If you followed all the above advice, yet are confronted with stubborn egg shells refusing to separate cleanly. It could be the following: Farm Fresh Eggs: While farm fresh eggs are delightful, they do not peel as easily as their store-bought counter parts. Frustrating but true. The shells are often thicker and more easily puncture the whites. Once broken, they just want to peel off with the skin. Older Eggs: Older eggs peel easier than fresh new eggs, so go for those eggs that have been pushed toward the back of the refrigerator for hard-boiled eggs. White eggs: White shell eggs typically have a thinner shell and peel easier than their brown shell counterparts. This is my personal experience and has no basis in actual fact. Cold eggs: I also have found that slightly warm eggs peel easier especially when peeled under running water. It makes for a tricky cleaning experience, but deviled eggs are worth it! Watch my video tutorial on How to Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs perfectly!