Dyed Greek Easter Eggs

Method6 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Place the clean, uncracked eggs (12) gently in one layer in a saucepan. Do not wash commercially cleaned eggs or leave refrigerated eggs out for a long warm-up. Add the separate cold cooking water to cover by 3–4 cm, plus the pinch of cooking salt.

   Uses 12 eggs with clean, uncracked shells · Cold water to cover the eggs by 3–4 cm in the cooking pan · 1 pinch salt for the cooking water

2. 2

   Step 2: Cover the pan and bring the water just to a boil. Turn off the heat and keep the pan covered: let medium eggs stand for 12 minutes, large eggs for 15 minutes, or extra-large eggs for 18 minutes. Use the time for your egg size so both the white and yolk are firm.

   Hard-cook covered eggs: medium 12, large 15, extra-large 18 minutes · 15 minUses Eggs in salted cold cooking water

3. 3

   Step 3: After the covered cooking time, immediately cool the hard-cooked eggs under the separate cold running water for about 1 minute, continuing until cool enough for the dye package. Keep the shells intact for dyeing.

   Initial cold-water cooling; continue until cool enough · 1 minUses Hard-cooked eggs in their shells · Cold running water for cooling the cooked eggs

4. 4

   Step 4: In a large glass bowl, dissolve the food-safe red dye in the warm dye-bath water and stir in the dye-bath vinegar. The listed 6 cups water and ⅓ cup vinegar are indicative: use the package quantities and temperatures if they differ. Lower the cooled hard-cooked eggs gently into the dye bath without crowding. Follow the package dyeing time; use a 2–3-minute immersion only if compatible with that product. Remove with a slotted spoon to a rack over paper towels.

   Uses Cooled hard-cooked eggs · 1 package food-safe red egg dye powder; follow its instructions · 6 cups warm water for the dye bath, or the amount specified by the dye package · ⅓ cup vinegar for the dye bath, or the amount specified by the dye package

5. 5

   Step 5: Let the dyed shells dry on the rack for about 40 minutes, until dry. Keep the total time since cooking outside refrigeration under 2 hours; refrigerate sooner if needed.

   Dry dyed shells, keeping within the refrigeration limit · 40 minUses Dyed hard-cooked eggs on the rack

6. 6

   Step 6: Wipe the dry dyed shells with a paper towel lightly moistened with the finishing olive oil. Refrigerate promptly within 2 hours of cooking, and use refrigerated hard-cooked eggs within 7 days. Peel before eating. Eggs used for hiding or games are for decoration, rather than eating.

   Uses Dry dyed hard-cooked eggs · A little olive oil for polishing the dried shells