Instant Pot or Stove Top, your choice. Be creative and enjoy this really fun project!
To Make the Dye
Directions are for each individual dye. if making more than one color, rinse the pot thoroughly between each batch to prevent mixing colors
Purple = 1½ cup shredded red beets
Rust = 7 yellow onion skins
Yellow = 3 tablespoons ground turmeric or cumin
Orange = 3 tablespoons chili powder
Sky Blue = 1½ cups shredded red cabbage
Dark Blue = 2 cups blueberry juice
Green = 2 cups spinach
1 cup red onion skins = lavender or red eggs
1 bag Red Zinger tea = lavender eggs
Stovetop
Bring 2 cups water to a rolling boil.
Add coloring agent.
Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or longer for the deepest color.
Strain liquid into a large mason jar, and allow to cool to room temperature, 2-3 hours.
Stir in 2 tablespoons white vinegar and add 3 or more hard-boiled eggs.
Seal the jar and refrigerate overnight or until the egg is the desired color.
Rub dried eggs with a dab of vegetable oil to give them a shinier finish (optional).
Instant Pot
Pour 2 cups of water into the Instant pot and add desired dyeing agent.
Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position. Cook at high pressure for 10 minutes on manual.
When cooking is complete, use a quick release.
Carefully pour through a strainer into a larger bowl, discard dyeing agent.
Pour colored water into a quart size wide mouth mason jar and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Top with a lid and place in fridge.
Let it chill 4 hours or overnight before placing hard boiled eggs in the jar to dye.
Repeat with the other dyeing agents to create more colors.
Dye will keep in the fridge for at least 1 week.
Note: Each jar will hold 4-5 eggs at a time. The eggs will have white spots where they touch each other, or the jar so lightly rotate the jar a few times while they are in the jar for more even coloring.
Dye the eggs
Gently place the eggs into the dye and allow them to sit in the dye for at least an hour or overnight in the refrigerator, depending on how dark you want them. I put them in quart jars, they can hold about 4 eggs each.
When they have achieved the color you want, use a slotted spoon to gently lift them from the jar.
While they are wet, the color will come off if you rub on it too hard. Place on a cooling rack in the fridge to dry completely. This will set the dye, so it won’t rub off.
Once dry, store in an egg carton or other sealed container.
Repeat with more eggs if desired.
* How to hard boil eggs
Instant Pot
Place 1 cup of COLD water in the inner pot of Instant Pot for a 6 quart instant pot and 1.5 cups COLD water for an 8-quart Instant pot.
Place rack into pot and carefully set as many eggs as desired on the rack.
Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Then do a quick release and remove eggs from Instant Pot and place in ice water bath.
Let eggs sit in water bath for 5 minutes.
Store in the fridge for up to 7 days unpeeled or peel and use within 3 days.
Stove Top
Place eggs into a saucepan and cover with cool water. Bring to a boil then turn heat off and cover the pan. Set timer for 15 minutes, drain and place eggs in ice bath to cool, then store in refrigerator.
