Making Colorful Pasta with Food Coloring and Vinegar
Dried pasta crafts are a beloved activity for children. While some techniques use rubbing alcohol and make the pasta unsafe to eat, combining food coloring with vinegar offers a nontoxic alternative that still produces vibrant colors. This approach lets you create macaroni jewelry and art that can later be cooked and consumed.
By Sam Mitchell6 steps
Dye plain pasta bright colors with food coloring and vinegar.
Creating jewelry and artwork from dry pasta is a common children's activity. Some dyeing methods call for rubbing alcohol, but that leaves the pasta inedible. An alternative is to color the dry pasta using food coloring and vinegar. This method yields pasta that is safe for both crafts and cooking. The vinegar interacts with the food coloring to give the pasta vivid hues without introducing anything toxic.
Step 1
Put as many as 12 pieces of dry pasta into a plastic bag with a zipper closure.
Step 2
Pour 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the bag.
Step 3
Drop five drops of food coloring into the bag.
Step 4
Seal the bag and shake it hard for 45 seconds, or until the pasta reaches the color intensity you prefer.
Step 5
Open the bag and roll the top edge down so the pasta is exposed to the air.
Step 6
Let the pasta dry thoroughly, which may take as long as an hour depending on the weather. Before using the pasta, transfer it to a plate, since the dye can still mark surfaces.
