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Rainbows of Eggs

Christoph

While there are some beautiful eggs colored using onion skins, leaves, and beet juice to create wonderful muted tones and pastel shades, I find like most children I am drawn to the ones that are incredibly vivid and bright. Seeing the wonder in the wide eyes of a little one when they find the bluest egg ever, one that is bluer than blue, is simply priceless. So I say make your Martha Stewart eggs for your centerpieces and garden club luncheon, but if you want to really light up the eyes of your kids, then call on Roy G. Biv, he is the man.

Here are a few tips that will help you in coloring your eggs:

Clear the decks and give yourself plenty of room to work, especially if you have little helpers, make sure there is nothing that can be damaged if a dye cup is spilled. Stretch cling wrap over your counter top or work area if you are concerned about staining surfaces. Place a layer of newspaper or paper towels over the plastic wrap to absorb any drips as you work.

Plastic aprons are a good way to prevent stains on clothing, especially for young chefs. Rubber gloves are also not a bad idea.

Use hard-boiled eggs that are at room temperature. White eggs will produce much more vivid colors than brown eggs.

Non-reactive containers like ceramic coffee cups or styrofoam cups are a good size. Use one cup for each color you intend to make. Remember when filling your cups to leave room for the egg. If you have doubt, place an egg in a cup and fill it with water to determine how full to fill them.

Use plastic spoons or teaspoons to turn and lift the eggs out of the dye bath. Use a separate spoon for each color to avoid all the colors ending up muddy. Place your colored eggs on a wire baking rack to dry.

To achieve bright colors, each dye bath should be used for only two eggs at the most. If you want to make more than two of any color, empty the cup and start with another batch of dye. Lower the eggs carefully into the dye bath to avoid splashing. Leave the eggs in the color for fifteen minutes, turning only once half way through. Stirring and turning the eggs multiple times creates blotchy colors. If you are dying a second egg, leave it in the color bath for twenty minutes. Remember the longer you leave an egg in a dye bath, the darker the color will end be.

Relax and have fun with the project, any and all colors you end up with will be great!

To prepare a Rainbow of Eggs:

Hard boil however many eggs you want to color using whatever method works best for you (I am not going to go into this topic, as there are about as many differing opinions on how to prepare the perfect egg as there are hairs on a dog). 

Bring a pot of water to a boil and hold at a simmer. Add vinegar and water to each cup followed by the food coloring. Stir to mix.

Allow eggs to stand in the dye bath for at least 15 minutes for the first egg, and 20 minutes for the second. Mix a new cup of dye if you want to make more than two of any color.

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Indigo

Violet

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