How To Dye Eggs Naturally With Everyday Ingredients
When I compiled a list of natural Easter egg dyes to try with my kids years ago, hibiscus was said to make a beautiful pink. However, when I actually tested it, the egg turned dark green. Oops. Some of the other suggestions didn’t work at all, and some were just meh. (I’m looking at you lemon peels.)
That’s why after experimenting with everything from carrots to raspberries and grape juice, I’ve compiled a list of ingredients that consistently yield beautiful, vibrant colors. You’ll find them below along with the specific recipes I used.
Also, when the hunt is over, you can use the eggs to make potato salad or just eat with a little salt for a healthy snack.
But first, you might be wondering…
Why not use food coloring?
When I was a kid, I vividly remember eating hard boiled eggs that were blue, red, and yellow. The dye tabs we’d used weren’t intended to soak through, but they did, and that’s just one of the reasons I choose a natural approach.
Food dyes have been linked to attention and behavioral problems in children, certain types of cancer, and other problems. Unfortunately, the U.S. isn’t as stringent as Europe in regulating food dyes. They require foods which contain dyes to come with warning labels and have banned many of the ones that are still in use within the United States. Some children are sensitive to extremely small amounts of food dye. If you’d like to take a deep dive into the health effects of each individual dye, I recommend the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s 68 page report, Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks.
How To Dye Easter Eggs Naturally
Below you’ll find my approach for creating beautiful, vibrant colors using everyday ingredients. The instructions are divided into three sections:
Individual recipes for different colors of dye:
*My three step-process for coloring Easter eggs, which includes how to make the dye, how to prepare the eggs, and instructions for using the dye
*Answers to frequently asked questions
To Dye Easter Eggs Pink, You’ll Need:
2 cups water
2 cups peeled, grated beets
1-2 tablespoons white vinegar
See the “Three-Step Process for Dyeing Easter Eggs Naturally” section below for specific instructions on how to make the dye, prepare the hard boiled eggs, and then color the eggs.
To Dye Easter Eggs Orange, You’ll Need:
2 cups yellow onion skins
Enough water to cover skins by 1 inch
1-2 tablespoons white vinegar
Scroll down to the “Three-Step Process for Dyeing Easter Eggs Naturally” section below for detailed instructions.
To Dye Easter Eggs Yellow, You’ll Need:
2 cups water
1 tablespoon turmeric
2 tablespoons vinegar
This recipe creates a vibrant yellow on white eggs and a deep gold on brown ones. The egg to the left of the one marked “turmeric” in the picture above is an example of what a brown egg looks like.
Other options: Strongly brewed chamomile tea creates a soft yellow.
See the “Three-Step Process for Dyeing Easter Eggs Naturally” section below for step-by-step instructions.
To Dye Easter Eggs Green or Blue, You’ll Need:
2 cups shredded purple cabbage
Enough water to cover cabbage by 1 inch
1-2 tablespoons vinegar
Brown eggs will turn green and white eggs will turn blue.
Other options: Strongly brewed hibiscus tea (with one tablespoon vinegar per cup) will create the dark green pictured in the photo at the top. Blueberries will create a slightly marbled blue color.
Step-by-step instructions can be found in the “Three-Step Process for Dyeing Easter Eggs Naturally” section below.
To Make Purple Easter Egg Dye, You’ll Need:
1-2 cups homemade beet kvass – as much as is needed to cover the eggs.
When using kvass no additional dye preparation is needed, so in the instructions below you can skip the “Three-Step Process for Dyeing Easter Eggs Naturally” section and move straight to “Directions for Boiling & Coloring The Eggs”
How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally in Three Steps
In this three-step process you'll make all the dyes first, then boil and prepare the eggs, and finally dye the eggs.
Equipment
pots (3-5)
mesh strainer
small bowls or mason jars
Ingredients:
Natural dye materials (shredded beets, turmeric, etc)
Filtered water
1 – 2 tbsp vinegar (per dye color)
eggs (however many you want to make)
Coconut or olive oil (optional – for adding luster to eggs)
Instructions
Making Easter Egg Dye
Bring the dye matter (cabbage, turmeric, etc.) and water to a boil. Turn heat down to low and simmer, covered, for 15-60 minutes until desired color is reached. Keep in mind that the eggs will be several shades lighter so it’s best to go for deep, rich hues.
Remove the egg dye from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
Pour the dye through a mesh strainer into bowls/mason jars and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar for each cup of dye liquid.
Add hard boiled eggs to the dye and place it in fridge until the desired color is reached. I started mine in the early afternoon and let them infuse overnight.
Boiling the Eggs
Add the eggs to a medium pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the water to a hard boil, then turn off the heat and cover the pot. After 10 minutes, place the eggs in a bowl of cold water and let them sit until they’re cool to the touch.
Drain the bowl and replace with warm, soapy water – I use non-toxic castile soap. Gently rub the eggs with a washcloth or your thumb to remove oils that prohibit the natural dyes from adhering effectively to the egg shell.
Coloring The Eggs
Lower the eggs into the dye and place them in the fridge. Soak until your desired color is reached. (We usually soak ours overnight.)
When the eggs are ready, scoop them out with a slotted spoon and place them on a drying rack or an upside down egg carton.
Naturally-dyed eggs have a matte finish. If you’d like to add a little luster, rub with a drop or two of coconut or olive oil.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can the dyes be stored overnight and used the next day?
Yep!
Can I draw on the eggs with a wax crayon before dyeing them?
We haven’t tried this but I don’t see a reason not to as long as the crayons are non-toxic.
Do dyes change the flavor of the eggs?
Nope!
Happy Easter!
