Easter Eggs Colored with Food Coloring

Easter eggs colored at home are NOT colorfast, and will leak colors on wet fingers or surfaces. A light coating of vegetable oil will make them shiny and reduce stains.

Equipment for basic egg coloring:
hard-cooked eggs
glass or stainless steel containers for the dyes
newspapers for the counter
wire cookie racks for drying
plastic gloves (OPTIONAL, but convenient)
water
white vinegar
food coloring
cooking oil
mess around shirts or aprons
For cleanup; bleach and water

2010 UPDATE: The food coloring people have come out with neon colors and Halloween colors, which make great Easter egg colors, too.

First, you may want to cover your counters with newspaper, especially if you have young helpers, dyes will discolor Formica or wood. Also, wear messing around shirts, these dyes do not wash out easily. A wire cookie rack makes a good holder/ drain board for your eggs.

USE GLASS OR METAL CUPS AND BOWLS, THE DYE WILL ENTER CRAZING IN CHINA OR PLASTIC AND BE PERMANENT. Use a separate disposable plastic or stainless steel spoon in each color. Cover the egg completely and rotate it with the spoon if you want an even color. If /when you get dye on your hands or surfaces, use a solution of 1 part bleach with 5 parts of water to rinse it. Food color dyed eggs are NOT completely colorfast, and will run color onto hands or baskets if they get wet. You can reduce running by rubbing in a light coating of vegetable oil after they dry.

Using food coloring, you get the best result if you dye the eggs hot, straight out of the cooking pot, then drain. If you are dying several eggs in the container, they will form a layer of bubbles, so stir gently until the bubbles let go so you can get a more even color.

SINGLE COLOR
2/3 CUP HOT WATER
2 TABLESPOONS WHITE VINEGAR
1/8 TO 1/4 TEASPOON (15 DROPS) FOOD COLORING

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MEGA EASTER EGG DYING ACTIVITY- 7 Colors in two rounds

When I do 4 to 7 dozen eggs, I use my 1 quart measuring cups and my coffee carafes, being glass they don't discolor and the spouts make it easy to pour.

Dipping ORANGE and VIOLET or orange and green on opposite ends of yellow eggs make two deliciously gaudy color combinations.

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Round 3; Swirlies Use non-oiled dry eggs with a light color from the first dying. Put a tablespoon or two of cooking oil on the dye, swirl it and dip the egg. You will get a variegated egg.

Tie dyed eggs By wrapping each egg in its own multi-colored wrap, you end up with beautiful egg art.

Equipment:
hard-cooked eggs
newspapers for the counter
wire cookie racks for drying
plastic gloves
soft paper towels in halves (or use "make a size" towels)
spray bottle
water
white vinegar
food coloring
plastic grocery bags or plastic wrap
twist ties
cooking oil
mess around shirts or aprons
For cleanup; bleach and water

Cover the counter with the newspaper.
Mix one cup of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar, put in the spray bottle.
Place paper towels onto pieces of plastic wrap or plastic bags.
Moisten a circle about 4 inches across on the sheets with the spray bottle, towels should be damp but not wet or drippy.
Drip many drops of food coloring onto the moistened area of the towels, overlapping the colors slightly.
Put on the gloves. Place the egg on the colored circle. Gather the towel around the egg and fasten with a twist tie if needed to keep it closed. The longer you leave it wrapped, the darker the colors will get.
Unwrap, dry, and rub on a light coating of cooking oil.
Admire the lovely eggs.

A Bit Of Egg Safety

Hardboil with water completely covering the eggs; bring to a boil, cover, and let sit 15-20 minutes. Color and refrigerate. NEVER EAT an egg that has been cracked and then sat around at room temperature.