How To Dye Red Eggs?
The red eggs used at Red Egg and Ginger Parties symbolize good luck, prosperity and completeness. Their round shape represents fertility and the happy renewal of life.
As with pickled ginger, if you’re holding your Red Egg and Ginger Party at a Chinese restaurant, it’s likely that the celebration’s red eggs will be included in your banquet package. However, if that’s not the case or if you’re planning to throw your party at home, you’re probably wondering exactly how to dye red eggs yourself.
Good news: it’s easy.
Detailed directions are below, but I’ll call your attention to three important tips:
1. Start with room temperature eggs to reduce the risk that they crack while boiling.
2. Don’t forget to add the salt and vinegar to your pot of water to help the red dye adhere to the egg shells.
3. Apply the red dye to the eggs while they’re still hot to limit the amount of red dye that seeps through the shells.
Got it? Good.
Here’s what you need to make dyed red eggs for a Red Egg and Ginger Party:
– 36 brown or white eggs, brought to room temperature
– 1 large pot cold water
– 2 teaspoons white vinegar
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 bottle red food coloring
– 1 pair of plastic gloves
1. Submerge the eggs in a large pot of cold water and then add the white vinegar and salt.
2. Turn the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for 45 minutes.
Note: Cooking the eggs in the slightly acidified solution causes a reaction with the egg shells that makes them more porous, which helps the red dye stick better in the later steps.
3. Once the eggs are cooked, remove the pot from the heat.
4. Empty the food coloring into a large bowl you won’t mind getting stained. Put on the plastic gloves and slowly rotate the eggs through the food coloring. Set each egg aside to dry on a wire rack.
Note: Rolling the egg in the food coloring while it’s still hot allows the dye to adhere quickly to the shell without seeping through and staining the inside of the egg itself.
5. Once the eggs are completely cooled and dried, they’re ready for your guests. The red egg is no different from a hard-boiled egg, apart from its beautiful red shell.