Dyeing Brown Eggs

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posted on

March 30, 2023

We've been dyeing our eggs for years, but thanks to The Irish Kitchen we've found a great way to achieve the lighter color that we know some folks are looking for. Take a look!

While there is almost no difference between the eggs nutritionally… brown eggs pose a bit of a challenge when it comes to trying to dye the eggs in pretty colors at Easter! Darker brown eggs just can’t take on the pretty pink, pale blue and spring yellow colors the way that white eggs can.

After several years dyeing brown eggs dark colors – deep red, navy blue, dark green – not exactly the pastel colors we associate with Easter and springtime! – we came up with a trick which allows us to dye brown eggs in an array of pretty, pale colors instead…

The secret? All you need is white vinegar and a little time…. in just a matter of minutes, the vinegar strips the color from the brown eggs shells!

STEP ONE: Lighten the color of your brown eggs to make them much easier to dye in pretty colors!

I prefer to soak the eggs in vinegar after boiling as the vinegar can slightly weaken the eggshell, making the eggs a little more susceptible to cracking during the boiling process.

Simply boil the eggs as usual*, then cool rapidly under cold running water or in a bowl of ice. Transfer the cooled eggs to a bowl and cover with white vinegar. Set a timer for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the eggs from the vinegar and use a clean cloth to wipe away the brown coloring from the eggshell then rinse. The next step is to dye your newly lightened-color eggs.

STEP TWO: Dye the lightened brown eggs in pretty colors!

Fill a glass or jar with about 150ml (or ³/₄ cup) hot water and add three teaspoons white vinegar along with several drops of your chosen food color/dye. (When using gel colors, we scoop a small amount of the gel onto a cocktail stick and then swirl this into the hot water to dissolve.)

The dye-baths should be quite a deep color to ensure that you get a good color on your eggs.

If you are looking to make your own natural dyes:

Red or pink: 100% beet juice
Orange: yellow onion skins
Yellow: turmeric powder
Teal: red cabbage
Chocolate brown: red onion skins
Violet blue or navy blue: frozen blueberries
Sparkling grey blue: 100% Concord grape juice

Credits:

The Irish Kitchen

Pete and Gerry's

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Dyeing Brown Eggs

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