How to Dye Popcorn Kernels
How to Dye Popcorn Kernels: These brightly colored popcorn kernels can be used in sensory bins, as a filler in jars to hold candles, cake pops, marshmallow pops, and cookie pops. Customize the colors to match your party décor.
How to Get Brightly Bold Colored Popcorn Kernels
SUPPLIES: (Full printable instruction card below)
•white or yellow popcorn kernels
• 6 (1 quart) jars or containers
• strainer
•small container for drying
INSTRUCTIONS: (Full printable instruction card below)
- To a jar, add the popcorn kernels, vinegar, water, and gel food coloring.
- Stir or screw on the lid and shake to combine color and vinegar mixture.
- Let sit overnight.
- In the sink over the drain hole, pour ONE COLOR AT A TIME into the strainer and rinse until color no longer is present in the sink.
- Pour rinsed popcorn kernels onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels.
OPTIONAL: This part is totally up to you. First, do you want to keep your colors separate or combine them?
SEPARATE: Once the popcorn has been rinsed pour each color into a paper towel lined container. DAY 1: A few times the first day stir the popcorn around. DAY 2: Swap out the paper towels for parchment paper, continue stirring until the kernels are dry. Depending on the time of year it can take up to three days for the kernels to dry.
ALL COLORS TOGETHER: Once the popcorn has been rinsed pour onto a large paper towel lined container (like a rimmed cookie sheet). DAY 1: A few times the first day stir the popcorn around. DAY 2: Swap out the paper towels for parchment paper, continue stirring until the kernels are dry. Depending on the time of year it can take up to three days for the kernels to dry.
TIP: THIS METHOD DOES NOT WORK—DO NOT TRY THIS METHOD
Typically when I think of dying food products (like pasta or rice), I add some food color with a little vinegar or rubbing alcohol into a zip top back, rub the color into the product, dump out to dry, and I’m set!
NOT SO with popcorn kernels. Because of the smooth surface, popcorn kernels don’t take to the color as easily as porous pasta and rice.
DON’T GET ME WRONG, the popcorn will take on some of the dye. But you will be left with spotty coverage and a dull color.
How to Use Colored Popcorn Kernels
- SENSORY BINS: The kids will love shoveling through the popcorn kernels for small toys. Transform it into a FIND IT GAME!
- KIDS CRAFTS, COUNTING GAMES, AND COLOR SORTING
- DISPLAY FOR TREATS: Pour colored popcorn kernels into assorted mason jars, insert treats like cake pops, marshmallow pops, and cookie pops.
- PARTY DECORATIONS: Pour popcorn kernels into a clear glass or decorative container and place a tealight on top.
Can I use Yellow Popcorn Kernels?
YES! White or yellow popcorn kernels will work.
Is This Popcorn Eatable?
NO! It won’t harm you since it is basically vinegar, water, food dye, and popcorn. But the flavor would be awful.
How to Make Eatable Colored Popcorn
SUPPLIES—Summer Fruity Candy Popcorn
•8 cups popped popcorn
•¼ cup unsalted butter
•3 tablespoons light corn syrup
•½ cup granulated sugar
•1 (3 ounce) box jello, any flavor (not sugar free)
•optional-gel food coloring
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE WITH INSTRUCTIONS→SUMMER FRUITY CANDY POPCORN
Looks Like Easter Egg Dyed Popcorn Kernels
How to Dye Popcorn Kernels FAQ’s
To a jar, add the popcorn kernels, vinegar, water, and gel food coloring.
Stir or screw on the lid and shake to combine color and vinegar mixture.
Let sit overnight.
In the sink over the drain hole, pour ONE COLOR AT A TIME into the strainer and rinse until color no longer is present in the sink.
Pour rinsed popcorn kernels onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels.
All the components are edible but the taste is awful.
Yes, the white and yellow popcorn kernels color equally.
NO, no stained hands.
Creating themed sensory bins is a great way of using your dyed popcorn kernels. Kids crafts, counting games, and color sorting are also helpful ways of using colored popcorn kernels. Believe it or not adding color themed popcorn to jars is a great way of displaying party treats like cake pops, marshmallow pops, and cookie pops. Another idea is adding the popcorn kernels to a clear glass container and placing a tealight on top.
There is no special way you need to store your dyed popcorn. Zip top bags, airtight containers, or just in a bin.
To a jar, add the popcorn kernels, vinegar, water, and gel food coloring.
Stir or screw on the lid and shake to combine color and vinegar mixture.
Let sit overnight.
In the sink over the drain hole, pour ONE COLOR AT A TIME into the strainer and rinse until color no longer is present in the sink.
Pour rinsed popcorn kernels onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels.
How to Dye Popcorn Kernels
Create an assortment of color combinations for crafts, themed sensory bins, and party decor.
Materials
- 6 cups popcorn kernels (yellow or white)
- 4 cup white vinegar
- 4 cups water
- 1 tablespoon gel food coloring per jar or popcorn kernels
- GEL FOOD COLORS I USED: lemon yellow, regal purple, turquoise, neon green, neon pink, and neon orange
Tools
- 6 (1 quart) jars or containers
- strainer
- small containers for drying
- optional parchment paper
Instructions
- To a jar, add the popcorn kernels, vinegar, water, and gel food coloring.
- Stir or screw on the lid and shake to combine color and vinegar mixture.
- Let sit overnight.
- In the sink over the drain hole, pour ONE COLOR AT A TIME into the strainer and rinse until color no longer is present in the sink.
- Pour rinsed popcorn kernels onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels.
OPTIONAL:
This part is totally up to you. First, do you want to keep your colors separate or combine them?
SEPARATE: Once the popcorn has been rinsed pour each color into a paper towel lined container. DAY 1: A few times the first day stir the popcorn around. DAY 2: Swap out the paper towels for parchment paper, continue stirring until the kernels are dry. Depending on the time of year it can take up to three days for the kernels to dry.
ALL COLORS TOGETHER: Once the popcorn has been rinsed pour onto a large paper towel lined container (like a rimmed cookie sheet). DAY 1: A few times the first day stir the popcorn around. DAY 2: Swap out the paper towels for parchment paper, continue stirring until the kernels are dry. Depending on the time of year it can take up to three days for the kernels to dry.
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Can you pip the kernels once they have dried
Hi Tammy, It won’t harm you since it is basically vinegar, water, food dye, and popcorn. But the flavor would be awful.