Peeling hard-boiled eggs is easier with one ingredient in the cooking water

A small amount of baking soda may help make hard-boiled eggs easier to peel. The suggested amount is half a teaspoon for about two liters of water.

Start with already boiling water and lower the eggs in carefully with a spoon. Cook them for about nine to 10 minutes, depending on their size and their starting temperature. Too much baking soda is unnecessary and may affect the taste.

The article says rapid cooling matters just as much. Move the cooked eggs straight into very cold water with ice to stop the cooking process. After several minutes, tap the shell on a hard surface, roll the egg gently under your palm and peel it along with the inner membrane.

Very fresh eggs may be harder to peel because the white can cling more tightly to the membrane. Eggs that have been stored properly for several days may work better.