Make Your Own Easter Egg Dye Using Vegetable Scraps!

Meghan Nowlin
by Meghan Nowlin
10 Materials
Easy
Make your own Easter egg dye! This post will show you how to NATURALY color beautiful Easter eggs for FREE using vegetable scraps!
Easter is almost here, and if your kids are anything like mine, they are already getting excited to color Easter eggs!
After experimenting with multiple fruits and veggies I finally settled on the four dyes that made the beautiful colors on the eggs pictured above!


You really don't need a lot for this project. Here's the list!
  • White eggs
  • White vinegar
  • The peels and seeds of three avocados
  • The skins of three yellow onions
  • The ends, stems and scrap pieces of three to four beets
  • The outer leaves of a large purple cabbage
  • Glass jars
  • A strainer
  • Cups to dip the eggs in
  • Something to dip the eggs with


Boil your eggs in a large pot for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from burner and allow them to cool slightly before dipping them out of the water with a slotted spoon. Let them sit and dry while you complete the following steps!
Next you are going to gather your veggie scraps. Make sure that they are rinsed and clean (especially the avocado peels and seeds!).
Add each veggie scrap pile to its own saucepan along with a cup of water and a cup and a half of vinegar. Simmer this mixture covered for about an hour. You will have to continue adding equal parts water and vinegar as the liquid evaporates.


After you have simmered your veggie scraps for about an hour you will then need to strain the liquid from the scraps.
Make sure that you have enough liquid to cover an egg in whatever container you are using. If it's not enough, add some more vinegar and water to the scraps and simmer a little while longer.


Now it's time to dye the eggs! Gather four small containers to dye your eggs in.
Add your warm dye to your containers and carefully dip an egg into the dye.
Repeat by adding eggs to the other colors. Check your eggs, leaving them until they've reached the desired shade of color.


These pictures show the colors that can be made by using these four dyes.
I did experiment with other veggies and fruits, trying to make additional colors. But the following did not dye the eggs as well: Orange peels, carrot peels and spinach leaves.
If you experiment with other types of fruits and veggies and have success, please comment and let me know!
Here are some tips that will help you to create beautiful eggs:
  • Heat the dye before using.
  • Dip the egg in vinegar for a few minutes before adding the egg to the dye. (Some store bought eggs contain wax and the vinegar seems to remove any coatings from the egg as well as open the pores of the egg so that it can absorb the dye.)


For additional tips and information please visit my blog: theorganicgoatlady.com!


Please share pictures of your finished Easter eggs with me! You can either email me, or tag me on Instagram or Facebook! I can't wait to see your beautiful, natural Easter eggs!


Suggested materials:
  • White Eggs
  • White Vinegar
  • The Peels and Seeds of 3 Avocados
See all materials
Meghan Nowlin
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 4 comments
Next