The Martha Stewart Show

Onion-Dyed Easter Eggs

The Martha Stewart Show

Actress Olympia Dukakis joins Martha to dye Easter eggs using onion skins.

Natural Egg Dyeing Techniques

This Easter, try these natural and unique egg dyeing techniques that are simple to do and produce beautiful results. Before you dye any egg, wipe the eggshell gently with vinegar in order to help the egg absorb color.

Tools and Materials
Vinegar
Raw eggs
Cheesecloth
Twist ties
Pot of water
Salt

For Various Egg Colors:
Red onions (create a sienna egg)
Red cabbage (creates a bluish egg)
Coffee (creates a brown egg)
Beets (creates a pink egg)
Turmeric (creates a yellow egg)

Onion Skin Natural Egg Dyeing How-To
1. For a mottled look, wrap onion skins around the raw eggs covering the entire egg. Wrap the covered egg with cheese cloth tightly, being careful not to break the egg. This keeps the skins close to the shell. Secure cheesecloth with a twist tie.

2. Lower the wrapped egg into a boiling mixture of 1 quart water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Boil for 20 minutes.

3. Remove eggs and let cool. Unwrap cheesecloth and onion skins.

4. As an alternative, you can create an onion skin bath consisting of 2 quarts water, 2 quarts packed onion skins, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/4 cup salt. Soak precooked eggs overnight in the mixture.

Red Cabbage Egg Dyeing How-To
1. Hard-boil eggs until cooked.

2. Boil one head of cabbage in two quarts of water for 30 minutes. Strain pre-boiled cabbage water into bowl.

3. Add 4 tablespoons salt and 4 tablespoons vinegar.

4. Lower egg into bath. Let soak 30 seconds to 1 minute for pale color. For deeper colors, let soak overnight.

Turmeric Egg Dyeing How-To
1. Hard-boil eggs until cooked.

2. To a pot filled with two quarts of water, add 4 tablespoons salt, 4 tablespoons vinegar, and 6 tablespoons turmeric.

3. Lower egg into bath. To make a green egg, you can swap cabbage and turmeric eggs into opposite baths.

Coffee Egg Dyeing How-To
1. Hard-boil eggs until cooked.

2. To a pot filled with two quarts of very strong coffee, add 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup salt.

3. Lower egg into bath. Let soak overnight.

Beet Egg Dyeing How-To
1. Hard-boil eggs until cooked.

2. To a pot filled with 8 cups of water, add 8 cups chopped beets, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/4 cup salt.

3. Lower egg into bath.

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The Martha Stewart Show

Onion-Dyed Easter Eggs

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