We all have that one kitchen task that seems deceptively simple yet consistently ends in disaster. For years, mine was making hard-boiled eggs. It sounds ridiculous to say out loud because boiling an egg is often considered the most basic of culinary skills. Yet, time and again, I found myself standing over the sink, picking tiny shards of shell off a mutilated egg white.
I tried every trick in the book. I added baking soda to the water. I used older eggs. I used vinegar. Some methods were better than others, but none worked perfectly every time. Then, my retired neighbor told me about the viral TikTok method that she now swears by. I was skeptical, but tried it, and now I’ll never make hard-boiled eggs any other way again.
The Kitchen Struggle Shared By Many
It turns out I am not alone in my egg-peeling struggles. Social media is flooded with videos of home cooks sharing their “secret methods” for boiled eggs that peel easily. The internet is full of conflicting advice, but the method my neighbor shared with me has been popularized by several creators.
We may never know who first shared this specific technique, but it’s laid out with helpful simplicity in a viral video by a creator who goes by the handle CoalJacobs (@coaljacobs). In her video, which has amassed thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, she shares her own history of struggling to peel eggs, especially when making large batches of deviled eggs. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her promise that this method works every single time has proven true for me.
A Viral Method That Actually Works
The brilliance of this hack lies in its departure from the standard cold-water start. Most of us were taught to put eggs in a pot, cover them with cold water, and bring everything to a boil together. This TikTok method flips the script entirely.
Here is the secret that changed everything for me. You bring your water to a full boil first. Only once the water is rolling do you gently lower your eggs into the pot. Let them boil for exactly fifteen minutes, then as soon as the time is up, transfer the eggs into an ice bath for five minutes.
That is it. No vinegar, no baking soda, no praying to the kitchen gods. Just boiling water and an ice bath. The first time I tried this, I was using fresh eggs laid just hours before, which can be notoriously difficult to peel. To my amazement, the shells practically fell off.
Fail-Proof Boiled Eggs Can Be a Game-Changer
Having a reliable way to make perfect hard-boiled eggs is a game-changer for meal prep. While deviled eggs are a delicious treat, hard-boiled eggs are a staple for nutritious eating throughout the week. This is especially relevant now as many people are trying to reduce their red meat consumption with the start of the new year, or in observance of Veganuary.
If you are not going fully vegan, but are cutting out meat, eggs can be an incredible source of protein that can keep you full and energized. When you can peel them effortlessly, you are more likely to make them. Slice them onto avocado toast, chop them into a salad, or just grab one for a quick snack on the go. Removing the frustration from the process can make it easier to opt for healthier choices.
@coaljacobs I have made a devilish amount of deviled eggs in my life and have always struggled peeling them until a year ago when I learned this method! I have made soooooooooo many deviled eggs this year and this method has worked every single time. The Secret to Perfectly Peeled Boiled Eggs: 1. boil water FIRST then add in the eggs 2. boil for 15 minutes 3. place eggs in an ice bath for 5 minutes 4. peel as normal, except this time it works! I hope I made this video in time for you to bring deviled eggs to Thanksgiving this year. #boiledeggs #peeling #crack #deviledeggs #thanksgiving ♬ Sogni ancora – Piero Piccioni
Addressing Common Concerns
The community response to the CoalJacobs video highlights just how common this struggle is. One commenter hilariously asked where she was fifteen minutes ago, presumably after struggling to peel a batch of eggs. Others had questions about the temperature of the eggs before boiling. The creator clarified that she has used this method with both cold eggs straight from the fridge and room-temperature eggs with equal success.
One commenter mentioned how thermal shock can sometimes cause the shell to crack when going from cold fridge to boiling water, leading to messy whites leaking out. While the original video did not address this, my neighbor had already found a perfect solution by combining this hack with another viral trick, often called the “tap method”.
Before lowering the egg into the boiling water, gently tap the fat end of the egg on the counter until you hear a tiny snap. You are not trying to break the membrane, just the shell itself. This relieves the pressure inside the egg as it quickly heats up. Using this combination, tapping the egg, and then dropping into already-boiling water, I’ve had absolutely perfect eggs, that are consistently easy to peel.
There is a genuine joy in finding a simple solution to a persistent problem. Sometimes we just need a little shared wisdom and the willingness to try something new. Kitchen hacks like this one do more than just save time, they bring a little bit of ease and victory into our daily routines, making the mundane task of cooking feel just a little bit more magical.
