Easter is right around the corner and if your family makes an activity out of egg dyeing, you’re probably starting to think about your color palate.
Naturally dyes. Photo Source: Andrea Pacheco
Most artificial dyes you buy at the store are perfectly safe, containing food-grade dyes. However, if you, like me, prefer to know exactly what is going on your eggs, you can make your own beautiful dyes using fruits, vegetables and spices.
There are two methods. If you want uniformly dyed, single-color eggs, you’ll boil the eggs in the dye, a la Martha Stewart.
If you want a variety of dyes that you can use to make stripes, spots, and other fun patterns, you make your dyes separately:
After you have made the perfect hard-boiled egg, you’re ready to make your dyes:
1. Boil the fruit, vegetable, or spice in enough water to cover it in a saucepan.
2. Once the mixture has boiled, lower the heat and simmer until the water has reached your desired color.
3. Strain mixture into separate bowls.
4. Stir in a few teaspoons of white vinegar to each bowl.
5. Your dye is now ready!
Onion Skin Dye. Photo Source: Anna
Your colors can come from:
Frozen blueberries = blue
Red cabbage = blue/purple
Beets = red
Turmeric = yellow
Spinach = green
Tea/coffee grounds/onion skins = brown
If you want to draw on your eggs, look for soy crayons made without paraffin wax.
Are you dyeing eggs this year? Will you try either of these methods? Tag us in your photos on Twitter @SJVCEO!