Is It Safe to Eat Dyed Easter Eggs?
Can you eat dyed Easter eggs? Chances are this is something you’ve wondered as you stare at a carton of multi-colored hard-boiled eggs. The answer is it depends.
Is it safe to eat dyed Easter eggs?
We don’t blame you for wanting to show off your kid’s delightful designs in your new Easter egg holder. Maybe you got in on the Easter egg fun too! Unfortunately, it’s not safe to eat eggs that have been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours. If your eggs were exposed to temperatures of 90 degrees or higher — like if you used them for an outdoor Easter egg hunt — the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says they’re no good to eat after an hour.
In addition to storing your eggs properly, you’ll also want to use only food-grade dyes. The good news is plenty of edible options exist, like PAAS’ Easter Egg Decorating Kit Variety Pack ($14.95 for six coloring kits, Amazon) or the Chefmaster Liqua-Gel Colors ($12.95 for four colors, Amazon). You’ll want to avoid most Pinterest decorating methods, like using shaving cream to dye Easter eggs.
While dyed eggs are still safe to eat if the coloring has penetrated the shell, you should probably avoid any hard-boiled eggs that have cracks in their shells. This gives bacteria an easy way to creep in.
How to Tell If an Egg Is Bad: The Float Test
If you’re a week out from Easter and wondering if your eggs are still safe to eat, try the float test. This method is an easy way to tell if eggs have spoiled without having to crack them. All you do is fill a large bowl of water and drop in your eggs. If the eggs sink, they’re OK to eat. Older eggs may fall on their sides when placed in water, but they’re still safe to eat. However, eggs that float should be discarded, as this is a sign that they’re no longer fresh.
How to Store Hard-Boiled Eggs
To keep your Easter eggs edible as long as possible, we recommend buying some airtight egg containers ($21.99 for three, Amazon). These will keep your eggs fresh longer than the cardboard or styrofoam cartons in which they’re sold. Now you can enjoy eggs in all your favorite recipes for weeks to come — just don’t forget the mayo.
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