How to Use Beets to Dye

Use beets to dye eggs.

Beets have a deep pink almost purple color that stains fingers and counters. Unfortunately it doesn't dye fabrics permanently. The color washes out to a pale yellow. Beets dye vegetables such as cucumbers, zucchini and onions when used in a salad. Use beets to dye food as an April Fool's joke such as pink mashed potatoes. Cook the beets with the potatoes and remove before mashing. Beets dye eggs naturally. Crack the eggshells after hardboiling to dye the outside of the peeled eggs.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. of fresh beets
• Scrub brush
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Pot
• 1 1/2 cups water
• Strainer
• Hardboiled eggs
• Soapy water
• Paper towels
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar.

Instructions

1. Scrub the beets under running water to remove any dirt and grit. Cut off the tops and save for another use. Beet greens are similar in taste and texture to spinach.

2. Cut the beet in 1/2-inch cubes. Add the water to cover the beets and bring to a boil. Simmer for up to an hour, and strain. The more beets you use and the less water the more intense the dye color will be.

3. Scrub hardboiled eggs with soapy water, rinse and pat dry. The scrubbing removes any oil that interferes with the dying process.

4. Add 2 Tbsp. of white vinegar for each cup of dye bath. The vinegar helps set the color.

5. Place the eggs in the hot dye bath and let sit until the eggs reach the required color depth. Overnight is fine but keep the eggs and dye bath in the refrigerator.

6. Remove from the dye bath and pat dry.

Tips & Warnings

• The dye bath will look much darker than the dyed eggs

• Omit the vinegar if you're dying vegetables

• Beets do not dye cloth a pink color. The color may look pink but it won't set.

References

• What's Cooking America: Easter Egg Dyes
• The Dye Forum: Beets As A Natural Dye