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What is Food Coloring?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Food coloring is a type of food additive which imparts color. Some such additives are dyes, meaning that they are water soluble, and used in a variety of foods which contain liquids. Lakes have a dye base, but they are designed to disperse in oil as well as water, and they can be used in preparations which lack sufficient moisture to hold dye. Lakes tend to be less prone to coating the mouth, a common problem seen with dyes used in things like frozen treats.

People have been adding color to their food for thousands of years. Early food colorings were commonly made from spices such as turmeric, along with crushed seeds. People added color to food historically for many of the same reasons that we do today: to enhance natural colors, to lend a more familiar color to food, and for decorative purposes. Food coloring is especially popular with preserved foods, which tend to turn dull gray. Although these foods are perfectly safe to eat, they don't look quite right, and coloring can make them more appetizing.

Food coloring may be used to decorate Easter eggs.
Food coloring may be used to decorate Easter eggs.

Other sources of natural coloring for food include some minerals, along with several members of the insect world. Cochineal red, for example, comes from beetles. Chemists have also developed purely synthetic food coloring, to obtain especially bright colors or to create colors which are hard to find in nature, such as blue.

Like other food additives, food dyes must be tested for safety before it can be used. Several colors once recognized as safe have since been removed from the market due to health concerns, and some consumers try to avoid all artificial colors, even those which have been tested and approved. Avoiding food coloring can actually be quite difficult, as one of its most common uses is situations where natural colors need to be restored. Many oranges, for instance, are sprayed with coloring to cover up their naturally more greenish or brownish tints, and the use of dye is not disclosed.

Food coloring is used for adding color to baked goods like frosting and red velvet cake.
Food coloring is used for adding color to baked goods like frosting and red velvet cake.

At home, people often use coloring for decoration. It is classically used in icings for cakes and cookies to create colorful and decorative designs. Food coloring can also be used for projects like coloring Easter eggs. People also use it in craft projects, because the color usually takes well and it is nontoxic and easy to handle, which makes it great for craft projects with children.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon319056

Food coloring is great for science projects.

anon303359

Food coloring is found in a lot of kid sweets such as Smarties, Skittles, etc...

plaid

@bbpuff - There is gel food coloring, paste food coloring, and of course the traditional drops or liquid food coloring. As far as "all natural" elements, I'm sure there are some out there derived from plants and/or fruits and such, but I personally have not used them. I have always used gel coloring for things like fondant and such because the colors come out much more vibrantly. The liquid works well for more traditional icing like butter cream.

bbpuff

@plaid - Could you list a few of the different types of food coloring? Is there any all natural food coloring choices for those of us that are into that sort of thing nowadays?

plaid

Artificial food coloring comes in many different mediums and are applied to tons of different things. I mostly see it used in pastry or baking applications, though.

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    • Food coloring may be used to decorate Easter eggs.
      By: Tomashko
      Food coloring may be used to decorate Easter eggs.
    • Food coloring is used for adding color to baked goods like frosting and red velvet cake.
      By: Sean M
      Food coloring is used for adding color to baked goods like frosting and red velvet cake.
    • Turmeric is used to make yellow food coloring.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Turmeric is used to make yellow food coloring.
    • Food dyes must be tested for safety before they are used.
      By: Gregory Johnston
      Food dyes must be tested for safety before they are used.
    • Purely synthetic food coloring has been developed by chemists.
      By: Kirill Kedrinski
      Purely synthetic food coloring has been developed by chemists.
    • Some types of red food coloring comes from the dye of cochineal insects.
      By: Dario Lo Presti
      Some types of red food coloring comes from the dye of cochineal insects.