Today we made the shift from buying another box of
artificial, petroleum based easter egg dye to eco-friendly, natural food
colouring. Here is the plan:
1. Plan your color palate.
To keep things simple, decide on 3-5 different colors and shop accordingly. For the most vibrant colors, go with…
2. Boil the eggs.
Everyone has their favorite tried-and-true method of hard boiling eggs. Use yours, or try this one: Put your eggs in a pot and cover them with 1-2 inches of cold water and a dash of salt. Bring the water to a boil. Once the water has boiled, turn off the burner and let the eggs sit in the hot water on the stove for 10-15 minutes. Remove the eggs from the pot, place them in a bowl and let them cool before dying.
3. Boil down the dyes.
Most natural dye ingredients need to be boiled to produce the desired intensity of color. Fill a saucepan with approximately two cups of fruit, vegetables, or spices and cover with water. Once the mixture has boiled, reduce the heat and simmer until you’re satisfied with the color. Pour the dye through a strainer into a bowl and stir in a few teaspoons of white vinegar. Repeat the process for each of your desired colors. (Note: Fruit juices do not need to be boiled.)
4. Dye the eggs.
Using your fingers or tongs, dip the eggs into the various colored dyes to create solids, stripes or patterns. Use eco-friendly soy crayons for decorating. (Note: You may need to leave the eggs in the natural dye longer than you would if using a store-bought petroleum based dye.)
1. Plan your color palate.
To keep things simple, decide on 3-5 different colors and shop accordingly. For the most vibrant colors, go with…
- Frozen blueberries = blue
- Red cabbage = blue/purple
- Grape juice = purple
- Beets, frozen berries, or cranberry juice= red
- Turmeric (spice) = yellow
- Spinach = green
- Orange juice = orange
- Tea or coffee grounds = brown
Everyone has their favorite tried-and-true method of hard boiling eggs. Use yours, or try this one: Put your eggs in a pot and cover them with 1-2 inches of cold water and a dash of salt. Bring the water to a boil. Once the water has boiled, turn off the burner and let the eggs sit in the hot water on the stove for 10-15 minutes. Remove the eggs from the pot, place them in a bowl and let them cool before dying.
3. Boil down the dyes.
Most natural dye ingredients need to be boiled to produce the desired intensity of color. Fill a saucepan with approximately two cups of fruit, vegetables, or spices and cover with water. Once the mixture has boiled, reduce the heat and simmer until you’re satisfied with the color. Pour the dye through a strainer into a bowl and stir in a few teaspoons of white vinegar. Repeat the process for each of your desired colors. (Note: Fruit juices do not need to be boiled.)
4. Dye the eggs.
Using your fingers or tongs, dip the eggs into the various colored dyes to create solids, stripes or patterns. Use eco-friendly soy crayons for decorating. (Note: You may need to leave the eggs in the natural dye longer than you would if using a store-bought petroleum based dye.)
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