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If you have ever used vinegar for anything you know it smells, strongly.
One of the most simplest ways that I have found to color rice is using vinegar. Not only does it give the rice a more lasting color, but in my opinion, it also preserves the rice better.
The first lot of rice I made is (at the time of writing) almost 7 months old and looks like the day I made it and it still smells faintly of vinegar!
It is convenient for me to use vinegar to color my rice and pasta because I have it on hand. I read a post a while back where someone compared the different methods of coloring and if I recall correctly there were very similar results.
So, how does one neutralize the small of vinegar when making color rice or color pasta?
Well, with one drop of essential oil! Add all the wet ingredients to your sealable plastic bag first, add one drop essential oil, then the dry rice so that the essential oil can do its thing. I have the how to make color rice recipe here. So far we have tried peppermint and tea tree oils.
I would stick to just one oil scent when making multiple batches for one play session, unless you know the scents complement each other. The rice, as we all know, will inevitably be mixed up into rainbow rice.
Enjoy your new divine smelling rice!
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Nancy says
Michael’s or another craft store has coloring for cake decorating that makes true red, black and other colors that are difficult to make.
Monica says
Great tip!
Monica
Jane says
I have only ever used rubbing alcohol and I think it works great my problem is bright colors.Does anyone how to get really bright colors
Nicolette Roux says
I don’t seem to have an issue with bright colors when using vinegar to color. You might also try adding extra food coloring.
Carrie says
Great tip!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Lauren says
Sweet! We hate that vinegar smell. Thank you for sharing at our Pinning for Play link party!
Heather says
Genius! I was using rubbing alcohol but it’s pricy and I needed a lot! Vinegar is so much better! Can’t wait to try it. I’ll be sure to link back to your blog. Thanks again! I just started following you on Google+.
Heather
Crayon Box Chronicles
Nicolette Roux says
Thanks Heather! Let me check if i follow you too 😀
Jen says
I’ve only ever used rubbing alcohol to color rice. Once it’s dry, it doesn’t smell.