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Hard-boiled eggs are easy to make. It is an essential skill since we use hard-boiled eggs in various dishes, from sandwiches to tuna salad. I make the tuna fish salad my mom made.

Here's how

• 2 cans of tuna in water
• 4 stalks of celery diced
• 3 hard-boiled eggs
• 1 small onion chopped

Drain the water, mix the ingredients, and add salt and pepper to taste. Chill. No, not you, the tuna salad.

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Dating to around 5,000 BC, boiling eggs coincided with the invention of cooking vessels, in this case, pottery.

Do not put all your eggs in one basket. -Warren Buffett

The ancient Romans served hard-boiled eggs to their wealthy guests. It is a go-to snack even today. It is vital to master the perfect hard-boiled egg.

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Peeling an HB egg can try your patience and make you feel frustrated. Trying different peeling methods can help. If you still need to get it right, keep trying.

You CAN make an omelet without breaking eggs. It's just a really bad omelet. -Stephen Colbert

Here are some tips and tricks on how to peel a hard-boiled egg quickly. Getting it right the first time will save you the hassle.

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Try these tips for no-stress egg peeling

Baking soda is your friend

Add baking soda to your pot of boiling water. This will help the egg white separate for easier peeling.

Cool your eggs first

Drop your eggs into a bowl of cold water.

Let the ice cubes do the work for you.

Bath your eggs for a few minutes. Eggs come out tender with a well-cooked yolk. I was going to say perfect HB egg, but I know better. Skill and luck must come together. Peeling the egg looks easy. It's not.

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Cracking up is easy

You'll need to make small cracks in the hard shell to complete the peeling process. Rolling the egg on a hard surface may mash your yolk. You don't want the egg to fall apart once out of the shell. Not ideal.

Try this to determine how much pressure you need to start the egg cracking.

Carefully drop the egg from twelve inches onto a hard surface. Catch the falling egg in a bowl or pan. The idea here is to crack the shell and not break the yolk. It works by breaking up the shell of a raw egg in the same way. Try it and let me know if it worked well for you.

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Two eggs are better than one

Looking to peel more than one HB egg at a time? Gently place the eggs in a pot with 2 inches of water. Shaking the eggs will break up the shell and make peeling easier. What is supposed to happen? The eggs will peel easily, and the yolks will still be intact.

No worries, you've got time

There are more variations in hard-boiled eggs than is apparent. Variations are due to the chosen cooking time. You can boil your egg for between six and fifteen minutes. The yolk is softer with less cooking time and harder and dryer when cooked over twelve to fifteen minutes.

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Peeling the cooled egg under running water may ease the task and rinse away stubborn shells.

Try peeling your egg with a spoon

It's easy to do and can be fun with some practice.

Here is how to peel using a spoon.

Cool your eggs in an ice water bath

Find the hollow part of the shell. It should feel like an air pocket. The trick is to get the spoon between the solid egg white and the membrane. You're home-free if the spoon has enough room and will work for you. Just light pressure will free the egg from its shell.

Are white or brown eggs better for hard boiling?

The debate rages. Let's call it a preference. There is no difference in taste. Age and size may affect your outcome, as an older egg will boil differently. The egg color depends on the hen that laid it. But physically, nutritionally, and taste-wise, the eggs, regardless of color, taste the same and offer the same level of nutrition.

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Here's hoping the next hard-boiled egg you run into peels drama-free. Share your story in the comments section.

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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, equestrian and rodeo, magazine features, and millionaire travel. 

 Share your thoughts and stories at dp1@sawyertms.com.