This Two-Second Trick Makes It Easier to Cook and Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs

Even the most hopeless home cooks are capable of hard-boiling an egg. Peeling that egg once it cools, however, is a different story. If you've ever struggled to separate a cooked egg from its stubborn shell, this trick shared by Lifehacker will vastly improve your breakfast routine.

This tip for cooking easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs originates with Jacques Pépin, the famous French chef, cookbook author, and television personality. To get perfect boiled eggs each time, he recommends poking a hole in the wide end of the shell before lowering it into the boiling water. This will release the air pocket inside, making the egg easier to peel when it's done cooking. Just take care to use something small, like a thumb tack, to create a tiny hole without cracking the shell.

The method solves other hard-boiled egg problems as well. Once the air escapes the shell, you won't have to worry about your eggs cracking as soon as they are submerged. This also takes care of aesthetic issues. Without the air bubble, your eggs will come out with smooth, round ends instead of one flat ones.

Peeling hard-boiled eggs is a common annoyance, and cooks have come up with many creative solutions. If you don't have a thumb tack on hand, try tossing your boiled eggs in an ice bath or peeling them underwater to make the process smoother. Here are more tips for peeling hard-boiled eggs at home.