Have you noticed egg prices getting higher lately? Skip dyeing eggs for Easter this year and dye potatoes instead!
Last month I posted on Facebook about egg prices and the prices I found at Costco. They weren’t too unreasonable – actually I think Minnesota hasn’t been too bad. But costs are rising around the country, but potatoes aren’t rising in cost so much. So as odd as it may seem, maybe dyeing potatoes might be cheaper!
Of course, you can use this method for eggs as well.
This recipe uses only 2 ingredients and takes very little time.
Easter Egg Dyed Potatoes
Preparation Time: 5 Minutes
Drying Time: 10 Minutes
Makes: As many as you want
What you’ll need:
- Baby Delicious White or Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Food Coloring (water-based)
- Small Paint Brushes
Optional supplies:
- Small Bowls
- Water
- Paper Towels
- Rubber Gloves
- Hairspray
How to make them:
Prepare some small dishes of water, lay out some paper towels, and put on some rubber gloves (I use clear disposable ones). You’ll need the water and paper towels for cleaning the brushes, and you’ll probably want gloves to protect your hands from the dye.
Hold a potato and put one drop of dye on it. Spread the dye around with a paint brush. Paint each potato with one color, or multiple colors. (Note: You may need more than one drop of dye for each potato, depending on how big it is.)
Place the dyed potatoes on paper towels and let them dry for 10 minutes. If you don’t want any of the dye to rub off later on when handling them, give them a light coating of hairspray and let them dry for a few more minutes.
Enjoy!
Tips!
The best potatoes for dyeing?
I can’t believe I’m even talking about this (even I’m still laughing about it), but I recommend white and gold potatoes for dyeing, and baby potatoes are the perfect size for little hands.
Can I use gel dye?
I don’t recommend using gel dye because it doesn’t dry as well. If you use gel dye, use a VERY thin layer of dye and leave the potatoes to dry overnight, untouched.
Are there other ways of dyeing potatoes?
I tried dyeing the potatoes the traditional “Easter Egg way” with dye, water, and vinegar in a cup. Neither worked. The potato gained some color, but it was very light.
I also tried wrapping a coffee filter tightly around a potato and securing the top with a rubber band. Then I directly put drops of water based food coloring on the coffee filter until it was covered in multiple colors. I let it dry for 10 minutes, unwrapped it, and it turned into a cute tie-dye potato, but it still as attractive as the paint brush method.
Won’t the dye easily come off?
To protect the dye from coming off, you can use hairspray. If you use hairspray, I wouldn’t eat the potatoes. However, it definitely protects your hands and everything else from the dye.
Will peeled potatoes work?
Do not peel the potatoes or they will be wet and gooey. The colors may work better but this makes too much of a mess.
Print or save the recipe here!
Easter Egg Dyed Potatoes
Equipment
- Small Paint Brushes
- Small Bowls optional
- Paper Towels optional
- Rubber Gloves optional
- Hairspray optional
Ingredients
- Baby Delicious White or Yukon Gold Potatoes
- Food Coloring (water-based)
- Water
Instructions
- Prepare some small dishes of water, lay out some paper towels, and put on some rubber gloves (I use clear disposable ones). You'll need the water and paper towels for cleaning the brushes, and you'll probably want gloves to protect your hands from the dye.
- Hold a potato and put one drop of dye on it. Spread the dye around with a paint brush. Paint each potato with one color, or multiple colors. (Note: You may need more than one drop of dye for each potato, depending on how big it is.)
- Place the dyed potatoes on paper towels and let them dry for 10 minutes. If you don’t want any of the dye to rub off later on when handling them, give them a light coating of hairspray and let them dry for a few more minutes.
Originally published on Feb 9, 2023.