Myth: It's not safe to hide Easter eggs and eat them too.

Answer: BUSTED!

Eggs that are dyed and hidden for an Easter egg hunt will be safe to eat if they were safely cooked (yolks are firm) before dying and if they are hidden and found within 2 hours. If the weather is hot, shorten the 2 hours to 1 hour. It is best to avoid hiding places with dirt, moisture and pets – these are sources of bacteria which can penetrate the egg shell and cause illness. After finding the eggs within the recommended two hours, wash, re-refrigerate, and eat within 7 days of when you cooked the eggs.

Another option? Don’t hide the eggs you plan to eat – use plastic eggs instead.

Read Follow safety rules when preparing Easter eggs on MissouriFamilies.org for more information about Easter egg safety and other Easter egg ideas.

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933