Learning how to dye pasta was one of the best things I’ve learned as a Nanny. Not only is it fun for the kids, but it’s great for sensory play and making colorful crafts! Dying pasta is easy to do and the clean up is quick and simple.
While some recipes for dying pasta use rubbing alcohol I’ve used vinegar and other kid-safe ingredients, so if small children put it in their months they’ll be okay. (But they’ll probably get a yucky vinegar taste!)
How to Dye Pasta
Supplies
To dye pasta you will need the following:
- 1 Box of Pasta in Fun Shapes likes these Sea Creatures & Boats and Dinosaurs.
- 2 cups of Distilled White Vinegar
- Food Coloring
- Medium Sized Bowl
- Spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Baking Sheet
- Paper towels or Newspaper
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How to Dye Pasta: Step 1
Add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar to the medium sized bowl. Then, add either 1/2 a teaspoon of your desired color of food coloring or add as little or as much as you’d like. We picked green because we’re making a farm sensory bin and pretending it is hay.
This is a choose your own adventure scenario. If you want the color to be bold add a bunch of food coloring, and if you want a lighter color add less. Mix together until the vinegar is the color you desire.
Read More: How to Make Oobleck
Dying Pasta: Step 2
Measure out 3 cups of pasta and add it to the vinegar and food coloring mixture. Then, using a spoon, so you don’t get food coloring all over your hands, mix the pasta together with the vinegar and food coloring mixture.
Read More: Make Homemade Crayons
How to Dye Pasta: Step 3
Line your baking sheet with paper towel or be eco-friendly and use newspaper. Try and spread out the pasta as much as you can. If you make more than one color make sure the colors don’t touch. They can bleed together and it will ruin some of the colors.
Dying Pasta: Step 4
Place the baking sheet in a cool dry place for it to dry. Let sit overnight and it will be ready to play with!
