Natural Dyed Easter Eggs

When dying Easter eggs, I often feel frustrated and stuck in a corner. My choice seems to be between two undesirable options. On one hand, I get bright colors but unappealing and rather unhealthy bleed-through, or on the other hand colors that lack luster and boldness! A lot of research is showing the downside of commercial artificial colors, yet many natural dyes get a bad rep for not having enough color. Fortunately, this is not always the case! Here are some fun natural dye ideas that provide bright beautiful colors while using natural food items. So come along, grab the kids and join us in some old-time homestead fun!

DISCLAIMER: You are working with dye. Depending on the food items chosen, there is a potential to stain clothing, counter tops, dish towels, dishcloths, etc. Wear old clothes, cover susceptible counter tops, choose old dish cloths for clean-up, etc.

Most colors will require some water, ¼ cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt, in addition to the color item listed below. The vinegar changes the pH of the dye and helps it to set. In some cases, like with beets, it changes the color from brownish red to bright fuchsia. Although white eggs are the most commonly used, using brown eggs can open up an opportunity for creative experimentation. Since white eggs and brown eggs do not dye identically, we have included both types in our exploration to give you a better understanding of the color variations obtained. All of our eggs were soaked overnight to achieve the colors you see here.

This activity is also perfect for introducing young children to the art to mixing colors. So take advantage of this great educational opportunity and do a little “double dunking!” (Create green eggs by dying your egg yellow, then bathing them in blue to get green.) Keep in mind natural dyes require a much longer dying process to achieve a good color. This is not an instant one dunk and you are done project. (Be creative and tie in a literature connection: you could always read Green Eggs and Ham while waiting for your green eggs to finish their beauty bath!)

If double soaking to achieve a different color, make sure the egg is completely dry before putting it in second color.

Pink/Fuchsia

Coarsely grated unpeeled beets (Beets must be fresh, canned beets will not work.)

Blueish Gray

Shredded red/purple cabbage

Yellow

2 tablespoon turmeric

Deep Plum

Red onion skins (About two cups worth)

Orange

Yellow onion skins (About two cups worth)

Muted Blue Navy

Blueberry Juice (I used the juice from home canned blueberries.)

Bright Navy

Grape Juice

Making the Dyes

First, place your natural dye source item for color of your choice in a small sauce pan.

For juices like blueberry and grape no water is needed. With chunky items like beets, cabbage and onion skins, add water to cover, while with powders like turmeric use 2 ½ cups of water.

Add in salt. Juices just heat up till salt dissolves. For other dyes bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cover. You can add more water if needed. Let simmer for between 20 to 45 minutes until your desired color is obtained. Try to get it nice and dark since you want nice intense colors. Your eggs will always turn out a few shades lighter than your dye solution. Once desires color is reached, let your dye concentrate cool to room temperature. Don’t worry about the taste of the eggs being affected by the natural dyes. They will not change the taste of your eggs in any way.

For chunky items (like cabbage and beets), strain the liquid after cooking. I found lining a colander with a piece of old cheesecloth or rag worked well for this. For powered dyestuff like turmeric straining is not required. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to your strained liquid dye.

I like one-quart mason jars for storing the dye. They also work great as containers for dyeing the eggs.

The Dying Process

Hard-boil your eggs and cool them in cold water. If you add a dash of vinegar to the water when hard-boiling, it will lower the ph of the shell and help the dye adhere to the shell. Also adding a pinch of salt will help to prevent cracking. Additionally, to help your natural dyes adhere, I recommend washing your hard boiled eggs in soapy water to make sure the shells are free of excess oils or film buildup from cooking. Be sure to use a non-toxic soap like dish soap or castile soap.

Place your hard boiled eggs in your jars, and let them sit in the refrigerator anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight. The longer they “bathe” the more intense the color.

For added fun, you can make “mystery appearing pictures” as my kids like to call them, by drawing on the eggs with paraffin wax, bees wax or even a non-toxic crayon before you dye them. Or try wrapping the egg first in cheese cloth, twine or rubber bands to create a fun effect or stripes.

Use a slotted spoon to check for desired shade and to remove eggs from the dye. Let dry. Try not to handle your eggs before they are completely dry, otherwise the dye tends to transfer off the eggs.

For added vibrancy and luster, you can rub the shells with a touch of coconut oil or another oil of your choice once they are completely dry. Use your eggs within 24 hours for best color. After 24-48 hours some natural dyes have a tendency to start fading or changing hues.

Have fun adding color to your nest, the Homesteading Hen