Love it, Like it, Hate it: Easter Egg Dye Kits
LOVE IT!
Natural Easter Egg Dye Kits
- Glob – Natural Easter Egg Coloring Kit – $13.95
- Eco-Kids Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit – $9.99
- Natural Earth Paint Natural Egg Dye Kit – $8.95
DIY Easter Egg Dye
2 cups water + 2 tablespoons white vinegar + choice of the following for color:
- PINK: 2 cups raw beets, chopped
- PURPLE: 1 cup blueberries, mashed or pureed
- YELLOW: 4 tablespoons turmeric
- ORANGE: 4 tablespoons paprika
- BROWN: Paint with coffee grounds, using a damp cotton swab
Add ingredient for choice of color to 2 cups water, bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain to discard solids, and then stir in vinegar. Set aside to cool.
To color eggs, submerge in dye, turning often for even coating, until desired color is reached. For more colors, dye eggs first in one color, then wipe dry and dye in a second color.
Notes:
- Food-based egg dyes tend to be much lighter than traditional egg dyes, but can still be fun for kids to experiment with.
- Why vinegar? A pH of 4 is “just right” for the color to “stick” to eggs. Find out more about the science behind vinegar + eggs, and how to test the pH of your own egg dye, here.
LIKE IT!
India Tree Nature’s Colors Decorating Set
- Available at natural food stores like Whole Foods
- All-natural, vegetable-based food dyes
- But it’s pricey, at $20. And it doesn’t include any of the fun decorating tools/ideas like the Egg Dye Kits
HATE IT!
Okay, so we don’t really “hate” these traditional Easter Egg dye kits. It’s not like we’re eating the shells with the dye, of course. But for families looking to keep things as natural as possible, the ingredients include multiple versions of artificial yellow, blue, and red food dyes. And it is possible that some kids may put the eggs into their mouths, or otherwise ingest the synthetic ingredients.
PAAS Easter Egg Decorating Kits
Glitter Egg Decorating Kits
McCormmick Food & Egg Coloring Dye
Dash Rapid Egg Cooker ($19.99 online and in stores like Walmart, Target, and World Market).
In just minutes, you can have the perfect hard, medium, or soft-boiled eggs, with the option of poached or scrambled. The boiling tray holds up to six eggs, or you can poach two eggs. And cleanup is a cinch.
Added bonus: You have more control over exactly what type of egg you’re eating, whether conventional, organic, cage free, or pasture-raised eggs. And you can save plenty of money, too.
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