49 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 15, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Tips to make Easter ‘eggstra’ special
Easter is about traditions, both old and
new, as well as celebrating family and creating
lifelong memories. In fact, nearly 8 out of 10
Americans will celebrate the holiday this year,
according to the National Retail Federation,
which oft en includes egg decorating amongst
the fun.
Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that
dates back to the 13th century. Eggs were once
viewed as a forbidden food to some religious
entities, so people would paint or decorate them
to highlight the end of penance and fasting.
Yet still today, coloring eggs can help bring
the whole family together and inspire simple
moments of connection and creativity. From
dunking eggs in neon dyes to embellishing
them with paint, glitter and more, PAAS® brand
– named aft er the Dutch word for Easter, “Passen”
– off ers these expert Easter egg dyeing tips
based on its 140 years of experience.
Keep it clean
Wash your hands in hot, soapy water before
and aft er handling eggs, even if they’ve already
been cooked or decorated. Th is helps protect
you from any bacteria that may be on the egg
and protects the eggshell from oil on hands that
may make the dye not adhere properly. Make
sure an adult supervises all projects to ensure
food safety precautions are observed.
Hard cook, don’t hard boil
Although the cooking water must come
to a full boil, the pan should be immediately
removed from heat so the eggs can cook gently
in the hot water. Th is method produces tender,
not rubbery eggs and minimizes cracking.
Banish the greenish ring
Th is harmless but unsightly discoloration
sometimes forms around hard-cooked yolks as a
result of a reaction between sulfur in the egg white
and iron in the yolk. It occurs when eggs have been
cooked for too long or at too high a temperature.
Cooking eggs in hot, not boiling water then cooling
immediately helps minimize this discoloration.
Make them ‘apeeling’
To ensure easily peeled eggs, buy and refrigerate
them 7-10 days in advance of cooking.
Th is brief “breather” allows the eggs time to
take in air, which helps separate the membranes
from the shell.
Store eggs safely
In the shell, hard-cooked eggs can be refrigerated
safely for up to one week. Refrigerating
them in their original carton prevents odor
absorption. Once peeled, eggs should be eaten
that day. Piercing shells before cooking is not
recommended. If not sterile, the piercer or
needle can introduce bacteria into the egg.
Also, piercing creates hairline cracks in the shell
through which bacteria can enter aft er cooking.
Tap into your creative side
You don’t have to be highly creative to create
an “eggceptional” egg. Use your imagination
to create appealing eggs by gluing on fun
materials found at craft stores, like fake gems,
sequins, trims and ribbons. You can also use
paint, including gold or silver metallic paint,
to make eggs special. An option like PAAS egg
decorating kits can help make the process more
convenient and fun.
— Courtesy of Family Features
easter
/WWW.QNS.COM
