Learn how to make Oobleck, a slime that feels like a liquid AND a solid at the same time, with the easiest, no-fail recipe and step-by-step tutorial! All it takes is 2 simple ingredients and a few minutes to create a whole lot of fun sensory play for kids.
Jump to:
- Try This Oobleck Recipe Now For Gooey Fun!
- Fun Alert: Oobleck Slime Sensory Fun
- What is Oobleck?
- Why You'll Love This Recipe for Oobleck
- Oobleck Ingredients
- How Do You Make Oobleck? Step-by-step Instructions
- How to Use Oobleck Slime
- The Science Behind the Goo
- How to Store Oobleck Slime
- Tips for Making Oobleck
- Oobleck Slime Variations
- Oobleck Recipe FAQs
- More DIY Science Crafts for Kids
- Come join the fun at WTN!
- More Crafts Please!
- Oobleck Recipe
Try This Oobleck Recipe Now For Gooey Fun!
In 55 years of cooking fun, I’ve never experienced something like Oobleck! How can two simple ingredients you probably have on hand in your kitchen combine to make this squishy but firm glop? (My not so scientific term.)
This easy oobleck recipe is a kitchen experiment that ends in spontaneous sensory play. Get ready for hours of fun and laughs with your kids.
Just be sure to keep it (the Oobleck) over a counter as it runs everywhere!
Fun Alert: Oobleck Slime Sensory Fun
A couple of weeks ago some of our grandkids were here and I asked if they wanted to make Oobleck with me. I was greeted with an enthusiastic “yes”. These were a couple of my older grands so I think it’s safe to say that any age kids would like this activity (if they’re old enough to know that it’s not something to eat).
Even though they had made Oobleck before their faces lit up at every step of the process. They squeezed it and it felt solid, then opened their hands and it oozed through their fingers. We had such a good time, and you will have fun with your kids too!
You’ll find the science behind this simple experiment in a section below. This is a perfect homeschool science lesson disguised as play. Just don’t tell them! Ha!
What is Oobleck?
Oobleck is a strange mixture that’s made from cornstarch and water. You must try this easy recipe to get the fullness of what I’m describing, but it can feel like both a solid and a liquid depending on how you handle it.
If you add pressure by hitting it or squeezing it quickly it feels hard. If you touch it gently or set something on it, it’s like a liquid and oozes.
The unusual name “Oobleck” comes from a Dr. Seuss book called Bartholomew and the Oobleck. In the book, Oobleck is a green goo like stuff that falls from the sky. Well, this recipe definitely makes a goo like stuff, and we added some green food coloring to one batch of ours for fun. You can make yours any color you want or just leave it white.
Why You'll Love This Recipe for Oobleck
- Only two household ingredients are needed, and you probably already have both.
- The ingredients are inexpensive, so it is budget-friendly
- Kids can help make it or can make it themselves (no baking/cooking necessary)
- It is easy to clean up
- You can customize the Oobleck add-ins or food coloring
- Sensory play is a natural outcome
- It is a hands-on science activity or lesson for homeschooling or just for fun
Oobleck Ingredients
Here are the oobleck ingredients you’ll need:
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- Food coloring (optional)
Recommended Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Spoon or rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tray or plate to put under food coloring to prevent spillage
- Small cups, spoons, or toys for sensory play (optional)
- Cookie sheet or cutting board (optional)
How Do You Make Oobleck? Step-by-step Instructions
- Collect your equipment and measure out the ingredients. You can make any amount you want with a 2:1 ratio of cornstarch to water.
- Pour the cornstarch into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the food coloring to the water (optional).
- Slowly add the water to the cornstarch and stir. Mixing is challenging so be patient and mix gently or the mixture will pop over the edge of the mixing bowl. Oh, and you can do some of the mixing with your hands if you want!
- Stir until the Oobleck ingredients are fully mixed together. The texture will be consistent and gooey. Remember, it is an unusual mixture so will be firm when you squeeze or press it and runny when you stop applying pressure.
- If the Oobleck mixture is too runny add cornstarch one Tablespoon at a time. If the mixture is too thick add water one Tablespoon at a time.
- Have fun playing with your Oobleck. Stay over a counter, cookie sheet, or cutting board as the mixture is messy!
How to Use Oobleck Slime
You’re going to find lots of fun ways to play with your Oobleck slime:
- Tap the surface of the Oobleck with a spoon or hit it with your fist.
- Set your spoon on the surface or set your hand on the surface gently.
- Pull at the Oobleck with your fingers or a spoon.
- Take a chunk of Oobleck and roll it into a ball.
- Set a small toy on the surface of the mixture.
- Try scooping into one container and then pouring it into another container (like measuring cups)
- Use various kitchen utensils to play in the Oobleck.
- Take a chunk of Oobleck and squeeze it in your hand, then release your hand leaving the Oobleck in your palm. Is it a solid or a liquid?
- My grandkids played with their Oobleck for a long time, a longer time then it took to make!
The Science Behind the Goo
Most liquid substances or mixtures will flow out of a container and over or between your fingers. A liquid like water flows quickly and easily and a liquid like honey or molasses flows more slowly. These liquids are called Newtonian liquids because the way they flow stays the same even if we stir it or press on it.
But a liquid substance like Oobleck is a type of fluid doesn’t act like a typical liquid mixture. It’s an unusual mixture made from two very common ingredients- cornstarch and water.
I was unprepared for the strange way it behaved as we played with it even though I’d read about it in advance. If I put pressure on it, it felt solid and hard or seemed to crack (like when squeezing it in my hand). But without pressure it slowly flowed around my fingers (like when holding it in the palm of my hand).
Oobleck is an example of a “non-Newtonian fluid”. The flow of Oobleck changes when we stir or press on it. When I press on it the cornstarch particles move together and make it feel like a solid. When I stop pressing the particles move apart again and it flows like a liquid. TOO COOL!
This is such a simple science activity for kids to learn about this scientific concept.
How to Store Oobleck Slime
You will have the most fun with Oobleck the moment you finish mixing it up, the amazement of the texture is in the moment. But you can put it in an airtight bag or container to keep for one or two days.
I made the mistake of setting it to the side for a week or so and it went bad. Pew-ee. I took one for the team!
Tips for Making Oobleck
These tips can help making Oobleck even easier!
- You can make any amount of oobleck you want if you use a 2:1 ratio of cornstarch to water.
- Don’t add all of the water to the cornstarch at once, add it slowly till the right consistency.
- If the Oobleck gets too run, add cornstarch a Tablespoon at a time.
- If the Oobleck gets too dry, add water a Tablespoon at a time.
- Work and play over a cookie sheet, cutting board so it’s easier to clean up. Oobleck is messy.
- Try various toys (they should be plastic) to play in the oobleck and see how it functions. Pour from container to container.
- Be sure to wash hands after making and playing with oobleck.
Oobleck Slime Variations
Here are a few variations you’re welcome to try when making oobleck:
- Put add ins into your oobleck like glitter or beads.
- Divide the recipe into several parts and add different colors of food coloring. Twirl them together like a rainbow.
- Add scents to get another one of your senses involved in the play.
- I haven’t tried adding glow in the dark paint but that would be a fun experiment for night time play. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
- “Have fun using different utensils to play- see what form it takes while using different cups, spoons, bowls, etc.!”
Oobleck Recipe FAQs
Oobleck is NOT considered edible. Technically the two ingredients in oobleck are food ingredients. BUT you play with the oobleck and it will get germs and dirt from your hands, toys, and work surfaces.
Be sure to monitor young kids so they do not eat it or put it in their mouths.
Oobleck can be made without cornstarch if you substitute another starch for that ingredient. Other starches would be tapioca starch, potato starch, or arrowroot starch.
Cornstarch does work the best in this recipe and is inexpensive and available at any grocery store.
The best way to dispose of oobleck is to let it dry out and throw it away in the trash. I would clean up with paper towels to get the larger pieces off the work counter and throw the towels away.
Don’t every put large amounts of oobleck down a drain because it may cause a clog in your plumbing. That would be bad news!
The plain white oobleck from cornstarch and water doesn’t really stain. But I added food coloring and that does stain. Protect your clothing and your work surface if you choose to use food coloring.
More DIY Science Crafts for Kids
Looking for more easy science-based crafts to try? Here are a few of our favorites:
- Homemade Slime
- Amazing Homemade Playdough Recipe
- DIY Giant Bubble Solution and Wands
- Make Your Own Ice Cream in a Bag
Come join the fun at WTN!
Try this craft, leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
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Oobleck Recipe
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Spoon or rubber spatula
- Tray or plate to put under food coloring to prevent spillage
- Small cups, spoons, or toys for sensory play (optional)
- Cookie sheet or cutting board (optional)
Items Required
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Collect your equipment and measure out the ingredients.
- Pour the cornstarch into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the food coloring to the water (optional).
- Slowly add the water to the cornstarch and stir. Mixing is challenging so be patient and mix gently or the mixture will pop over the edge of the mixing bowl. Oh, and you can do some of the mixing with your hands if you want!
- Stir until the Oobleck ingredients are fully mixed together. The texture will be consistent and gooey. Remember, it is an unusual mixture so will be firm when you squeeze or press it and runny when you stop applying pressure.
- If the Oobleck mixture is too runny add cornstarch one Tablespoon at a time. If the mixture is too thick add water one Tablespoon at a time.
- Have fun playing with your Oobleck. Stay over a counter, cookie sheet, or cutting board as the mixture is messy!
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