Why You Should Never Use Regular Paint For Easter Eggs

With the holiday coming up soon, we've got all things Easter on our minds. From delicious Greek Easter traditions such as spit-roasted lamb and lemony potato wedges to classic cavity-inducing Easter candies such as Peeps marshmallows and seasonal M&Ms, we're getting our kitchens and pantries ready for the big day. That, of course, means stocking up on eggs.

Whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart, there's no denying the fun and excitement of dyeing Easter eggs, whether the eggs are destined for an Easter egg hunt or simply home decoration. Whether you've created your dazzling patterns using shaving cream, rice, temporary tattoos, or homemade fruit and vegetable dyes, Easter eggs are a fun project. Afterward, you can incorporate them into hard-boiled egg dishes, whether deviled eggs, egg salad, or Niçoise salad. But wait. Before you take a deep dive into post-easter egg recipes, there's something you should ask yourself: Is it always safe to consume dyed Easter eggs? It all depends on what kind of coloring you've used.

According to Taste of Home, dyed Easter eggs are safe to peel and consume later on if you use a nontoxic dye or paint. The classic Easter egg dye made with food coloring, water, and white vinegar is an excellent choice. You can also look for any dyes on sale marked food safe. To go the au naturel route, you can make homemade dyes using produce and pantry items, including red onion skins, turmeric, red cabbage, grape juice, beet juice, and coffee (via Taste of Home).

If you want to go all-out with more toxic paints such as acrylic paint, Sharpies, and enamel paint pens, don't eat the eggs afterward. Art Radar Journal notes that these eggs are not safe to consume. Other tips for making sure your Easter eggs are safe to eat? Make sure to cook your hard-boiled eggs all the way through — until both the white and the yolk are firm. Then eat or transfer them to the fridge within two hours of cooking (via Taste of Home).