How to Crack an Egg Like Kamala Harris, According to a Pastry Chef

In mid-July, a video from Vice President Kamala Harris’ short-lived YouTube cooking series “Cooking with Kamala” resurfaced and went viral following President Biden’s endorsement, with nearly 5.5 million views thanks to the perfection with which she cracked an egg in one hand, which, by any measure, is not the kind of feat one pulls off without having done so a million times before — a testament to the time Harris has invested in the kitchen.

To watch the video is to watch Harris at ease and in her element. She’s laughing, she’s whipping up batter as she has done many times before, she’s wielding a hand-held mixer with aplomb. “This is the beginning of any good cookie recipe,” she exclaims. “When I was a kid, I would just, like, dip a spool in… I mean, butter and sugar? What could be better in the world?”

Clearly, she’s the kind of home cook who’s unafraid in the kitchen — this ain’t no political stunt.

“Vice President Harris’ egg-cracking skills are definitely pro-level. She had no eggshell in her bowl and controlled the last drop of her egg whites out of the shell. Notice how she holds the egg differently, using her index finger to separate the halves,” says Keiry Palma, chef instructor of pastry and baking arts at the Institute of Culinary Education’s New York City campus. “Learning how to crack an egg varies from person to person. While I picked up the basic technique quickly, achieving a clean crack without shell fragments or spills proved more challenging. I’d say it is an intermediate level of difficulty. While it does seem like a simple task, mastering it takes practice.” 

To achieve Harris’ expert-level skill starts with practice and a few practical points:

“Using your dominant hand, begin by gently cracking the egg on a flat surface with your fingers curled around the bottom half of the egg. This reduces the chances of cracking the yolk and prevents bacteria from the outside of the egg going into your bowl,” Palma explains. “Then insert the tip of your index finger into the crack and open up the shell. Use your thumb and index finger to separate the top and bottom half of the egg, and then tilt your hand to slide out the egg. If the egg doesn’t come out easily, try widening your fingers to control the separation of the shell. If you get shell fragments in the bowl, use one of the shell halves to fish it out.”

Now, the first few times certainly won’t be perfect. You’ll likely get some eggshells in your bowl or have some of the whites splattered on your kitchen counter. Or perhaps the yolk breaks. But no sweat — it happens.

“The key to perfecting the one-handed egg crack is practice and patience. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different hand positions,” Palma says. “Eventually, you will develop the muscle memory and perfect technique for those clean cracks. Over time, as I’ve watched others and practiced, I’ve noticed that each person does it slightly differently to accommodate for their hand size. Since I have relatively small hands, I have been able to crack an egg with one hand without assistance from the tip of my index finger. I hold the bottom of the egg with my fingers and crack it about two-thirds of the way up. I then take my thumb and a bit of pressure to widen the crack and release the egg out.”

Kamala Harris’ love of food extends far beyond the coconut tree.

The Vice President has a long history of loving cooking and food, as documented in many interviews and her YouTube series. Filmed during the early days of then-senator Harris’ 2020 campaign for the presidency, “Cooking with Kamala” features the politician whipping up creative and replicable recipes with celebrity guests and constituents. 

“I don’t want to face the consequences of the future president not liking my Indian food,” Mindy Kaling says in an episode in which the duo makes masala dosa in Kaling’s kitchen. As they cook, Kaling and Kamala share stories about their South Indian families and unique food memories, both firmly rooted in rice, yogurt, and dal. 

The professionally shot series, not unlike many a streaming food show, Harris hops to local kitchens across the country to learn more about regional cuisine and culinary traditions. In Iowa, Harris learns how to make bacon-fried apples with her 2020 Iowa campaign chair Deidre DeJear, and monster cookies packed with oatmeal, chocolate chips, nuts, and candy with a teenage organizer. 

The pandemic version of the series features a dual video stream. Harris makes tuna sandwiches from her own kitchen in Los Angeles with colleague Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and films an Instagram live with Jose Andres discussing pantry cooking, food equality, and kitchen tips. Her Thanksgiving turkey roasting tips also have viral video longevity — a nice pairing with her 2019 holiday feast advice. 

Harris may very well be the first President who can crack an egg one-handed. Perhaps her upcoming time on the campaign trail will feature more cooking content. A fundraising cookbook, perhaps? 

On the Jennifer Hudson Show in April 2023, Harris reflected on her love of food, cooking, and Sunday family dinners. “I am a very good cook,” Harris said. “One day, I am going to write a cookbook.” Per requests from her husband and stepkids, Harris has already started writing down her recipes. 

While Harris likely won’t have much time to cook while running for president, she’s already a force in Washington D.C.’s restaurant scene. Several D.C. chefs are sharing photos of the Vice President in their dining rooms and kitchens to show their support, including chef and owner Amy Brandwein of Centrolina, where Harris often dines with her husband. 

This past month, Harris even took over one of President Biden’s favorite activities: eating ice cream. The Vice President was pictured greeting supermodel Tyra Banks at her new Woodley Park scoop shop, Smize and Dream.

No one knows what the 2024 election will bring — but it will likely continue to be delicious.