How to Color Macaroni Beads

Macaroni noodles make great beads for children's projects, but how do you color macaroni without making a mess?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Food Coloring
• Salad Macaroni
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Cookie Sheets
• Large Plastic Bags With Zipper Seal
• Measuring Cups And Spoons
• Small Plastic Containers With Lids
• Paper Towels
• Paper Towels
• Paper towels
• Cookie sheets

1. 

   Mix 2 tbsp. rubbing alcohol and 3 or 4 drops food coloring in a small container. Set aside.

2. Pour 1 c. uncooked salad macaroni noodles into a large plastic bag with a zipper-type seal.

3. 

   Add the colored rubbing alcohol to the bag.

4. 

   Zip the bag closed.

5. 

   Squeeze the bag gently with your hands for 1 or 2 minutes until the macaroni is evenly colored.

6. 

   Cover a cookie sheet with paper towels.

7. Pour the macaroni out of the bag onto the cookie sheet. Spread it out and let it dry.

8. Store colored macaroni in small, plastic containers with lids.

Tips & Warnings

• Use more or less food coloring to make darker or lighter colors.
• Colored macaroni will dry in about 5 minutes.
• Make beads using different types of macaroni.
• Kids love stringing macaroni. See "Make Macaroni Bead Necklaces," under Related eHows, a great rainy day activity.
• Once a macaroni has been colored, it is no longer edible. Warn children not to put it in their mouths.
• Raw macaroni is a choking hazard for very young children.

[pamk]

on 2/5/2009 You definitely need at least 10 drops of food coloring to 2 tablespoons of alcohol. It takes longer than 5 minutes to dry. I ended up using a hairdryer.

I would not call the color "saturated", but it's not watercolor-y looking, either. I can't tell much difference between the green & the blue. If you can find less-yellow-colored pasta, it should do better. Yellow dye doesn't show well.
In case you need a specific number of pieces (like I did), here's the breakdown:
2lb elbow (3200 pieces- 400 pieces in a cup!)
1 lb rotini (500 pieces)
1 lb shells (500 pieces)
1 lb farfalle (135 pieces)

[alaurable]

on 1/23/2008 I just made these for the first time. After the first batch, I found MUCH more food coloring is needed for vibrant colors. The four drops suggested just rendered light, splotchy color. With 10 drops, I had the brightly colored beads I was hoping for!

on 11/22/2005 If you want the macaroni to still be edible after colouring, use water instead of rubbing alchohol. This works well when young children will be using the macaroni beads and might be tempted to eat some.