Natural Food Dyes

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

I am talking of something that can be natural without being disgusting Barry and, of course, that can please vegerarian.

5 people like this

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

21 Jan 16

@LadyDuck You never mentioned vegetarian Anna. I am now struggling to think of a multi coloured vegetable or fruit.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

@Asylum Let me think, mango are multi colored, from green to red, but I do not believe that they can be used to create colors.

2 people like this

rebel_woman06

@SIMPLYD (90721)

• Philippines

22 Jan 16

You are amazing , that you know these natural dyes . I suppose you choose them to use ?

5 people like this

rebel_woman06

@SIMPLYD (90721)

• Philippines

25 Jan 16

@LadyDuck You really are careful with the ingredients you put in your cooking .

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

22 Jan 16

Yes, I use natural dye if I want to prepare something adding a little color. I do not like to use chemical or artificial ingredients.

3 people like this

Morning Girl

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

21 Jan 16

I do use turmeric to add yellow color also carrots for orange. I never liked commercial coloring and never use them in my kitchen. Thank you for giving me additional sources of natural coloring.

4 people like this

Morning Girl

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

22 Jan 16

@LadyDuck By the way, I forgot to mention Annato seed also known as achiote here in our country. We use the seed extract to give golden yellow color to our dishes. It does not just add color but some nice flavor as well.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

22 Jan 16

@salonga As you say, annato also add flavor, so it's not appropriate for everything.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

I like to color some cakes and I do not want to use commercial dyes. You can use the same colors to prepare home-made Play-Doh.

3 people like this

AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45494)

• United States

21 Jan 16

I don't care to color my frosting...white is fine white. I picture eating a chocolate cup cake with frosting that tastes like beets..now I love beets, but not with my cake. Sorta like the chocolate on the fries...not too good.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

You do not feel the taste, I have colored many cakes with beets and you do not feel the taste, same for all the other colors.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

22 Jan 16

@AbbyGreenhill I am also a purist, this is why I do not use artificial dyes.

3 people like this

AbbyGreenhill

@AbbyGreenhill (45494)

• United States

21 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I'll take your word for it, but I don't use any dye at all...I'm a purist I guess.

3 people like this

Jabo

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

21 Jan 16

Don't these flavour the product? For instance beet juice - surely that would make the icing (or whatever) taste of beet?

3 people like this

Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32746)

• Calgary, Alberta

24 Jan 16

The original recipe of Red velvet cakes uses beet juice instead of red food coloring. The chocolate will neutralize the beet flavor.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

24 Jan 16

@CaptAlbertWhisker This is much better than to use the artificial red color, that is pretty dangerous. I have used beet juice and I did not feel the taste.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

No, you cannot feel the taste of beet, because a very little quantity is enough. With saffron you must be careful, but a very little quantity is enough to give a nice yellow colour.

3 people like this

Boingboing

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

21 Jan 16

I'm sorry to challenge you but it's not true that commercially used dyes are all artificial. In Europe the use of artificial colours (especially a particular set associated with childhood ADHD) have been pretty much banned and 'natural' colours are increasingly the norm.

3 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

Some food still uses a lot of artificial colors and the worst of all is when you read on the label "natural flavour", most of the time it's vanillina (castor glands).

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

22 Jan 16

@boiboing No it's not vanillin, but the "vanilla flavor, that is listed like "natural flavor" and it's beaver gland extract. You can find the whole story searching "Vanillin" in Wikipedia.

1 person likes this

Boingboing

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

21 Jan 16

@LadyDuck if you mean vanillin it can't be labelled as natural. I also doubt it would be used as a colour.

2 people like this

Michelle

@infatuatedbby (94914)

• United States

21 Jan 16

That is a good idea especially now the trend is eating healthy, more natural and organic!

I don't cook so I don't have a clue but I like the natural food dyes you mentioned.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

I do not like anything chemical, so I thought to share those tips.

2 people like this

Jaymie Suh

@cherriefic (10399)

• Philippines

21 Jan 16

Thats a very good idea. Instead of using the artificial food coloring, these natural colors will be perfect.

2 people like this

Jaymie Suh

@cherriefic (10399)

• Philippines

21 Jan 16

@LadyDuck That's great! I haven't tried doing that before. But now that you've mentioned, I'll go for natural dyes for food.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

And they look as good as the artificial ones.

1 person likes this

brendamarie

@whiteream (8567)

• United States

23 Jan 16

@LadyDuck I wish I would have know this when my son was younger.

2 people like this

Oshy

@TiarasOceanView (70022)

• United States

21 Jan 16

I think I will pick the blueberry juice. It would taste the most palatable for me.

2 people like this

Oshy

@TiarasOceanView (70022)

• United States

21 Jan 16

@LadyDuck Oh that is good to know Anna thanks

I like beets but just not for the taste in sweets.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

I assure you that you do not feel the taste of the beets, I have used them many times even to color the whipped cream.

2 people like this

amnabas

@amnabas (14681)

• Karachi, Pakistan

21 Jan 16

Good alternative for food dyes.

3 people like this

Anna M. Wilkes

@gr8nana6 (6614)

• Conyers, Georgia

21 Jan 16

I don't use food colering, except on eatser and only for hard boiled eggs. Great tips Anna.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

I also color eggs for Easter and I use natural colors. The red onion peels give a nice red color to the eggs.

1 person likes this

MARILYN

@Marilynda1225 (83103)

• United States

21 Jan 16

Choosing a more natural way to go is probably better than any chemicals we add to foods etc

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

Sometimes I make green lasagna and I always use the spinach to dye the noodles. There is no reason to use dangerous colors.

1 person likes this

Deborah-Diane

@DeborahDiane (40321)

• Laguna Woods, California

22 Jan 16

Those are great suggestions for food colorings. I will have to give them a try!

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

22 Jan 16

I have used the beet juice and they do not add a "beet taste", they simply color. Same for the spinach.

1 person likes this

DianneN

@DianneN (247184)

• United States

21 Jan 16

Anything natural is the natural way to go - food, cosmetics, beverages, textiles, etc.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (472060)

• Switzerland

21 Jan 16

I agree, I love so much natural fibers like cotton and silk.

2 people like this

ShannyBananny

@shaggin (72252)

• United States

1 Jan 18

Awesome ideas you have shared here! I hate that they put artificial colors in our food. My daughter was allergic to red dye so she could not have anything with it in it until she was about 6. My son red dye used to make him mean.

1 person likes this

ShannyBananny

@shaggin (72252)

• United States

2 Jan 18

@LadyDuck when my daughter was little I used to use beet juice to dye her cakes etc

it worked great and I never noticed a taste difference.

1 person likes this