Whether you are into the farmhouse look or want a more natural way to dye your Easter eggs (especially if you are eating them), this is an easy to follow how-to.

 

 

Traditional dyes for Easter eggs have harmful chemicals. They can be absorbed through your child’s skin, or even ingested if you eat the eggs. This version is designed to be more eco-friendly and all-natural. I’m giving you many different options for colors.

If you were to go out and purchase all of these food products, you could end up spending a lot of money. That is not the point. Use food that you already have in your home, expired in your pantry, or food that is starting to go bad. My recommendation is to stick to one to three different colors to make it easy for you.

Also, it looks like A LOT of instructions. I read through several websites and articles trying to decipher how this actually works. It was still confusing. I tried to keep my instructions as simple (albeit lengthy) as possible. And like anything in life, the first round it will seem difficult, but once you get the hang of it, it’s really quick and easy.

 

 

What Doesn’t Work

First, let’s start with what doesn’t work. I dove into this project researching the articles already out there, and tried to be as creative as I could on my own. Think = things that stain.  While these food products are the kings and queens of stubborn stains, shockingly, they did not work on the eggs: grape juice, wine or chlorella.

On a separate note, I didn’t have a chance to try tea bags, carrots, or cabbage.

Below are the colors that I tried that actually worked. My favorites are the cherries, onion skins, and turmeric.

 

 

Colors

Yellow = Turmeric

Brown = Coffee

Orange = Onion Skin, Paprika

Yellow = Turmeric

Green = Spinach

Pink = Maraschino Cherries, Beets

Purple = Berries

 

 

 

 

Ingredients and Directions

Ingredients

Distilled white vinegar – use 1 TBSP per 2 cups water

Saucepan/s

Strainer

4 Cup Glass Measuring Cup

Glass Jars – wide mouth Mason Jars are the best

Tongs – ones with soft ends are the best

Eggs

Coloring food products (from above – veggies, herbs, fruit, etc)

 

 

Hard Boil the Eggs

I hate to admit it, but I think I’ve only boiled eggs once or twice before. Hubby is usually the egg-master. So I had to look up how to boil eggs. To save you the trouble and embarrassment, here are the instructions:

1. Pour about one inch of water in a large pot (like the one you boil spaghetti in). Put the pot on the stove.
2. Gently place the eggs inside of the pot.
3. Using a large measuring glass, fill with more water, you want about one inch over the eggs.
4. Turn on burner to high.
5. When the water comes to a full boil, turn OFF the heat and place a lid on the pot.
6. Set a timer and let sit for 15 minutes.
7. In the meantime, Gather a large bowl and place a tea towel and some paper towels on the bottom (this both cushions it, and saves your tea towel in case of accidental stains).
8. After 15 minutes, with tongs, gently place the eggs in the bowl.

 

For the instructions below, please note the following:

• I’ve divided between canned foods and food and powders, just because the directions are slightly different.
• For less mess, pour the food liquid into a large measuring cup and then use the measuring cup to pour into the mason jars. (Not that I know this from personal experience or anything.)

 

 

Prepare the Food Dye – Canned Foods

1. Gather several saucepans (you will probably want several going at once) and place them on the stove.
2. Add 2 cups of water to the saucepan.
3. Empty the entire contents of the can into the saucepan.
4. Bring to just a boil and then lower the heat to low.
5. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Let cool.
7. Place a strainer over a large glass measuring cup.
8. Pour the liquid into the strainer into the cup.
9. Once the liquid is in the measuring cup, pour it into your mason jar.
10. Add 1 TBSP vinegar
11. Let the liquid come to room temperature.
12. With tongs, gently place 2 eggs into the mason jar.
13. Let the eggs sit in the liquid for a minimum of 2 hours. You can even let them sit overnight.
14. You can reuse the liquid for the next 2 eggs.
15. With tongs, gently remove the eggs and place on paper towels to dry off.
16. Store in the refrigerator.

 

Prepare the Pure Dye – Food and Powders

These instructions are for any food (think berries, onion skins, etc) and powders (paprika, turmeric, etc).

1. Gather several saucepans (you will probably want several going at once) and place them on the stove.
2. Add 2.5 cups of water to the saucepan.
3. Add 1 cup of food or 2 TBSP powder into the saucepan.
4. Bring to just a boil and then lower the heat to low.
5. Let simmer for 30 minutes.
6. Let cool.
7. Place a strainer over a large glass measuring cup. For powders, skip this step.
8. Pour the liquid into the strainer into the cup.
9. Once the liquid is in the measuring cup, pour it into your mason jar.
10. Add 1 TBSP vinegar
11. Let the liquid come to room temperature.
12. With tongs, gently place 2 eggs into the mason jar.
13. Let the eggs sit in the liquid for a minimum of 2 hours. You can even let them sit overnight.
14. You can reuse the liquid for the next 2 eggs.
15. With tongs, gently remove the eggs and place on paper towels to dry off.
16. Store in the refrigerator.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy Your Easter Eggs

That’s it, my friend! Have an Easter egg hunt, set them out for decoration, add them to your child’s Easter basket, or consider them breakfast. And pin before you go.

 

 

Your Next Step…

 

 

Love, hugs, and hippoty hoppoty Easter’s on its way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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