How do you make oobleck out of household items?

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If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make oobleck at home, à la Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, this oobleck recipe tutorial is for you! Super inexpensive and a fun kitchen science experiment…

Though our spring break isn’t until the end of March, my kids do have the day off school today for a teacher inservice day.

Having learned my lesson after the ridiculous number of snow days we’ve had so far this year, I knew I needed to have a project ready that would engage them and maybe even teach them a thing or two.

My first thought was to whip out my tried-and-true salt dough recipe, but they wanted something new and different. So I decided to show them how to make oobleck! And yes, it was MESSY, but it was oh, SO much fun…

Every one of my five kids, from my 6-year-old right up to my almost 12-year-old, wanted a chance to play with it.

For those of you on a budget, you’ll be thrilled that this oobleck recipe is super inexpensive. In fact, you probably have everything you need for a basic oobleck mixture sitting in your pantry already!

What Is Oobleck?

While most Dr. Seuss fans are probably familiar with oobleck, for those of you that aren’t, I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of Bartholomew and the Oobleck.

As with so many of his books, this is a lighthearted and fun read, with a really great moral to the story at the end.

To give a quick overview, there’s an old king who wants something new to fall from the sky, so he calls on his royal magicians. They create “oobleck“, a green substance that rains down. The result is a sticky, gooey, gloppy green mess that covers the entire kingdom — AND its residents.

Along the way readers realize that just maybe we should be careful what we wish for. Thankfully, the king’s young pageboy, Bartholomew, saves the day by urging the king to say some simple magic words.

If you’re going to show your kids how to make oobleck, picking up a copy of the book is an excellent complement to the project!

Oobleck Ingredients & Equipment

You really only need two ingredients to make this oobleck recipe — cornstarch and water! The simplest mixture to begin with is 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch mixed with 1 cup of water.

If you want to add color, I recommend using tempera paint versus food coloring to prevent any staining.

As far as equipment, you’ll just need a large mixing bowl. No spoon necessary! And possibly an inexpensive plastic tablecloth to cover your workspace. Things are about to get a little sloppy…

How Do You Make Oobleck?

Okay, I warned you this was going to get messy… Both you and your kids will probably end up covered in goo before your oobleck experiment is over, but it’s the best kind of mess.

One that’s loads of fun, yet easy to clean up, AND washes out of clothes without a trace!!

How do you make oobleck? Well, you won’t be able to mix it easily with a spoon. You’ll have to get your hands in there and work with it until it’s the right consistency. But trust me on this, you’re going to have just as much fun as the kids!

Easy Oobleck Recipe

The coolest thing about oobleck is that it’s neither a liquid nor a solid. It’s actually a suspension (known as a non-Newtonian Fluid) and will behave like either, depending on the amount of pressure you apply.

Squeeze it in the palm of your hand, and it will feel like a solid ball… But when you open your hand, it will flow over and between your fingers like a liquid.

It’s really the most bizarre feeling — YOU’LL want to play with this oobleck slime for hours, too!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons green tempera paint (optional)
• a copy of Bartholomew and the Oobleck (optional)

Instructions

1. While it will take a little experimentation to get the proper consistency, a good starting place is to mix 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch with 1 cup of water. I added 3 tablespoons of green tempera paint to color the suspension, but you can use more or less or leave it out altogether.
2. Mix the ingredients using your hands, adding more cornstarch or water as necessary. Note that you may need to use more cornstarch if you live at a high altitude. You’ll know you’ve got the right consistency when it feels similar to honey or molasses, yet “tears” when you drag your fingers across the surface.
3. Store the oobleck in a covered container to play with again. The cornstarch and water may separate, but you just simply need to work them back together.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Important: while oobleck may look good enough to eat, it should not be consumed. Young children should be supervised while playing with oobleck.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t see your question listed here? Leave a comment below and I will respond ASAP!

How to make oobleck without cornstarch?

Unfortunately, you cannot use regular wheat flour for making oobleck. If you don’t have cornstarch, you can make oobleck with another starchy flour, such as corn flour, arrowroot flour, or potato starch.

Corn flour and arrowroot flour can be substituted 1:1 for cornstarch. But you may need to add additional potato flour to achieve the proper consistency.

How to store oobleck?

Oobleck can be stored in an airtight container for roughly 24 hours. After this timeframe, it may start to grow mold.

The cornstarch and water may start to separate as they sit, so just stir them back together and add more cornstarch or water, as needed.

For longer term storage, allow the oobleck to dry out in an open container for 2-3 days. When you’re ready to play with it again, add water to restore it to the original consistency.

How to dispose of oobleck?

Oobleck should not be disposed of in the sink. Instead, seal the mixture in a ziploc bag or grocery bag, and dispose of it in your trash can.

Or let it sit for a bit until the mixture separates, pour off the excess water in the sink, and throw out the remaining sludge in your trash can.

4-Ingredient Rainbow Glitter Slime Recipe

If your kids love this oobleck recipe, they’ll also adore this easy glitter slime recipe. It’s easily created with just four simple ingredients and NO borax!

Package it up in a plastic container for a great DIY gift idea that will provide hours of fun.

I’d love to see how your oobleck turns out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!