Easter eggs are an essential spring tradition. Dyeing eggs (and hunting them) is a fantastic activity the whole family can do at home. However, it can get a little chaotic and messy.
Here are a few basics you’ll need to give everyone a memorable Easter craft project that won’t totally destroy your kitchen. Plus, get some nifty tips on storing your eggs and clever ways to eat them.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
The easiest way to hard-boil your eggs is with the Deluxe Multi Cooker. Add 6 eggs and 1 cup (250 mL) of water to the Deluxe Multi Cooker, select the Egg setting, and let it do its thing. If you use a pressure cooker that doesn’t have an egg setting, set the cook time to 5 minutes on high pressure and allow it to naturally release for an additional 5 minutes. Then, immediately place your cooked eggs in an ice-water bath.
If you’d like to stick with the traditional route of cooking them on the stovetop, place your eggs in a large pot with enough cold water to cover them. Bring the water just to a boil and remove the pot from the heat. Let the eggs stand, covered, for 20 minutes. Then, take the eggs out of the pot and place them in ice-cold water until they’re completely cooled. This will prevent an ugly green ring from forming on the egg yolks.
Egg Dyeing: Classic Solid Colors
Prepare egg dye in six 1-cup (250-mL) Prep Bowls following the directions on your Easter egg color kit (typically one tablet in each bowl) or on the food coloring package. Using a slotted spoon, lower one hard-boiled egg into the dye of your choice, rolling the egg around in the bowl. Remove the egg and let it dry.
Egg-cellent tip: Line a rimmed sheet pan with a few layers of paper towels for drying the dyed eggs. This gives the eggs a flat drying surface, and they won’t roll away.
Egg Dyeing: Tie-Dye Eggs
Dye hard-boiled eggs as described for the classic solid colors. Let your eggs dry completely. Then gently stir in ¼ tsp (1 mL) of vegetable oil (if you’re using a kit) or ½ tsp (2 mL) of vegetable oil (if you’re using food coloring) into the remaining dye in your bowls. Immediately dip the egg into the oil mixture to coat. Remove the egg and let it dry completely.
How to Easily Peel Eggs
Nothing is more frustrating than picking tiny bits of shell off your beautiful hard-boiled eggs. There are lots of methods out there, but here’s what we’ve found in the Pampered Chef test kitchens that works the best. The results are egg-ceptional.
- Start with eggs that are 7–10 days old for the best results.
- Keep your eggs cold once they’ve finished cooking.
- Gently tap the egg on the countertop until the shell is finely crackled all over.
- Roll the egg between your hands to loosen the shell.
- Hold the egg under cold running water to help ease off the shell.
- Start peeling at the larger end of the egg.
Egg Safety & Storage
Remember 1-1-2 to enjoy your hard-boiled eggs safely.
1 WEEK: Keep hard-boiled eggs in their shells, stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
1 DAY: Once you peel ’em, eat ’em that day.
2 HOURS: Refrigerate hard-boiled eggs within two hours of cooking.
Is It Safe to Eat Dyed Easter Eggs?
The simple answer is yes, BUT you should follow a few basic safety guidelines. First, use food-safe dyes on your eggs. Don’t eat the eggs if the shells crack during the cooking or egg-dyeing process. You can hunt for your colored eggs or display them, but if they’ve been sitting out at room temperature for two or more hours, throw them out.
great idea
Wow!! Tons of info! Most helpful! Thx:))
Love the idea of the oil for marble eggs
I love these bits of info. I always try them immediately.
Great fun!
Great tips. I’m definitely making the deviled chicks.
Did I miss something…”deviled chicks”? Sounds interesting…
I remember as a child getting a basket of eggs on Easter Day and we would leave the eggs in our baskets all week long and only eat one each day. Never refrigerated them and I’m 65 and still living. LOL
.We did too. I always wonder if the eggs are treated differently now or the chickens fed differently.
I would say, they are fed way different then when us baby boomers were growing up!!
farm fresh eggs that have never been refrigerated can stay good for several weeks. I grew up on a farm and we always kept our eggs in a basket in the cupboard. This is because eggs are laid with a coating on them, that I can’t remember the name to, but it keeps them fresh. Once eggs have been in the refrigerator, they need to be treated differently, because once removed from the fridge, the shells might sweat and the pores can open and let in bacteria. Also, store-bought eggs may have been washed and the protective coating removed.
Bloom! My daughter just acquired a couple of hens and I’m learning all kinds of things! The eggs are actually very dirty when collected (she hasn’t been able to teach her hens to lay in a different place then they sleep so the eggs get pooped on). But, as soon as they are washed, the bloom rinses away and the eggs have to be refrigerated.
and I bet the eggs were sitting on the counter when they were brought home. the chickens don’t put them in the refrigerator!
Given that we are all uustaying in, it would have been very helpful if this pos had included directions for coloring eggs using food coloring. Or maybe it was there and I somehow missed it???
Mix 1/2 cup boiling water, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 10 to 20 drops food color in a cup to achieve desired colors. Repeat for each color. Dip hard-cooked eggs in dye for about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon, wire egg holder or tongs to add and remove eggs from dye.
I agree with Kay & Carol, My mom, her mom, myself and now my kids have allows hide the eggs around the house the night before and the kids wake up looking for them. I would hide 4 dozen and we would eat them for the week. I am 58 and still living, LOL. But the other tips are great, thanks.
Same here, 61
Same here!
Right?!? I was just thinking I’d be dead by now 😂
We never refrigerated our Easter Eggs.
We did too!
I agree with you, I think 2 hours is for someone who truly has phobias!
These are all great ideas. Thanks for the tips.
I like all of your email. Wish I still had my driver’s license, but I am making the best of the situation.
Thanks…Beautiful and eggsiting…Sue O.
Yes, 2 hours is ultra cautious. People didn’t always have refrigerators!
Love them keep them coming
I love it Thanks for the tips
Great tips! I always make deviled eggs with my Easter Eggs after Easter! Any tips for making deviled eggs? I’ve made them several years! Hugs!
Awesome thanks 👍😀
Love the idea of tie-dye eggs, a different look.
Tie-Dye: We used to wrap egg in old piece of white t-shirt and twist top of material. Spoon color (1 or more) over egg in t-shirt. Makes a pretty pattern where you twisted top … anxious to try your’s with oil.
Love this! Thank you
Great! Cannot wait to try this tie-dyed egg idea – long and fun tradition for this sacred, special holiday!
pattye in texas
How nice. I must keep this information. I am sure the kids are having fun.
Just when you think you know how to boil an egg! Thanks for the tips.
We have always done the “tye dyeing” eggs but we call it “marbling”. We also reheat the coloring (now In the microwave) then put the vegetable oil in. The color is brighter and shiny!!!
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐🐰💐
you should remind people how to boil eggs in the quick cooker!
Love the tie dye eggs look easy to do
I plan on using these ideas when my granddaughters come to help dye the eggs. Very useful info.
Thanks for the great tips
Fun idea with that oil
thank you, Happy Easter blessing your way.
Great ideas! Thanks for tips.
Great tips. Love the tie dye idea
Great idea for the tie dyed eggs we will try it this year!
Need: food coloring, whip cream (cheaper better), cheap foil pan (8″x8″), couple toothpicks, plastic gloves (baggies or plastic grocery bag work, too)
Spread thin layer whip cream in pan. Drop dots of different color food color over the whipped cream. Take tooth pick, draw lines back & forth, blending colors. Roll cold dried eggs in colored whipped cream. Place on cake rack, let dry couple hours. With plastic gloves, pick up eggs, gently wipe off whipped cream. Fancy colored eggs.
Did you know that steaming eggs works great too? Yes, and they peel better. In Montana 15 minutes of steaming and 15 minutes of chilling in ice water makes perfect eggs. Try it!
Some great ideas! It makes you want to start cooking those eggs right away!
Thank you for sharing!
Fun & safe tips! Thanks!
Love to read theses idas from Pampered Chef…times have changed……….
Thanks for the tips. May the Lord shine bright in you life during these difficult times and may you have his peace and his protection during this time. Hope your Easter is more special
Love these tips! Thank you!!
Good article on how to have fun and stay safe when having your Easter “Egg-stravaganza”
Used the pressure cooker for 6 minutes and did a quick release for the pressure. They came out perfect and the shells peeled easily.
Here’s the link to 4 of our Pampered Chef recipes for deviled eggs including Deviled Chicks recipe!
That is a cute one! Enjoy and Happy Easter!!
https://www.pamperedchef.com/search-browse-results?GlobalHeaderSearch=GlobalHeaderSearch&itemType=Recipe&categoryType=Recipe&secondaryCategoryType=Recipe&userSelection=true&searchText=deviled+eggs&cartPK=&_requestConfirmationToken=d7bdd1c9b77e6e8d02be54a03f646a38dbc7d37a
Very good information. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Easter Everyone
Love the tips. Thank you.