How to Separate Eggs (4 Easy Methods)

Did you know there are multiple ways to separate egg yolks from their whites? You could simply use nothing but your hands if you wanted. But there are a few tricks to make the process go smoothly, and a few other options that may matter if you’re cracking large volumes of eggs.

Read on to learn how to crack an egg and separate the yolks from the whites cleanly for all your egg recipes!

How to crack an egg cleanly

Before you even separate the egg yolks from the whites, you need to crack the egg. The best way to crack an egg is on an even and flat surface. I know it might seem more natural to use the edge of the bowl, but refrain from doing this because it can give you small shells in your bowl once you crack the eggs. 

Take the egg and tap it onto the counter surface until you hear a crack. Sometimes you may need to tap it more than once to get an appropriate break on the shell. Once the shell begins to crack or you feel the egg whites seeping out, move it over the bowls and use the following methods to separate the yolks from the whites. 

Separating eggs using the eggshell

Separating egg yolks from the whites might seem a little daunting for those who don’t cook too much, but it’s easier than you think even without an egg separator. This old-school method uses the shells to separate the yolks from the whites. I personally think this is the best way to crack an egg and separate the yolk from the whites because it’s fairly fast once you get the hang of it.

Step 1 – Set up two bowls next to each other. 

Step 2 – Take the egg and tap it on the counter (NOT the edge of the bowl). Move it over one bowl and crack the egg in the middle without breaking the yolk, so there’s half an eggshell in each of your hands.

Step 3 – Try to keep the egg yolk in one shell while the egg whites seep into the bowl. Optional: you can transfer the egg yolk to the other egg to remove more of the white. When all the egg whites are removed from the eggshells, pour the egg yolk into a separate bowl. 

Tip: if you have any small pieces of shell that fall into the bowl, use another eggshell and fish out the fallen shell from the bowl. Shell particles tend to cling to each other so it will be easier to remove than using your fingers. 

Separating eggs using your hands

The simplest way to separate egg yolks and egg whites is as simple as using your hands. We’ve all been there, you just crack the whole egg in a bowl and forget to separate them beforehand. If the egg yolk is still whole, you can still separate them by using your hands!

Step 1 – Place a bowl next to the bowl with the eggs. Using a clean hand, gently scoop the entire yolk onto your fingers and lift about 3 inches above the bowl. Allow the egg whites to seep through your fingers–if you need to spread your fingers slightly, this is okay but try not to have the yolk fall through. 

Step 2 – When all the egg white has seeped through and separated from the yolk, transfer the yolk into a separate bowl. 

Note: Unfortunately if your egg yolk is cracked in the bowl with the egg whites, there is no real way to separate them completely. If you’re trying to separate a lot of eggs and don’t want to risk contaminating a batch of egg whites, use an additional bowl as a sort of staging area. Once you get all the whites without yolk into it, you can transfer it to the larger bowl of egg whites. If you happen to break a yolk and get it in this staging bowl, you can discard it without ruining your large bowl of egg whites.

Separating eggs using a water bottle / suction

I get it, not everyone wants to get their hands dirty trying to separate egg white and egg yolks–so here’s another mess-free way! All you need is an empty and clean water bottle, preferably one you won’t be using again or don’t mind getting eggs in. 

Step 1 – Clean your water bottle thoroughly with soap. Place two bowls next to each other.

Step 2 – Tap the egg on the counter until you can see cracks appear, then carefully empty it into the bowl. Try not to crack the egg yolk. 

Step 3 – Turn the bottle upside down with the opening facing the eggs. Squeeze the bottle to push the air out, then hover over the egg yolk until you touch it slightly. Use the bottle to suction the egg yolk into the bottle by slowly releasing pressure between your fingers on the bottle. 

Step 4 – When you’ve successfully separated the egg yolk from the whites and the yolk is in the bottle, move the bottle over the other bowl and squeeze the bottle to release the egg yolk. 

Separating eggs using a special separating tool

If you want to use a special tool for separating yolks and whites, you can try an egg separator. There are a myriad of different brands and tools that work in a similar way without getting your hands too dirty. Some options are sold by Oxo tools or Williams Sonoma. These varieties are designed to clip onto your bowl too. 

Step 1 – Take two bowls and place them side by side. Clip your egg separator tool on the edge of one of the bowls. 

Step 2 – Tap the egg on the counter and move it above the tool. Carefully crack the egg over the tool and watch the tool separate the whites and egg yolks. The tool should hold onto the yolk while the whites fall through the holes and into the bowl. 

Step 3 – Unclip the tool and transfer the yolk to the other bowl. 

What to do with extra egg whites

Now that you’re an expert in separating egg yolks from egg whites, you can make so many different dishes, like easy egg white oatmeal, protein waffles, and gluten-free oatmeal waffles. 

What to do with extra egg yolks

If you have an abundance of egg yolks, you can use them in banana protein pancakes and also protein waffles, too.