Safely coloring, hunting and enjoying Easter eggs (2024)

Laurie Messing<lmessing@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Tips to keep your Easter eggs safe.

Safely coloring, hunting and enjoying Easter eggs (1)

As the Easter holiday approaches, a common food safety question is: “Are colored, hard boiled Easter eggs safe to eat?”

Eggs always need to be handled carefully to prevent the possibility of foodborne illness. Eggs can appear safe with clean, uncracked shells but they could still contain bacteria called Salmonella. Salmonella bacteria can lead to a foodborne illness and put a damper on your holiday gatherings. So, are hard-boiled, colored eggs for Easter safe to eat? The answer is yes — if you follow food safety guidelines. Michigan State University Extension.

Easter celebrations use eggs in a variety of ways, so whether you are coloring hard-boiled eggs, using eggs for decorations or having an Easter egg hunt, Michigan State University Extension recommends following these tips:

  • When purchasing eggs, open the carton of eggs and make sure there are no cracked eggs inside.
  • Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling eggs.
  • After hard boiling and coloring the eggs, place them back into refrigeration within two hours. The two hours includes the entire time eggs are out of refrigeration for coloring, this includes travel time. If you plan to eat the Easter eggs you decorate, then be sure to use only food-grade dye. One suggestion is to make two sets of colored eggs: one for hiding that will not be consumed and another set for eating.
  • When decorating with eggs, any hard-boiled eggs that are used as decorations for baskets or centerpieces must be back in refrigeration within two hours or disposed of after being out for longer than two hours. An option would be to have one set of eggs for decoration to dispose of, and another set in refrigeration to consume and enjoy.
  • Holding an Easter egg hunt? It is not recommended to consume hard cooked eggs that have been lying on the ground, because they can pick up bacteria, especially if the shells are cracked. If the shells crack, bacteria could contaminate the inside. Eggs should be hidden in places that are protected from dirt, birds, insects, pets and other sources of bacteria. The total time for hiding and hunting eggs should not exceed two hours. The "found" eggs must be washed, re-refrigerated and eaten within seven days of cooking. Again, you could have a batch of eggs just for the hunt and a batch to eat that stays in refrigeration. A safe alternative for egg hunts is to use plastic eggs and fill them with goodies.
  • If the hard-boiled, colored Easter eggs have not been out of refrigeration for more than two hours, they will be safe to eat. Eggs should be used within one week.
  • Lastly, for cooked egg dishes, they should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as measured by a food thermometer.

With a little planning, your Easter egg coloring, hunts, and eggs can be food safe and fun for all. For more food safety information and resources, visit

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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Safely coloring, hunting and enjoying Easter eggs (2024)

FAQs

Safely coloring, hunting and enjoying Easter eggs? ›

The original Easter egg, Swift began incorporating hidden messages in her album's lyric booklets by capitalizing specific letters. The codes would either offer a hint at who the song was about (See: Stephen), or nod to a specific experience she had.

How do you write Easter egg hunt clues? ›

Here are a few fun clues to help you get started:
  1. 'There's an egg inside a flower pot, but which one? ...
  2. 'I'm great for giving plants a drink, to find this egg you'll have to think' (watering can or garden hose)
  3. 'Where birds like eating nuts and seeds, you'll find a tasty Easter treat' (bird feeder)
Feb 16, 2023

What are Easter eggs in Taylor Swift? ›

The original Easter egg, Swift began incorporating hidden messages in her album's lyric booklets by capitalizing specific letters. The codes would either offer a hint at who the song was about (See: Stephen), or nod to a specific experience she had.

Should hard boiled eggs be room temperature to color? ›

Is it better to dye eggs when they are hot or cold? Before dunking them in the dye, your eggs should be cold (or at least room temperature). Cold-dyeing helps the dye adhere to the shell and keeps the dye from over-saturating the shell with color.

What is the meaning of hunting Easter eggs? ›

Some suggest that its origins date back to the late 16th century, when the Protestant reformer Martin Luther organised egg hunts for his congregation. The men would hide the eggs for the women and children to find. This was a nod to the story of the resurrection, in which the empty tomb was discovered by women.

What is a catchy phrase for Easter egg hunt? ›

Easter egg puns and sayings

Have an eggs-tra special Easter. You are egg-ceptional! Happy Easter from one good egg to another. Hope you have an egg-cellent Easter.

How do you give clues for a scavenger hunt? ›

The most common way to give treasure hunt clues is to create a trail, so that the answer to one clue reveals the next one. You can either write the riddle on a piece of paper hidden at the chosen location, or enter the puzzles into an online treasure hunt app that gives clues one by one.

Can you dye Easter eggs without hard boiling them? ›

If your family likes hard-boiled eggs more than mine does, just boil and decorate the eggs you know they'll eat. When you're dyeing, both boiled and raw shell eggs can be left on the counter for up to two hours in up to 90 degree Fahrenheit weather, according to the FDA (above that temp, the guideline is one hour).

Can you eat Easter eggs after dying them? ›

Unfortunately for Easter observers, it is generally not safe to eat the beautiful eggs after you've dyed them. The threat has little to do with the food coloring, though, since store-bought kits are safe for consumption. The problem lies in the amount of time the eggs sit out on display after they're decorated.

How long to boil eggs to dye for Easter? ›

To hard-cook eggs:

Cover and bring the water to a boil; turn off the heat. Let the eggs stand covered in the hot water for 15 minutes for large eggs, 12 minutes for medium, and 18 minutes for extra large. Immediately run cold water over the eggs; when they are cool, drain and refrigerate.

How do you make an Easter egg hunt more fun? ›

Give your usual egg hunt a fun twist by turning it into a scavenger hunt. Make a checklist of particular eggs to find, like one blue egg, one egg filled with coins, or a jumbo egg. Whoever completes their checklist first wins! Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.

What does Easter egg hunting have to do with Jesus? ›

Although eggs, in general, were a traditional symbol of fertility and rebirth, in Christianity, for the celebration of Eastertide, Easter eggs symbolize the empty tomb of Jesus, from which Jesus was resurrected.

What do Easter eggs represent in Christianity? ›

The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell. In the Orthodox tradition, eggs are painted red to symbolize the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The egg-coloring tradition has continued even in modern secular nations.

How do you organize an Easter egg hunt with clues? ›

Create 6 - 8 riddles or clues depending on how long you want the egg hunt to last. Cut out each riddle and place the riddles 2 - 6 together with an Easter egg, candy eggs or even real ones, in the hiding places you have chosen. This way everyone must solve each clue before they can move on to the next one.

How do you write on Easter eggs? ›

Instructions
  1. Wash and hollow out as many eggs as you would like to decorate. ...
  2. Gather some markers in different colours. ...
  3. When drawing on the egg, work in sections to allow areas to dry to avoid getting marker on your fingers. ...
  4. Place magic marker eggs in bowls and glass jars and enjoy your Easter celebration!

What is an example of Easter egg in a sentence? ›

Eventually she discovers that real Easter eggs come from broody hen, Mavis, rather than the local confectioner. The first chocolate Easter eggs were made by Fry's of Bristol. Chelsea Chelsea's excited group had refreshments and football Easter eggs for their first session.

What is the Easter egg game sight words? ›

Step 3: Cut out each individual word or letter from the first sheet of paper, and then place each in a plastic Easter egg. Step 4: Hide the eggs around your home or yard. Step 5: Show your child the list of target words or letters on the wall and review each one with them. Then send them on an Easter egg hunt!

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