Onion Skin Food Coloring or Fabric Dye
Yellow onion skins create a golden range of earthy colors. Red onion skins create rosy brown tones. The dye is exceptional at dyeing fibers, and is very healthy to eat.
For food coloring
What's needed
1/2 cup of skins of yellow or red onions
water to cover
Let's make it
Tear the onion skins into small pieces. Bring onion skins and water to a boil in a stainless steel pan and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture will reduce in volume by about a third while boiling. As the dye bath gains color, you'll see the skins becoming flexible and much more pale. Press the skins to get out all the color. Strain the mixture and discard the skins. Let the solution cool.
For dye
What's needed
Skins of yellow or red onions
1 tbsp salt
Water to cover skins
Let's make it
Tear the onion skins into small pieces. Bring onion skins and water to a boil in a stainless steel or enamel pan and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture will reduce in volume by about a third while boiling. As the dye bath gains color, you'll see the skins becoming flexible and much more pale. Press the skins to get out all the color. Strain the mixture and discard the skins. Let the solution cool. Add the salt.