough, you wind up with soft-boiled eggs and runny yolks. Cook them too long and an unappetizing greenish ring can appear around the center. Even when you cook them perfectly, all your hard work can go to waste when you try to peel them and the shell refuses to budge or takes out big chunks of the egg white with it. Like we said: finicky. So what are you supposed to do if you're hankering for some egg salad?

How To Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs With A Spoon

First, follow our directions for perfect hard-boiled eggs. After the eggs cool for five minutes, ideally in ice water, grab a spoon.

Take an egg out of the cooling water and crack it along the fat end by tapping it on the counter or cutting board. Peel just enough shell to be able to slip the tip of a spoon under the shell. Carefully slide the spoon in so that the curve of the spoon follows the curve of the egg. Then, rotate the egg as you move the spoon between the shell and the egg white. This releases the shell without damaging the egg. Once you get the hang of it, this is a quick and relatively painless way to peel a hard-boiled egg.

More Tips For Easier Peeling

If your eggshells are being stubborn, there are a few tips to try to make peeling them easier. Make sure the eggs have cooled. During cooling, the shell pulls away from the egg, making loosening it easier. If tapping the egg on the counter doesn’t work on a stubborn shell, gently roll the egg in your hands to loosen it. You can also try submerging the egg under running water or in a bowl of water as you peel. Older eggs are easier to peel than fresh eggs because as the egg ages, the membrane pulls away from the inside of the shell.

What To Do With Peeled Hard-Boiled Eggs

Now that you have perfectly peeled eggs, what will you make? They make a satisfying snack on their own. Armed with the trick to peel them easily, whip up one of these recipes to show off your peeling know-how.

• Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
• Salmagundi
• Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing
• Crab Salad Deviled Eggs
• No-Stuff Deviled Eggs
• Pickled Eggs

How To Store Hard-Boiled Eggs

Store hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to seven days. If your eggs are already peeled, store them in a zip-top plastic bag or airtight container. If you plan to store your eggs in their shells, you can store them uncovered in a container or bowl. Then grab a spoon, and peel before using.