Dying eggs this time of year is a tradition for many families. Instead of purchasing kits at the store, try using natural ingredients you may already have growing in your own garden or stored in your kitchen pantry. You'll feel better about dying your eggs using organic and natural products that you already have at home.
What You Will Need:
Possible Natural Ingredients You Can Use to Make Your Dye
Blueberries, beets, cabbage leaves, dandelion flowers, lemon peels, coffee grounds, dill seeds, pickle juice, chili powder, turmeric, spinach leaves, apple peels, pickled beet juice, wine, grape juice, edible flower blossoms, raspberries, cranberries, pomegranates, edible flower blossoms, tea bags, orange peels, carrots, celery seed, cumin...the possibilities are endless!
Steps for Dying your Easter Eggs with Natural Ingredients:
- Begin by washing your hardboiled eggs.
- Gather items to make your dye, and put them into a small saucepan with 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and then let it simmer for about 15 minutes. You can leave it simmering for up to an hour if you wish for the colors to be deeper.
- Remove the saucepan from heat.
- Let dye liquid cool.
- Add 2 teaspoons of vinegar to each dye mixture.
- Place your hardboiled eggs gently into the dye mixture.
- Leave the eggs in your mixture until they have reached the desired color. If you plan on eating them, do this in the refrigerator. You can leave them in the dye mixture overnight if you'd like deeper, richer colors on your eggs.
- Remove eggs with a slotted spoon and let them dry on a rack. Try not to handle them very much because the dye will be easily removed off. Naturally dyed eggs will have a matte finish. Once they are dry, try rubbing a little mineral oil or cooking oil on them to bring out a glossy finish.
