There are gadgets you can buy for separating eggs but they’re really just a waste of money. Nature equipped humans with the best egg separating gadgets on earth: hands. Yep, the easiest and most efficient way to separate eggs is by using your hands. So suck it up, wash your hands really well and let’s get to it.

After the aforementioned hand washing crack the egg gently on the edge of a bowl or a flat surface. Working over a bowl you’ve chosen as the new home for your egg whites pry the egg apart by gripping it on each side of the crack you just made. Your objective here is to gently separate the egg shell into two parts. Pour the contents of the egg into into the palm of your slightly cupped hand with your fingers spread just enough to let the egg whites slip through your fingers. Transfer the egg back and forth between your two hands allowing the whites to fall into the bowl until all that remains in your hand is the yolk. Put the yolk in a separate bowl.

Be careful not to break the yolk while separating eggs or all your work will be wasted and you’ll have gotten your hands messy for nothing.