The Science Behind A Perfectly Dyed Easter Egg
To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories.
If you celebrate Easter, youll likely be embarking on the questionable quest to hide a bunch of hard-boiled eggs around your house and hopeoh, hope beyond hopethat all of them get found. Before the hunt, though, youll have to dye those eggs in a stinking bath of food dye, water, and vinegar. The vinegar part has always bugged me. Hard boiled eggs have a pungent enough aroma on their own why do we need to add another acrid smell to the dying process?
Its not just to keep the kids dunking instead of drinking, it turns out. Most food dyes are acid dyes, so called because they only work in acidic conditions. The vinegar—a solution of 5 percent acetic acid in water—is there to bring the pH low enough that the dye will actually bind. But is there an ideal pH for perfect egg-dying saturation? A normal box of food dye says to add 1 teaspoon of vinegar for every half-cup of water—but would tweaking that acidity by adding more or less vinegar get you better results? WIRED decided to find out.
The color you see on the egg—red, yellow, blue, green–depends on how each particular dye molecule absorbs and reflects different wavelengths of light. But the saturation of that color depends on how strong a bond you can get between the eggs calcium-filled surface and the dye molecules. So you gotta add vinegar. But how much?
- Pentiment May Be the Best New Game Youve Never Heard Of
Swapna Krishna
Can You Eat Dyed Easter Eggs
Unless you’re in the market for a foodborne illness, you should skip on cracking that colorful Easter egg shell. According to the USDA, all cooked eggs, including hard-boiled eggs, must be consumed immediately after cooking. After sitting out for two hours, eggs may grow harmful bacteria. Always opt for fresh eggs whether making the best scrambled eggs or experimenting with surprising ingredients that go great with eggs.
Tips And Tricks To Perfect Egg Dying And Faqs:
- For a deeper more intense color add more food coloring. For a lighter pastel shade, add less food coloring. You can experiment as you go and switch out the water/food coloring to get the desired shade.
- You can dye the eggs while they are still warm, but it is easier to dye them after they have cooled.
You May Like: The Egg And I Book
The Meaning Behind The Beautiful Color Of Easter Eggs
Good Thursday or Easter Thursday is when housewives have to prepare several traditional dishes for Easter, especially Easter cake and red eggs. So tradition says that if we paint eggs on Easter, Thursday will not spoil all year round. But lets find out what they symbolize their colors and the symbol of the different painted eggs on Easter.
Blue
Also, the significance of the blue color of eggs is associated with calmness, serenity, and spirituality. But the symbolism of colors is contradictory, so blue can sometimes reflect sadness and loneliness.
Blue is found in the skies and the waters. So, it is a color suggesting slowness as opposed to the vigor and intensity of red. If dark blue inspires confidence, dignity, and intelligence, bright blue denotes purification, strength, support, and coolness, and light blue peace, serenity, spirituality, and infinity.
Whats The Difference Between Hot Chocolate And Hot Cocoa

Hey, it’s cold out how about a nice cup of hot chocolate? Or would you rather have some hot cocoa instead? They’re used interchangeably, but they’re in fact not the same. Hot chocolate is made with chopped high-quality chocolate that’s melted into hot water or milk. Hot cocoa starts with cocoa powder, which is dissolved with sugar into hot milk or water. Not into cocoa or hot chocolate, remember there is always great coffee.
More From The Daily Meal
Read Also: How To Air Fry Eggs
Easter Egg Decoration Ideas Using Tape
Create a collage of showstopping patterns by cutting out small pieces of washi tape. Press the tape onto the eggs in geometric patterns, making sure to remove any air bubbles before dipping them into the dye. Remove a few tape pieces, then dye the eggs a second time. The result? Ombre eggs as pretty as a painting.
Idea : Masking Eggs With Tape And Leaves
Easter eggs with patterns made with leaves and tapes. Nettle and Quince
Even better! You can mask your eggs with leaves, masking tape, stickers, or anything that can be adhered to the surface of the egg before applying the dye to create intricate looks.
Simply remove the masks after the dye dries, and you will find the design is all thats left behind.
Recommended Reading: New York Bacon Egg And Cheese
Why Those Phrases On Conversation Hearts
In 1860, Daniel Chase, brother of NECCO candy company founder Oliver Chase, discovered a way to stamp phrases onto candies. A felt roller pad moistened with red vegetable coloring would press against crisp, scallop-shaped candies and print the sayings on the candy’s paper wrapper. For decades, the candies were cut into odd shapes better fit for longer phrases like, “How long shall I wait? Please be considerate.” At the turn of the century, the iconic heart shape was adopted and the Sweethearts brand officially formed. Original phrases included favorites like, “Be Mine,” “Be Good,” and “Kiss Me.” The sayings were left untouched until the ’90s, when the first new phrase, “Fax Me,” was warmly received. Other retired phrases to note: “Groovy,” “My, Such Eyes,” “Dig Me” and “Yeah Right.” While popular, the candy might not be the best Valentine’s Day treat for your sweetie, though.
Do You Need Vinegar To Dye Eggs With Kool
If youve already dyed Easter eggs, you may have first soaked them in vinegar to prepare the shells for dyeing and create brighter colours.
But when dyeing eggs with Kool-Aid, you can skip this step. Kool-Aid powder is already acidic and does a good job breaking down the oils on the shell and prepping it to be dyed.
Read Also: Easter Egg Hunt 2022 Nj
Dried Flowers & Herbs
- Combine 4 Tbsp dried hibiscus flowers and 1 tsp alum in one.
- Combine 2 Tbsp beetroot powder and 1 Tbsp vinegar in one.
- Combine 2 Tbsp turmeric powder and 1 Tbsp vinegar in one.
NOTE: These dyes are powerful! Especially the turmeric. They can stain hands and counters . Place jars on a small plate to catch drips, and rest utensils on the plate when not in use. Wipe up spills immediately.
- Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water into each jar and stir to combine.
- Carefully lower up to 4 eggs into each jar using tongs or a spoon.
- Add hot water to cover.
- Leave eggs in dye until desired color has been reached, rotating eggs every few minutes.
Remove one egg from each color at intervals to get a range of shades. The hibiscus flower dye will give you a dusty blue immediately, and a deep midnight blue in 30 minutes. The beetroot powder and turmeric will give you varied shades of pink and yellow at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. If any solids remain on the eggs when you remove them, rinse with water. WIPING WET EGGS WILL REMOVE COLOR. To keep the color, dont rinse the beetroot eggs, just let them dry with the solids on there. Allow them to dry completely, then rub with oil to give them a shine. Dye can be used again for another batch.
I hope youll give it a try!
The natural egg dye kit, plus other items from the liturgical living boxes, are available here in the limited edition shop! Swipe through below to see more.
How Long Do Thanksgiving Leftovers Last
This depends on what you are eating. Turkey, chicken, ham and stuffing are all good for up to three or four days in the refrigerator. When frozen, poultry can last four months, ham two months and stuffing just a month. But what’s the point of freezing extra food when there are several dishes you can make using Thanksgiving leftovers?
Read Also: How Much Money To Donate Eggs
What Is The Biblical Meaning Of Easter
The Resurrection of the Saviour is not proclaimed inside the church building but outside the place of worship because it concerns all people. Not only will Christians be resurrected, but at the Second Coming of the Saviour Jesus Christ. When He comes to judge the living and the dead, the resurrection of all people of all times and places will take place. Regardless of religion, race, or age. So all people will rise from the dead. However, the resurrection of the soul from the death of sin is accomplished, and then, at the resurrection of the body. The resurrection of the body from death and corruption. Why do we paint eggs on Easter and what is the biblical symbolism of Easter?
The biblical symbolism of Easter refers to the celebration of the passage³ from death to heavenly life through Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Also, Easter means passage and is directly related to our existence. When he looks around, man sees and feels that everything is transitory today, someone dies, tomorrow, someone else. Thus every man passes through this world and from this world into another world. Seeing how everything gives, we know we are also transient. Faith, however, means our connection of short people with the non-transient God.
Read also: Did Jesus rise on Saturday or Sunday? What year did Jesus rise from the dead?
Why Do We Color Easter Eggs

Easter is a holiday that is celebrated by Christians all over the world. One of the most popular traditions associated with Easter is coloring eggs. But why do we color Easter eggs? There are a few different theories out there. One theory is that coloring eggs originated from Pagan celebrations. Pagans would decorate eggs as part of their springtime celebrations and it eventually became part of the Easter tradition. Another theory is that early Christians would color eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ. Whatever the origins of this tradition may be, it is clear that coloring Easter eggs is a fun and popular activity that people enjoy every year. If you are looking for something to do this Easter, why not try your hand at coloring some eggs?
Read Also: What Is In Just Egg
Whats The Deal With Gingerbread
Gingerbread, and cookies and houses made from it, are a quintessential holiday food. But what relationship do they have with each other? It all goes back to the Middle Ages, apparently, when ginger and other associated spices were very expensive. For this reason, ginger-based bread was considered an expensive luxury and only baked for special occasions of which Christmas was a major one.
Whats The Deal With The Christmas Tree Pickle
If you’re not hanging a pickle ornament on your Christmas tree, it’s time to start. Plenty of folks do it but not many actually know where the tradition came from. It’s commonly believed that the tradition is German in origin, but a survey revealed that barely any Germans are even aware of it the head of a German glassblowing firm in the region where glass ornaments were invented first learned of it in the 1990s, in Michigan, of all places. So while its beginnings might be a little nebulous, it’s just one of those Christmas curiosities.
You May Like: Big Green Egg On Sale
Getting The Coloring You Want
Kitchn editors have tested this method several times and have found that the number of dips in the dye is even more important than the duration of time spent in the dye. The more stints in the dye, the deeper the color will be. Our point? You can really play with the final color.
Gather your ingredients
Easter Egg Dyes For A Lacy Design
To make Easter basket standout, you’ll need to raid your sewing supplies. Start by creating a batch of natural dyed eggs. Once they’re dry, cut a piece of flat lace trim that’s just long enough to encircle an egg. Place it on a newspaper-lined surface. Apply a coat of acrylic craft paint to the lace with a mini sponge applicator. Working quickly, transfer the lace, paint side up, onto a stack of paper towels and roll the egg lightly over the lace. Set the egg aside to dry completely.
Don’t Miss: Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls Tgi Fridays
Idea : Chinese Tea Eggs
Chinese marbled tea eggs.
This method originates from soaking boiled eggs with cracked shells in a pot of boiling tea bags, which is a popular Chinese snack.
First, use the back of a spoon to gently tap all around the eggshell or use your fingers to gently squeeze the shell to create cracks, just try not to make splits in the shell as this will create large areas of dark color instead of the desired effect.
Also, dont add vinegar or you will be pickling your eggs. Put the eggs in the food coloring and refrigerate them for 3-4 hours. And remove the eggshell to see your beautiful creations!
Why Do We Give Out Halloween Candy
When Christianity spread to Celtic lands in the ninth century, the Celts were already annually celebrating Samhain, the one-night return of the dead to Earth. During Samhain, villagers dressed up as ghosts, demons and more. They exchanged trickster antics for food. The Christian All Souls Day celebration adopted some of these Celtic practices. Poorer folk would visit the homes of the rich and receive soul cakes in exchange for promised prayer. In Scotland and Ireland, this ritual turned to guising the more sugary tradition we know today. The hodgepodge of Celtic, Scottish and Irish traditions arrived in America in the 19th century and exploded onto the national scene following the post-World War II baby boom. Today, Americans spend over $2.6 billion on their favorite Halloween candy.
Read Also: Large Big Green Egg Table
Easter Eggs Arts And Crafts
Easter egg dyeing is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy before or during Easter. The simplest way for kids to dye an Easter egg is to dip a hard-boiled egg into a cup of colored water. Adults can get in on the fun by putting their creativity and attention to detail to the test.
While kids have fun getting colors on their fingers, the adults can set up an art station with glitter, paint, and brushes. The whole family could take part in a friendly competition to see who creates the best-looking egg.
Besides decorating hard-boiled eggs, you could also make cardboard Easter eggs with your loved ones. Hard-boiled eggs can be excellent temporary Easter decorations. Cardboard Easter eggs provide a more permanent alternative to create lasting memories that you can enjoy for years. You only need an egg carton, paint, paintbrushes, glue, and scissors to get started. Paint the inside of your egg cartons however you want, and wait for them to dry before you arrange them on the windowsill or in an Easter basket.
But Wont Raw Eggs Break

Probably not. If kids can dye a hard-boiled egg without cracking it, they can dye a raw egg without cracking it. Take the same precautions you would if you were cooking together: Remind little ones that eggs can break under pressure or roll away on flat surfaces. Then show them how to hold an egg in the cup of their hand or use a piece of paper towel to steady it. My three young kids managed to dip-dye two-dozen raw eggs last year without so much as a fumble . I honestly cant remember any major egg mishaps in the five years weve been dyeing raw eggs as a family. But if an egg does accidentally drop and break, sprinkle a bit of salt on top to make it easier to wipe up, and then clean the surface with hot, soapy water. You might also want to give any visiting family and friends a heads-up that the eggs are not hard-boiled before they pick one up and attempt to peel.
You May Like: Do Eggs Have Good Or Bad Cholesterol
Eggs Are Also A Symbol Of Rebirth Easter Happens In The Spring And Youve Likely Heard Of The Phrase Spring Renewal Before
Even though you likely view Easter as a Christian holiday, and the egg as a symbol of Jesus, some believe that the egg may have originated from an even earlier time. The Huffington Post notes that European pagans used to observe the Spring Equinox as a time when the Sun God would return.
So, its still open for interpretation especially since all of these theories make a lot of sense. But even if you dont consider yourself to be religious, its still a lot of fun to dye eggs every year. Easter in general is seen as a holiday for all, and plenty of people just use it as a time to unite with family members.
Since it seems like there are new dye kits out every year, you can really get creative with your decorative eggs.
Does Eating Turkey Make You Sleepy
Turkey is a protein-rich food and accordingly, a source of the amino acid tryptophan. The body uses tryptophan to make B-vitamin niacin, which produces serotonin. Serotonin produces melatonin, the sleep cycle hormone. Surprisingly, turkey contains even less tryptophan than chicken. And even then, very little tryptophan makes it through the blood-brain barrier to the point where it can boost serotonin. Overeating is more likely the cause of any turkey day sleepiness. So choose your perfect turkey, air-fry, oven-roast or deep-fry it and do not blame the poor bird for your yawning.
Don’t Miss: The Big Green Egg Grill