A Natural Way to Dye Eggs
April 5, 2007 by Karen Weideman
Filed under children's activity, craft ideas, food, holidays
Some suggested items for dyeing eggs are onion skins, red cabbage, coffee, beets, and tumeric. You’ll need some vinegar too. Here’s what Martha Stewart has to say:
Dye Recipes
Select a dyeing agent, and place it in the pot using the amount listed below. Add 1 quart water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar to pot; if more water is necessary to cover ingredients, proportionally increase the amount of vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain dye into a bowl.Red-cabbage dye: 4 cups chopped cabbage
Turmeric dye: 3 tablespoons turmeric
Onion-skin dye: 4 cups onion skins (skins of about 12 onions)
Beet dye: 4 cups chopped beets
Coffee dye: 1 quart strong black coffee (instead of water)
Other sources for information:
Martha Stewart: Dyeing Eggs Naturally
About.com
Mama Lisa
Image from Martha Stewart.
My most favorite thing to do is make “blown eggs” when I was a kid I thought that was so amazing and mysterious. I’m going to do it with my kids this weekend. (there’ll be lots of broken eggs though)
Welcome Judy. Thanks for commenting.
To blow eggs, do you just poke a hole in each end and blow the egg out?
I’m just wondering if some of these natural dyes might make the eggs taste yucky. In our family, we actually eat the easter eggs by making deviled eggs out of them to go with easter dinner, so I think it’s best we stick to the flavorless store bought dye.
Kate: I suppose it’s possible for the taste to be affected, but I have never noticed anything.
One thing I like about the natural dyes are the beautiful, unusual colors that you can’t find in a kit. Another thing is that the colors seem to adhere to the egg shell more, without becoming splotchy or runny.
Thanks for visiting Thrifty Mommy.