Easter eggs can be dyed and still eaten. Just follow these tips to make sure it’s safe

Painted Easter eggs hang from an Easter Tree in Saalfeld, central Germany, March 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, File) 2026-04-03T04:03:17Z SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Easter is around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate your eggs .

Whether you’re dying eggs for your table spread or planning to hide them for an egg hunt, it’s important to follow food safety guidelines to minimize germs and maximize your egg quality.

You have some time to eat your eggs Eggs are remarkably long lasting , so there needn’t be a giant rush to eat them. “Stores usually do turn over eggs pretty quickly, so the recommendations is you should consume eggs three to five weeks after you purchase them,” said Kara Lynch, food safety educator with Michigan State University Extension.

There is also a benefit in letting eggs age just a bit, as older eggs can be easier to peel.

That’s because eggs shrink over time within the shell, creating an air pocket between the egg and the shell.

Hard boil your eggs Egg processors clean eggs before they reach store shelves, but it also is important to thoroughly cook eggs to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, especially salmonella .

That bacteria lives naturally in the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts of chickens, said Kimberly Baker, associate extension specialist at Clemson University.

To cook your eggs, place them in a saucepan, fill it with water and bring it to a boil.

After that, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 12 minutes.

Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.

You can vary the time in the hot water depending on a desire for harder boiled or slightly creamier eggs, but the yolk should be pretty solid to be safe.

Boiling them for too long can risk creating green sulfur development on the outside of the yolk.

How to cool the eggs After that, Don Schaffner, food science department chair at Rutgers University, said there are two options.

You can run your eggs under cold water to reduce the temperature.

From there, you can color them right away or place them back in the fridge until you’re ready.

Or, after you’ve boiled them, you can let them air dry until they’ve cooled.

The boiling process sanitizes the eggs, and as long as they are kept out of water, Schaffner said, they will remain safe to eat.

This article is part of AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health.

Read more Be Well. “You’ve boiled the egg, you’ve got

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