Marcie drove Peppermint Patty crazy when she kept messing up with trying to hard boil eggs for Easter. Of course, it’s funny to see Marcie popping the eggs in the oven or onto the toaster. Surely, boiling the eggs to dye on Easter can’t be that hard!
Sometimes getting the eggs the kids can’t wait to dye hard-boiled isn’t a snap. It’s more like a crack. Turns out there are a lot of mistakes to be made when boiling eggs, especially when you’re making a bunch to create dazzling eggs for Easter. Don’t worry though. We’ve got everything you need to know when it comes to boiling and dyeing eggs for the upcoming Easter holiday.
How to boil eggs for Easter
The first step to making a basket full of colorful eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide around the house or for a stunning centerpiece for dinner is to buy the eggs. Older eggs are better to use when making Easter eggs than fresh ones. If possible, buy your eggs a week or two before the kids will be dyeing them pretty colors. Next up is boiling the eggs. Dyeing raw eggs is a recipe for disaster. Before you start making those hard-boiled eggs, be sure the pot you’re using is large enough. The pot is a perfect pick if you can lay a single layer of eggs along the bottom. Never put eggs on top of each other. If the eggs don’t fit, then use two pots. Jamming them in to form a single layer will probably end with cracked eggs. The eggs should have space to move.
What’s the best way to boil eggs?
Grandma’s way of making hard-boiled eggs on the stove in a pot of boiling water is still tried and true. Once you have the correct sized pot, put the eggs in. Cover the eggs with cold water. Always start with cold water. The goal is to have the water and the eggs slowly heat up at the same time. Don’t boil the water first and then add the eggs. Doing so could end up in egg soup. Fill the pot so the eggs are covered by an inch of water.
How long do you boil eggs for Easter decorating?
Place the pot filled with eggs on the stove. Turn the burner up to its highest heat. When the water begins to boil, put the lid on and remove the pot from the heat. Allow the egg pot to sit with the cover on for 15 minutes for large eggs. While the timer is ticking, get a bowl ready with cold water and add some ice. Once the timer is done, carefully drain the water and place the eggs in the bowl with the icy water. Leave the eggs in the water until they’ve cooled completely. Then, dry them off one at a time and return the eggs to the carton until it’s time to dye them. Place the eggs in the refrigerator if the kids won’t be dyeing them right away.
How do you boil eggs for Easter without cracking them?
Using a large enough pot and leaving the eggs breathing room is one way to avoid cracking those delicate shells. Removing the eggs from the heat and covering them with a lid is preferred to just letting the water continue to boil for 15 minutes while the pot sits on the burner. The eggs are apt to move around with the roaring boil and break. Adding half a teaspoon of salt to the water may also help prevent cracking. The added salt will make the Easter eggs easier to peel if the eggs are going to be eaten or made into egg salad later.
Tips for dyeing Easter eggs
There are two ways to dye Easter eggs. Use an egg-coloring kit like those from Paas. If you’re short on containers, pick up the kit that includes egg dye cups. It’s easier. For multiple kids and your sanity, have one set for each child. It cuts down on the arguments and the spills. For better colors, add a tablespoon of vinegar before adding the color tablet. Allow the tablet to dissolve completely before adding water to the fill line.
Another way to dye Easter eggs is with food coloring. Choose containers deep enough to hold a submerged egg without spillage. The containers should also be heatproof. Next, fill the containers with boiling water before adding a teaspoon of vinegar and 20 to 30 drops of food coloring. For more vibrant colors, add more food coloring. Liquid food coloring works better than gels. Allow the water to cool before letting the kids begin dyeing to avoid burns.
With this complete egg boiling and dyeing guide, your eggs will turn out much better than Marcie and Peppermint Patty’s. Whether you decide on using an egg dyeing kit or food coloring, be sure to use chilled eggs. Once the egg is in the dye, leave it submerged for five minutes. Occasionally turning the eggs helps to ensure even coloring. When the egg is ready to be removed from the dye, place it on a drying rack. Once the dyed eggs are completely dry, return them to the refrigerator until the Easter Bunny hops by. The original egg carton is an ideal place to store the dyed eggs in the fridge.
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