For many of us, dyeing Easter eggs is a tradition that goes back for generations. It’s a timeless Easter craft, for sure! And you never know what designs and color combos the kids will come up with each year. Egg dyeing hard-boiled eggs makes them safe-to-eat treat without the waste!

Dyeing Easter Eggs That Are Safe to Eat

Easter Craft Prep

When on the hunt for your eggs, be sure to purchase them from a refrigerated section of the grocery store. Ensure shells are intact and uncracked, and double check the use-by date.

Once you return home, it’s time to start boiling your eggs! Place several eggs into a pot, cover them with cold water, and heat them over the stove on high—just until the water boils. Then, remove the pot from the burner, place it covered on your countertop, and let the eggs stand in the hot water for at least 12 minutes.

After they’ve sat, drain the hot water and immediately run your eggs under cold water to stop the cooking process and prepare them for egg dyeing! No need to fret about cracks that surface after boiling—the eggs are still safe to eat once dyed.

Tips for Edible Egg Dyeing

Most of the colors used for egg dyeing are safe to eat, as are common food colorings used for icing or other baking. While your eggs are still safe to eat if the dye leaks through any cracks in the shells, there are a few egg dyeing techniques to avoid. Here’s why.

Techniques to Avoid When Dyeing Easter Eggs

Say ‘no’ to shaving cream! While this method can be fun for kids (and often results in awesome designs), eggs that have shaving cream on their shells for any amount of time should not be eaten.

Leave egg hunts to the plastic eggs. Eggs can pick up dirt and bacteria if they sit outside. And if you’ve hidden them too well, they go unrefrigerated for unknown amounts of time. So, opt for plastic eggs so you can reuse them year after year and fill them with your kids’ favorite candies.

Ditch the display! While this Easter craft often makes a nice centerpiece, the lack of refrigeration would make these creations unsafe to eat.

Egg Dyeing Dos

Refrigerate eggs shortly after they’ve been dyed. Make sure to let the kids admire their artwork, but then cool them down so they stay edible. Anything more than two hours adds some risk of contamination. And once you peel the eggs, you’ll want to eat them or add them to a prepared dish within an hour. Like all hard-boiled eggs, the dyed eggs will stay edible for about one week.

It`s Always Healthy Air Season

When life won`t give you a breather, AprilAire can with whole-house Healthy Air solutions.

LEARN MORE about this specific item