Frozen Oobleck
Love oobleck? For a “cool” twist on the classic, try making frozen oobleck instead! This fun taste-safe sensory activity is easy to prep and only requires a few simple supplies that you probably already have at home.
Servings: 2 sensory bins
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- food coloring as needed
- 2 cups cornstarch
- silicone molds or ice cube trays
Instructions
- To color your oobleck, pour the water into a medium mixing bowl and stir in some food coloring. (The color will lighten significantly once the cornstarch is added, so make sure to add enough.) Skip this step to leave the oobleck white.
- Add half the cornstarch and stir until combined. Then, add the rest of the cornstarch and gently stir the mixture with a spoon. Keep stirring very gently until the ingredients have been fully combined, making sure not to apply too much force. The final result should be a liquid that turns solid when pressure is applied to it.
- Place the silicone molds or ice cube trays on a baking sheet, and carefully pour some oobleck into each of the cavities. Leave the molds in the freezer for at least 1-2 hours, until the oobleck is frozen solid. Pop the frozen oobleck out of the mold and place them in a plastic bin for your child to play with. (You can store any pieces you aren’t using in the freezer for future use.)
Video
Notes
1. Playing with frozen oobleck: Use droppers and warm water to try to melt the frozen blocks and return them to a liquid state. As the blocks begin to melt, your child will be able to use the oobleck for sensory play.
2. Storage instructions: Store any unused blocks of frozen oobleck in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the freezer for up to 2 months.
3. Disposing of frozen oobleck: Oobleck (whether frozen, liquid or dried up), should be tossed in the trash rather than poured down the drain, as it can clog pipes.
4. Helpful tips:
- Stick with a 1:2 ratio: Recipe proportions can be modified as long as you respect the 1:2 ratio of water to cornstarch.
- Mix gently: When stirring the cornstarch into the water, move slowly and don't apply too much force, as this will cause the oobleck to solidify around your spoon.
- Use a baking sheet: Make sure to place silicone molds on a baking sheet before you add the oobleck, or they will be very difficult to pick up without spilling.
- Add some color: Consider making several batches in different colors to see how the colors combine as the shapes melt, or adding some sprinkles (taste-safe) or glitter (not taste-safe) to the sensory bin.