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Natural Egg Dying from your Food Scraps

By: Author Olivia Whalen

Posted on Last updated:

Over the years I’ve experimented with all different ways to dye eggs with the kids here on the homestead. The store bought kits just seemed so boring and very age specific. I wanted my tiny ones to be able to join the fun safely (and without too much of a mess) or my bigger ones to be able to enjoy more of challenge. We have done shaving cream dying, sealed bag dying, even oil and vinegar dying. This year we tried natural egg dying from food scraps!

It was not only a fun coloring and blending experience but also a science experiment! Also, it made their little minds curious and in our home that is always highly encouraged.

It is really easy and you don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of kits or supplies – it’s all already in your kitchen. Re-use and recycle my friends!

scraps dying

Food color guide

Spinach: Green

Red Onion Skins: Red

Yellow Onion Skins: Orange (white eggs), Rusty red (brown eggs) 

Purple Cabbage: Blue (white eggs), Green (brown eggs)

Shredded Beets: Pink (white eggs), Maroon (brown eggs)

Coffee Grounds: Tan

*1 cup for all above

Ground turmeric – 2 tbsp: Yellow

Red Zinger tea – 1 bag: Lavender 

 

Equipment Needed:

  • Several small bowls (one for each color)
  • Sauce pan with lid
  • Slotted spoon or strainer

How To Dye Eggs Using Food Scraps:

  1. Gather your materials and equipment. Per one cup of water for each food item in the quantity for the guide above. Example: 1 cup of water for 1 cup of yellow onion skins. 
  2. Add water to a saucepan and then the food scrap material of color choice, bring that to a boil.
  3. Then lower the heat and allow to simmer, covered, for roughly 20 minutes.
  4. Once your dye is darker than what you want to appear on the egg it is ready to come off of the heat.
  5. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes. 
  6. Strain your cooled dye into another bowl or spoon out the food scrap.
  7. Stir in 1 tablespoon of oil per 1 cup of strained dye.
  8. Add boiled egg(s) into the dye and put into the refrigerator for at least 5 hours but recommended overnight.
  9. Pat dry the eggs the next day!

food scrap

scrap dying

dying from scraps

food dye

 

Tips on successful dying…

Pastel look: one dip

Vibrant colors: more than one dip, allowing the egg to dry between dips.

  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar to each 1 cup strained dye
  • 4 cups of liquid per dozen eggs
  • the older the eggs the better!

egg dyed

Learning to use compost in unconventional ways is creative, experimental and educational for little ones.

I hope that you and the tiny people in your life enjoy this outside the box  egg dying experience together. 

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Love, light and a little grace..

-Olivia