Easter egg dyes-natural

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

You can make Easter egg dye with food colors, which are safe to consume, but it’s fun to try something different and these are green options. If you have laying hens now is the time when your egg production is high.  Many home egg producers have hens which lay brown eggs or even blue and green eggs. White eggs work best for dying, but light- to medium-brown eggs can also be colored.  You could also change the color of those blue and green colored eggs.  Of course, starting with colored eggs your dyed eggs may turn out differently than you thought, try one or two before going to a bigger batch.

Eggs are also cheap in the stores at this time.  You can buy white eggs just for coloring.  Don’t worry about buying those more expensive organic,free range eggs if you aren’t going to be eating them, many people don’t eat dyed eggs.

Children love this egg dying project but natural dyes can leave permanent stains so make sure everyone wears an apron.

To make egg dyes, mix two cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with any of the items noted in the following list for various colors. You can mix the ingredients listed below to create your own shades or use them separately. The colors you get will be softer than commercial dyes and each egg will be unique. All of the natural ingredients are safe to eat.

For blues, purples: Use any of the following:

 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, crushed

 2 cups shredded red cabbage

 1 cup concentrated grape juice

 1–2 cups red onion skins

For reds, pinks, oranges: Choose from the following:

 1–2 cups chopped fresh red beets

 2 tablespoons paprika

 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, crushed

 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries, crushed

 1–2 cups of frozen concentrate for cherries, cranberries, or       raspberries

For Greens: Use either of the following: 

 1 cup of blueberries mixed with 2 tablespoons turmeric

 2 cups fresh spinach leaves

For Yellows, golds: Choose from the following:

 2 cups yellow onion skins

 1 cup concentrated orange juice

 3 tablespoons cumin

 3 tablespoons turmeric

 1/4 cup celery seed

You can dye your eggs using either of the following methods:

Boil the eggs right in the pan with the dye products. If you want to cook the eggs in the dye you must simmer the mixture for about 8 minutes to thoroughly cook the eggs. The mixture should cover the eggs, so you may need to add additional water and vinegar. Add the eggs before heating the dye and cook slowly so the eggs don’t crack. Let the eggs stand in the hot water for 10 minutes after turning off the heat.

Or boil the eggs and make your dyes separately, and then soak the hard-boiled eggs in the dye. To make the dye alone, bring the ingredients to a boil and then simmer for about 2 minutes. Strain the dye mixture. Hard-boil the eggs separately. Then soak the eggs in the dye until they are as colored as you want them. If you soak them for more than 30 minutes, set the pan or bowl with the eggs and dye in the refrigerator.

After coloring, allow the eggs to dry and refrigerate them if they’re going to be eaten later.  If hard boiled eggs have been outside the refrigerator for more than 2 hours do not eat them.