When it comes to cooking, you wouldn’t think that something as simple seeming as cracking an egg would cause people so much trouble, but I’m here to tell you that it definitely does! The last thing anybody wants is bits of shell in their cake or their omelette, so the skill of mastering the perfect crack is something we should all be looking to learn! Here are five ways to crack eggs perfectly.
1. Flat Surface
Hit the egg against a flat surface rather than the edge of the bowl in order to better control the tension of the break.
2. Centre
If you do prefer to crack it on the rim of a bowl, always make sure to crack it right in the centre of the shell. It is the easiest way to ensure that you don’t have to contend with leakage and overflow on one side.
3. One-Handed
For the perfect combination of control and strength and speed, it is always better to crack an egg with just one hand. Doing so with two might produce too much force and result in you smashing the shell rather than just neatly breaking it.
4. Knife
If you don’t want to bring the egg down on something, then turn the tables and bring something down on the egg instead. A knife is perfect for this motion, as you can do a quick chop with it in your hand to make a neat line of breakage.
5. Shell Scoop
If you do happen to end up with some shell in your bowl of egg, the trick is to use a bigger piece of shell to fish it out. You will find the shell pieces stick much more easily together than trying with your fingers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I crack an egg without getting shell pieces in it?
- Tap the egg gently on a flat surface and open it slowly with your thumbs to avoid shell fragments.
- What's the best way to crack an egg for fluffy scrambled eggs?
- Crack the egg into a bowl first and whisk well to incorporate air for fluffier texture.
- Can I crack eggs directly into a pan?
- Yes, but cracking into a bowl first helps check for freshness and shell bits.
- What's a quick trick to separate egg whites from yolks?
- Use the eggshell halves to pass the yolk back and forth, letting whites drop into a bowl.
- How can I prevent egg yolks from breaking when cracking?
- Crack eggs gently and avoid breaking the yolk by opening over a flat surface rather than edges.
- Is there a tool that helps crack eggs easily?
- Yes, egg crackers or separators can make cracking and separating easier and cleaner.
- How should I store cracked eggs if I don’t use them immediately?
- Transfer cracked eggs to a clean container, cover, and refrigerate, using within 24 hours.
- Can you crack eggs using one hand?
- Yes, with practice you can crack eggs one-handed by tapping and pulling the shell apart with your fingers.
- Are there differences in cracking fresh vs older eggs?
- Fresher eggs have thicker shells but crack similarly; older eggs might be easier to break but harder to separate.
- What's a genius hack if I drop egg shells in the bowl?
- Use a wet eggshell half to scoop out tiny shell pieces easily due to static attraction.