How To Boil Easter Eggs

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Spring always feels soooo much better after an extra cold and rainy winter! And now with Easter just around the corner it’s time to get ready to dye some hard-boiled eggs. Such a sweet activity to do with (or without) kids!

Before you start your project, there are a few things to consider.

• What are the best eggs to boil and dye?
• How to boil Easter eggs without cracking and that peel nicely.
• What are your options for dye?

Let’s hop to it! (wink, wink!)

What Eggs To Use: Brown vs. White

Contrary to popular belief brown eggs are not necessarily healthier or better quality.

The pigment of the egg comes from a chicken’s genetics rather than a chicken’s health. When the egg passes through a chicken’s oviduct, pigment (which varies with breed) can be released form glands and deposited into the egg shell.
Eggs can be blue, green, light or dark brown, white, and even speckled.

The health of an egg depends on the living conditions of the chicken and what the chicken eats. If you are really looking for healthy eggs, it is best to shop from your local farmers where you know who is raising the chickens and how they are being raised, what they are being fed, and if they are truly non-GMO.

Do Brown Or White Eggs Boil Better?

The process for boiling eggs is the same for any color of eggshell. So again, the choice is up to you!

It is better to boil eggs that have aged a week or two because they are typically easier to peel. Why? As an egg ages, it loses moisture though the pores in the shell and the pH level changes causing the egg to loosen more from the shell.

If you are going to dye your eggs, it is definitely easier to use white eggs! I had chickens for years and tried many times to dye our brown eggs. It didn’t work to well!

But the advantage of having our own chickens were that the eggs were an assortment of colors from blue to green, light and dark browns and speckled; so they were beautiful enough not to dye for Easter eggs!

How to Boil Easter Eggs

I have tried different methods for boiling eggs and have found the following procedure to have the best outcome with shells that are easy to peel and don’t crack as much.

Whether you want boiled Easter eggs or just a good boiled egg anytime of the year, here are the steps to boiling some tasty eggs:

• Start with room temperature eggs.
  • Eggs that are much cooler in the middle will crack easily when cooking because of the temperature difference.
  • Use eggs that are one to two weeks old because they will peel easier. The structure of the shell changes over time and becomes easier to separate from the egg over time.

• Place eggs in a single layer in a pot that has plenty of room for the amount of eggs you want to boil.
  • You don’t want to overcrowd your pot. The eggs will bounce around and hit each other causing them to crack more easily.

• Fill the pot with room temperature water and bring the water to a boil.
  • Fill the pot so that the eggs are completely covered with water and turn the burner on high until the water boils.

• Once the water has boiled, remove the pot from the heat immediately and cover with a lid.
  • Let the eggs cook for about 10 minutes for a creamy but firm egg yolk. Leave eggs to cook longer if you like a very firm yolk and less for a softer yolk.
  • Set a timer! This way you won’t overcook your eggs (not fun!)

• As soon as the eggs are finished cooking, place them in an ice bath.
  • While you are boiling your eggs, fill a bowl with ice water.
  • When your time is up, place the eggs in your ice bath for 10 minutes to quickly cool. This stops the cooking process and helps separate the egg from the shell making it easier to peel!

• Drain the water from the bowl and store eggs in the refrigerator.
  • Your boiled eggs are now ready to eat!

Dyes for Easter Eggs – Natural vs. Food Coloring

I have tried both, just like I have tried dyeing brown and white eggs. I have found that natural dyes that you make from foods (beets, purple cabbage, elderberries, blueberry, turmeric, coffee, red and yellow onions or other foods) have a very subtle color.

It helps to use a good amount of the food and to know the right amount of time to cook in order to get the most vivid colors. It always seemed like I needed more than was suggested in recipes, but it’s good to experiment and just have fun with it.

Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to make your own natural dyes from food. This process takes a lot more planning and work, but if you want to try it the result is really beautiful!

If your not ready to tackle the natural dye project, it is very quick and easy to use an egg coloring kit. You can easily find these in stores or online around Easter time.

Another option is to use basic food coloring drops. You really don’t need any fancy egg coloring kits, just use 10-20 drops of your own food coloring and follow the usual method of mixing 1/2 cup hot water, 1 tsp of vinegar and the dye and…

Voila! Boiled Easter Eggs!

Tips For Dyeing Easter Eggs

Here are a few quick tips to help you when you are dyeing your boiled Easter eggs:

• Either dye your eggs right after they cool from boiling or let chilled eggs sit out for a bit so they are closer to room temperature. Warmer eggs will take on color easier.
• Don’t forget the vinegar! Vinegar is acidic and therefore breaks down the egg shell a little which helps it soak up the dye to create a more vibrant color.
• Have a slotted spoon or tongs on hand to place the eggs in and out of the water. This will help prevent cracking (and staining your hands).
• After dyeing eggs, let them dry and then refrigerate them. They will store in the refrigerator for about a week.

Conclusion

I hope this post has prepared and encouraged you to create a kaleidoscope of brilliantly colored Easter eggs.

If you have any questions be sure to drop me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible!
Would also love to see some photos of your amazing creations!

See you again soon, In The Kitchen With Me!

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