Gaby
In the decorated Easter egg, Christians see a symbol of rebirth, a sign of faith, and hope for miracles. According to biblical legend, Mary Magdalene, healed by the Lord from an evil spirit, was the first to bring the news of Christ’s resurrection. Arriving with a humble offering to the Roman Emperor, the myrrh-bearer presented him with a chicken egg and said, “Christ is Risen.” Tiberius retorted that this was as impossible as turning a white egg red. But right before his eyes, the egg suddenly changed color, confirming the miracle of resurrection. In remembrance of the mystery of salvation and in honor of eternal life, the tradition of dyeing eggs at Easter was born. Here’s how to do it in various ways, just in time for the most significant Orthodox holiday, which falls on May 5, 2024.
Boiling the Eggs
Before decorating the eggs, they need to be boiled. To prevent the shells from cracking during this process, add salt to the boiling water (1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water), and let the eggs warm up to room temperature naturally before cooking.
It’s important to handle everything carefully: using a slotted spoon, gently lower the eggs into the pot of water, avoiding any impact against the sides or bottom. Do not boil the eggs at a rolling boil; reduce the heat from maximum to medium to keep the water at a gentle simmer.
Soft-boiled eggs take about 3 minutes after the water starts boiling, “medium” eggs take around 5 minutes, and hard-boiled eggs need about 10 minutes. Before dyeing, cool and dry the eggs.
How to Dye Eggs with Food Coloring
Ready-made dyes for Easter eggs are available for purchase. They come in powders, tablets, pastes, or gels. The packaging should indicate the food coloring nomenclature: E102, E104, E110, E120, E122, E124, E131, E132, E133, E142, E160, E163, E181. Any of these substances are permitted by health regulations for contact with food. However, avoid using dyes of unknown composition to prevent poisoning.
For the simplest dyeing method using dry dye, protect your hands with gloves and prepare a container that is most resistant to staining. Glass containers are the best choice, as other materials may become stained along with the eggs. Pour warm water into the container so that it completely covers the eggs. For better dye adherence to the shell, add vinegar to the water (1 tablespoon of 9% vinegar per cup of water).
Add the food dye to the water. One package is designed for 200 ml of liquid. Using more or less powder from the packet will achieve the desired color concentration. Use a spoon to dip the egg into the dye solution. Depending on the desired depth of color, dyeing can take from 2 to 10 minutes. Afterward, place the eggs on a paper towel or napkin (to avoid staining the countertop, place a “mat” on a baking sheet). Once the eggs are dry, you can give them a shine with oil: apply a few drops to a napkin and wipe the dyed shell.
How to Dye Eggs with Patterns
Gel food coloring is convenient because it doesn’t need to be dissolved or mixed: the product is ready to use. You can simply add a little water and mix the dye to reduce color intensity.
To create intricate designs on the shell, use gel dyes in various colors and paper napkins. For each color, use a separate glass container. Wrap the boiled egg in an unfolded paper napkin, placing it in the center.
On the egg wrapped in the napkin, randomly apply gel dyes of different colors with a brush. After drying, carefully remove the napkin from the shell and admire your artistic creation. This method can achieve exquisite patterns, with the design determined by the artist’s imagination.
How to Dye Eggs with Onion Skins
Before the advent of food dyes, it was common to dye Easter eggs with natural materials—birch leaves, nettles, beets, or oak bark. Since onion skins were always on hand, they became the most popular method for decorating shells. Using onion pigment, eggs can be dyed in beautiful shades ranging from yellow-brown to reddish-brown.
However, this pigment is very difficult to wash off, so consider this when choosing your cookware. An enameled pot will be permanently stained, as the dye is nearly impossible to remove from enamel. It’s better to use a stainless steel container, as the pigment stains can be cleaned with baking soda and vinegar. To dye a batch of 20 eggs, you will need the skins from about ten large onions. Use the skins from yellow and red onions (either separately or in combination).
Fill a pot with onion skins and let them sit in water for 30 minutes to release the dye. To achieve a brighter color on the shell, wipe the eggs with vinegar beforehand or add 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the pot. Place the pot over medium heat and boil the onion skins for 40 minutes. Remove the used skins and boil the raw eggs in the dyed water for 10 minutes. However, if uniform color on the shells is not important, you can boil the eggs directly in the skins. This will provide more pigment for dyeing, and the contact of the skins with the eggs at different spots will create an uneven coloring effect, adding a decorative touch.
How to Dye Eggs with Turmeric
This ground Indian spice is made from a plant in the ginger family: its rhizome contains a natural yellow dye—curcumin. The shells will be dyed in golden-yellow shades.
Mix turmeric with water in a ratio of 2 tablespoons of spice to 1 liter of water (to achieve a more intense color, increase the amount of dye). Simmer the mixture over low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool. For color intensity, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the pot.
Place the boiled eggs in the turmeric broth. For quality dyeing, they should sit there for 2 hours. You can also boil raw eggs in the turmeric broth; the color will vary in each case.
How to Dye Eggs with Beets
Pink and raspberry tones can be achieved with the root vegetable from the borscht mix. But don’t forget to protect your kitchen surfaces, skin, and nails from the staining dye.
Juice the beet. You can simply grate the root vegetable and squeeze the juice from the shredded pieces using cheesecloth. The amount of dye liquid obtained should be enough to fully submerge the eggs.
Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the beet juice and place the hot boiled eggs in it. In the natural dye, the boiled eggs should sit for at least 15 minutes. The longer they stay, the brighter they will become.
How to Dye Eggs with Hibiscus
If the herbal tea made from dried petals of the Sudanese rose has a burgundy or red color, the eggs dyed with this pigment will turn shades of blue and violet.
To control the dyeing process, it’s better not to boil the eggs directly with the red flowers but to place the boiled eggs in the prepared broth and let them sit in the dye for one hour to several hours, depending on the desired depth of blue color.
Pour boiling water over the hibiscus (about 70 g of tea per 1 liter of water) and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the pot. Let the broth steep for 15 minutes. To achieve an even color on the shells, strain the broth, but for artistic “painting,” leave the tea leaves in during the dyeing process.
How to Dye Eggs with Red Cabbage
If you want to achieve beautiful blue or purple eggs, red cabbage will provide the necessary pigment. Chop the cabbage and cover large pieces with water. The more vegetable mass in the pot, the brighter the color will be.
Boil the cabbage for half an hour after it starts boiling. Cool the cabbage broth to room temperature. Strain it, separating the vegetable fragments. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and stir.
Place the boiled eggs in the prepared natural dye and let them sit for 20 minutes to 4 hours. The longer the eggs are dyed, the more vibrant the color will be.
How to Make a Scratch Egg
This refers to an Easter egg with a pattern scratched onto the shell with a sharp object. Traditionally, a needle or awl is used in this ancient egg-decorating method.
Boil the eggs and dye them in your chosen color using one of the methods listed. It’s best to use eggs with white shells, as they are easier to scratch compared to dark eggs.
Using a needle or awl, scratch the desired ornament or design onto the dyed shell. Be very careful when working with a sharp object to avoid breaking the integrity of the egg.
How to Decoupage on the Shell
This technique involves decorating the egg with images glued onto it. Decorate the surface with patterns from paper napkins. Secure the images to the shell with the white of a raw egg.
Take a napkin, separate the top layer with the design, and cut out the pattern you want to glue onto the egg. Separate the yolk from the raw egg and keep only the white for this task. Place the pattern on the egg, dip a brush in the egg white, and adhere the paper to the shell, applying the egg white over the design. Allow the adhesive to dry: at this point, the paper will securely stick to the egg.
Remember that only safe materials are suitable for decorating food items. Do not use chemical glues—silicate, PVA, shoe glue, or universal glue—and avoid attaching small items like beads or sequins.
…As you prepare for Easter and cook dishes for the feast, focus on positivity and approach your work with a joyful spirit, as festive creativity requires bright emotions.
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