Edible pH Indicators Color Chart

By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on October 29, 2019

Many fruits and vegetables contain pigments that change color in response to pH, making them natural and edible pH indicators. Most of these pigments are anthocyanins, which commonly range in color from red to purple to blue in plants, depending on their pH.

The Chart

This chart of edible pH indicators shows the color changes that occur as a function of pH

Todd Helmenstine

Plants containing anthocyanins include acai, currant, chokeberry, eggplant, orange, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, cherry, grapes, and colored corn. Any of these plants may be used as pH indicators.

How to See the Colors

Vinegar, baking soda and lemon on a table

Eskay Lim / EyeEm / Getty Images

To change the colors of these plants, you need to increase their acidity or alkalinity. To see the color range:

  1. Blend or juice the plant to break open the plant cells.
  2. Squeeze out as much solid matter as possible by pushing the puree through a strainer, paper towel, or coffee filter.
  3. If the juice is dark, add water to dilute it. Distilled water won't produce a color change, but if you have hard water, the increased alkalinity could change the color.
  4. To see the acid color, add lemon juice or vinegar to a small amount of the juice. To see the base color, add a small amount of baking soda to the juice.
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Edible pH Indicators Color Chart." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/edible-ph-indicators-color-chart-603655. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). Edible pH Indicators Color Chart. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/edible-ph-indicators-color-chart-603655 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Edible pH Indicators Color Chart." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/edible-ph-indicators-color-chart-603655 (accessed June 2, 2023).