The best method for separating eggs

May 23, 2026 by
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Separating the yolks from the whites to make custards, meringues, or other dishes that use only one part of the egg is a kitchen task that can easily become annoying. Breaking the yolk before you get the whites into a bowl is frustrating and wasteful. There are many different tips, tricks, tools, and “hacks” for making this process easier. Chowhound’s Monica Sudakov tested nine different methods before landing on her preferred way of separating eggs.

carton of eggs

Monica listed the techniques from worst to best. For the first (worst) method she raided the drinks cabinet for a cocktail strainer. The theory is that the whites will drip through the holes in the strainer leaving the yolks on top. This method was a complete failure – keep the cocktail strainer at the bar. Up next was probably the most common way that people separate eggs: using the shells to tip the yolk back and forth as the white falls away. The big problem with this method, says Monica, is that there is a high risk of piercing the yolk with the sharp edge of the shell.

Other methods included using a shotglass to isolate the yolk, using a funnel, employing a plastic bottle to suck up the yolk (and related method using the top of a turkey baster), and buying a dedicated egg separating tool. Those often look like a coil that you crack an egg into. The whites go through the gaps between the coils and you are left with just the yolk. However, this means yet another thing to take up space in the drawer, and this leads us to the final – and best – method that Monica found that takes up zero extra space: using your hands. Some people find this off-putting due to the texture of the whites. It also means you need to wash your hands as soon as you are done separating the eggs. I’m on board with this technique, but I also use the shells occasionally, despite the risks. What’s your go-to egg separating method?

Category: Cooking Tips

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7 Comments

  • riley  on  May 24, 2026

    I have a one-use-tool that was a give-away at a Tupperware party. Small, doesn’t take up much room and works.

  • Indio32  on  May 24, 2026

    Use the method my mother used showed me as a child ie tipping the yolk between the halves of the egg shell.

  • JimCampbell  on  May 24, 2026

    I generally use my hands, although I also use the tipping between shells method. I’ve never really considered it all that risky. One method Jacques Pepin uses is to break all of the eggs into a bowl at once and then cup out the yolks with his hands. Looks easy.

  • anya_sf  on  May 24, 2026

    The shell method usually works for me. The risk is mainly when the shells don’t want to crack cleanly. The other day I had to separate 12 eggs and messed up 2 of them 🙁 My track record is usually better. I did end up using my fingers after having difficulty with the shells.

  • lkgrover  on  May 26, 2026

    I use an egg separator gadget. It works consistently, much better than my mother’s shell method (which caused lots of trashed eggs). The thought of using my hands makes me cringe.

  • willamhbayer  on  May 27, 2026

    I’m 72 and have been separating yolks from whites for 60 years and have never pierced a yolk with the sharp edge of a shell. Although I’ve lost a few down the drain due to clumsiness. I would not use my hands to cradle raw egg.

  • whitewoods  on  May 29, 2026

    I don’t see what the big deal is here. I’ve always just used a plastic slotted spoon. It’s very quick and simple.

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