The developers for As Seen on TV seem to know what people want, even if those people themselves don’t know. Too bad each product is such a hit-or-miss proposition.

The Eggstractor, which promises to peel hard-boiled eggs instantly, falls into the miss category.

How it works: According to the packaging, the process is pure science, involving an air cell and pressure. Simple.

But open the packaging and more science awaits. First come instructions on the proper way to boil eggs — with a heaping teaspoon of salt added to the water (although a 2013 Los Angeles Times article refuted the idea that salt makes eggs easier to peel). Then I was instructed to run cold water over the eggs and immediately place them in ice water (the LA Times did note that an ice bath is helpful).

This was taking way too much work. But there was more!

I had to pierce the small end of the egg and crack the large end before placing it upright on the Eggstractor base and covering it with the accordion-looking top.

With hands crisscrossed on top, one “good fast push” was supposed to produce a shell-free egg.

It took me several tries to get the egg to come out of the base, and the shell was still partly attached. The creators knew it would be hard, as they wrote, “It may take you a couple tries to get the hang of it … remember, practice makes perfect!”

More than a dozen eggs later I still had no perfectly shelled egg. The troubleshooting guide advised that I might have cracked the egg too much, or applied too much pressure or not enough pressure, or didn’t position the egg correctly, or the egg was too small … Sheesh.

Pros: You do get 101 egg recipes as a bonus.

Cons: Too long to list.

Does it work?: No.

Cost and availability: I got mine for $9.99 at Longs Drugs and then saw it marked down to $7.99 at another Longs.

Worth it? In the words of my cousin, “This sucks!”