If you want to naturally color Easter eggs a cheerful, beautiful yellow, here are the very simple instructions for how to dye eggs with turmeric. This powdered spice that is used to make curry is easy to find in grocery stores and you might already have it in your pantry right now!
Dyeing eggs with turmeric uses food-based ingredients instead of the chemicals that are often used in egg coloring dyes.
This eco-friendly dye is inexpensive, too!
You don’t need a fancy spice bottle to get this natural yellow dye. If you are only buying turmeric for this DIY project, then get the least expensive brand.
A printable how-to card is included below.
With your spices, you can also try making these turmeric goat milk soaps that have benefits for your skin!
This is just one of many natural Easter egg dyes that I share on the website. Be sure to see them all!
Tuck these eggs into a basket filled with one of these 10 Easter Basket Grass alternatives for a sustainable treat. Add one of these 25 Organic Easter Gift Ideas, too!
Helpful Tips
- You can leave your eggs in the natural dye as long as you’d like. The longer that you leave them in, the darker the color will become. It is a wise idea to start checking the color after about an hour in the dye. Gently lift the egg out of the dye and see if it’s dark enough. If not, then replace the egg and allow it to sit for longer in the liquid.
- Don’t use more or less vinegar than the instructions state. Too little vinegar will mean that the dye might not adhere well. Too much could mean that the egg shell will start dissolving.
- Turmeric can really stain your skin! If you don’t want your fingertips yellow from picking up the eggs out of the dye, use egg tongs to remove them.
- When drying the eggs, keep in mind that dripping dye will stain. Use a paper towel unless you don’t mind a reusable towel having yellow stains on it.
How to Dye Eggs with Turmeric
It is so easy to use turmeric to dye Easter eggs! If you have this spice in your pantry, you can easily color eggs a bright yellow shade right now!
Materials
- 5 Tablespoons Turmeric
- 1 Tablespoon White Distilled Vinegar
- 1 Quart Water
- Hard Boiled Eggs
Tools
- Pot
- Bowl (Optional)
- Egg Tongs (Optional)
Instructions
- Add the turmeric spice powder and the water to a pot. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently until the turmeric has dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Stir in the vinegar. Either leave the dye in your pot, or transfer it to a heat-safe, glass bowl.
- Add your hard boiled eggs into the turmeric dye. Don't add too many at once because you need to eggs to be completely covered by the dye.
- Allow the eggs to soak until the yellow is a deep color. For ours, it took 8 hours to get this color of yellow.
- Once the color level has been achieved, remove the eggs from the dye using your fingers or tongs and place on a paper towel to dry. Flip the eggs over after a few minutes to prevent the dye from accumulating in one place where the egg is resting on the towel.
Notes
This recipe was found on GetGreenBeWell.com.
FAQs
Can These Eggs Be Used the Next Day?
Yes, the colorful dye will last.
Will The Eggs Taste Like Turmeric Spice?
No, your hard boiled eggs inside the shell will not taste like turmeric.
Can I Decorate the Eggs and Dye Them?
Yes, you can decorate eggs before or after dyeing them just like the process of any other Easter egg dye.
If you color on the egg before dyeing, I suggest using these non-toxic beeswax crayons. The wax will create a layer on the egg and won’t dye as strongly as the egg shell.
Why Do My Eggs Have Speckles on the Shell?
Natural variations in the egg shell means that color is absorbed in different ways that might not be even.
While stirring the turmeric in the boiling water will dissolve it almost completely, there will probably be some powder that doesn’t completely absorb. These specks of spices might cling to the egg shell and prevent a uniform coloring.
The beauty of nature is that nothing is perfect and everything changes! Embrace the natural look of these colorful eggs.
Do I Need to Put the Eggs in the Refrigerator After Coloring?
Treat these eggs the same as you would any hard boiled egg that you would dye. If the eggs are put in the refrigerator, they will be okay. You might find that the color runs just a bit, but that would be the same with any dyed Easter egg.
If you like how simple it is to dye eggs with turmeric, check out these easy DIYs, too:
- How to Dye Eggs with Blueberries
- Easy Decoupaged Easter Eggs
- How to Dye Eggs with Beets for Pink Color
- How to Dye Eggs with Black Tea for a Brown Color