Dyeing Potatoes to Use as Easter Eggs
This post may contain affiliate or referral links, meaning I may earn a sales commission at no extra cost to you. Please see my full affiliate disclosure here.
Easter is a time of tradition, celebration, and color. One of the most popular traditions of this holiday is decorating Easter eggs. However, I know you’ve noticed that the cost of eggs this year is insane! So here’s an idea: learn how to dye potatoes for Easter eggs!
It might sound a bit weird, but hear me out. First of all, eggs are crazy expensive this year. That’s been established. But have you ever forgotten to get eggs for dyeing on Easter eve and had to scramble (excuse the pun) to find eggs? Problem solved!
Is someone in your family allergic to eggs or doesn’t like hard-boiled eggs? Instead of using plastic eggs, have the fun of dyeing eggs without the waste.
Plus, come on, it’s funny.
More Easter Fun:
Reasons to Dye Potatoes as Easter Eggs
- Affordable, especially now.
- Might be easier to find than white eggs at the last minute.
- A perfect alternative for people who are allergic to eggs.
- Almost always available in your pantry.
- Make more “eggs” with less dye, as potatoes can absorb more color than eggs.
- Potatoes don’t go bad as quickly as eggs if left unrefrigerated.
What You Will Need to Dye Potatoes
You don’t need many supplies to dye potatoes for Easter (or for fun). You probably have most or all of the supplies you will need already in your home.
- Yukon Gold or Baby White Potatoes (leave the skins on)
- Food Coloring (water-based, NOT gel)
- Craft Paintbrushes
- Water
- Small Bowls
- Paper Towels
- Hairspray (optional)
- Rubber Gloves (optional)
How to Dye Potatoes
Dyeing potatoes is no more difficult than dyeing Easter eggs. A little unorthodox? Yes. That, I won’t deny. But different is fun!
After you’ve gathered all of the necessary supplies from the list above, get some paper towels and fill some small bowls with water for cleaning the paintbrushes.
Now you’re ready to go. Start by putting a drop of food coloring on one of the potatoes and cover the potato with the dye using a small paintbrush.
This is where you really let your creativity shine. If you prefer, you can cover the entire potato with one color, or you could use multiple colors. Have fun with it.
Once the potato is fully colored, place the dyed potato on a paper towel. Leave it on the towel for about ten minutes or until dry.
Note: If you want to stop the dye from rubbing off when handling them, spray them with a light coating of hairspray and leave them for a few minutes to dry.
That’s it! When they’re all dyed, look at how pretty they look! All the fun without the eggs.
Tips for Dyeing Potatoes
- Gel dye isn’t recommended because of how long it takes to dry.
- This method worked better than other methods we’ve tried for dyeing potatoes. We tried using traditional egg dye and Kool-Aid, but neither method gave the potatoes the deep, rich colors that the food coloring did.
- If you plan to eat the potatoes after, don’t use hairspray to set the color and be more careful when handling the dyed potatoes.
- Leave the skins on the potatoes. Dyeing them without skin causes them to be too wet and messy.
- For the most vibrant and longest-lasting colors, choose a potato variety with a smooth surface. This helps hold onto the dye better than rougher textures.
- You’re free to use whatever size potato you like, but small egg-sized potatoes look more like Easter eggs, of course.
Have fun making bright and beautiful designs with your dyed potatoes!
Can Dyed Potatoes Be Eaten?
Yes, potatoes dyed with food coloring can be eaten. However, it is important to note that if you treat them with anything other than food-grade food dye, it’s best not to eat them.
Additionally, eating potatoes dyed with food coloring might alter the taste or texture of the potato, so it is best to experiment in small batches to determine if you want to eat them.
Preserving Dyed Potatoes
To preserve the dyed potatoes, it’s important to keep them away from direct sunlight and heat. You can store them in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or a dark cupboard.
Additionally, you can coat the potatoes with a clear sealant such as hairspray to prevent the colors from fading due to moisture and sunlight. Of course, don’t eat dyed potatoes that have been treated.
Storing Dyed Potatoes
Before storing your colored potatoes, be sure to check that they are completely dry, especially if you hid them outside for your “egg” hunt. Moisture will cause them to go bad sooner.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re looking for a fun and easy Easter craft that the kids will love, try dyeing potatoes instead of eggs.
It’s an affordable, eco-friendly, and fun option for families, and it’s a great way to let your imagination run wild. It’s also a good option for using up any extra potatoes you have lying around.
Also, your dyed eggs will be completely unique – no two will be exactly alike. Dyeing potatoes as Easter eggs is a unique and creative tradition that can bring color, whimsy, and humor to your next Easter egg hunt.
Now that you know how to dye potatoes, give it a try this Easter and see how beautiful your potato-eggs turn out!
Easter Egg Dyed Potatoes
Ingredients
Instructions
- Gathered supplies from the list above, get some paper towels and fill some small bowls with water (for cleaning the paintbrushes).
- Rubber gloves aren’t mandatory, but we highly suggest using them.
- Put a drop of food coloring on one of the potatoes, then cover the surface of the potato with the dye using a small paintbrush.
- You can cover the entire potato with one color, or you could use multiple colors if you prefer.
- When the potato is colored, place the dyed potato on a paper towel and leave it on the towel for about 10 minutes or until dry.
- To stop the dye from rubbing off, spray them with a light coating of hairspray and let them dry completely.
Notes
- One drop of food coloring should be plenty to cover your potato, but use more if you need to.
- Gel dye takes too long to dry and isn’t recommended.
- If you plan to eat the potatoes after, don’t use hairspray to set the color.
- Leave the skins on the potatoes. Dyeing them without skin causes them to be too wet and messy.
- For the most vibrant colors, choose a potato variety with smooth skin.
- Small egg-sized potatoes are what we recommend to look more like Easter eggs.
