What Has to Be Broken Before You Can Use It? (Riddle & Answer Explained)

Riddles have a unique way of sparking curiosity and testing our ability to think creatively. One such riddle that often leaves people scratching their heads is:

"What has to be broken before you can use it?"

At first glance, this question might seem puzzling. We don’t usually associate breaking something with making it useful. In fact, most things become less functional once broken—like a phone screen, a mirror, or a chair.

But the beauty of riddles lies in their ability to challenge how we think.

So, what's the answer?

➡️An egg 🥚.

Check out More: Riddles About Eggs

That’s right. Before you can cook or eat an egg—whether you’re frying, scrambling, or baking with it—you need to crack it open. The egg, in its whole form, protects its contents. But to access its true value, it must be broken.

This simple riddle actually holds a deeper metaphor. Sometimes, things in life need to be "broken" or changed before their full potential is revealed. Think of personal growth, new beginnings, or trying something unfamiliar. It’s often through change or challenge that we discover something useful, beautiful, or transformative.

So the next time you crack an egg into a frying pan, remember—some things must be broken to be truly enjoyed.

Similar Riddles:

Here are 20 riddles similar in style to “What has to be broken before you can use it?” — short, clever, and fun:

I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?

An echo.

The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?

Footsteps.

What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?

The letter "M".

I have keys but no locks. I have space but no room. You can enter, but you can't go outside. What am I?

A keyboard.

What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?

A penny.

What gets wetter the more it dries?

A towel.

The more of me you take, the bigger I become. What am I?

A hole.

What can you catch but not throw?

A cold.

What has hands but can’t clap?

A clock.

What can travel around the world while staying in the same corner?

A stamp.

I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old. What am I?

A candle.

What has one eye but can’t see?

A needle.

What has a neck but no head?

A bottle.

What begins with T, ends with T, and has T in it?

A teapot.

What goes up but never comes down?

Your age.

What kind of room has no doors or windows?

A mushroom.

I’m light as a feather, yet the strongest person can’t hold me for long. What am I?

Your breath.

What has many teeth but can’t bite?

A comb.

What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?

The future.

What is full of holes but still holds water?

A sponge.

What can fill a room but takes up no space?

Light.

What has legs but doesn’t walk?

A table.

What has many rings but no fingers?

A telephone.

What goes through cities and fields but never moves?

A road.

What comes down but never goes up?

Rain.

What kind of tree can you carry in your hand?

A palm.

What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?

Silence.

What is easy to lift but hard to throw?

A feather.

What runs but never walks, has a bed but never sleeps, has a mouth but never talks?

A river.

What has a bottom at the top?

Your legs.

Conclusion:

Riddles like “What has to be broken before you can use it?” challenge us to think outside the box and see ordinary things in a whole new light. Whether it’s an egg, a towel, or a candle, these little puzzles remind us that the world is full of simple wonders waiting to be discovered with a smile. They entertain us, sharpen our minds, and sometimes even teach deeper lessons hidden behind clever words. So next time you hear a riddle, don’t just try to solve it—enjoy the journey it takes you on.

Keep your curiosity alive, and who knows? The next big answer might be hidden in a tiny question. 🥚✨