Introduction: Homemade Microwave Playdough

Playdough is a great arts and crafts toy that is safe and easy to make at home. Here we will describe a step-by-step procedure of creating playdough using simple ingredients and tools. It is quick and easy to make as well as suitable for a wide range of ages for two to three times of fun. Hope you enjoy playing with your homemade playdough!

List of materials:

  • 2 cups of flour (250 g)
  • 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar (20.25 g)
  • 2 cups of water (473 mL)
  • 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (30 mL)
  • 1 cup of table salt (292 g)
  • Liquid food coloring of your preference
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 bowl
  • 1 tablespoon
  • 1 measuring cup
  • 1 oven mitt
  • 1 microwave

Step 1: Adding the Flour

  • Measure and add 2 cups of flour (250 g) in a bowl.

Step 2: Adding the Salt

  • Measure and add 1 cup of table salt (292 g).

Step 3: Adding the Cream of Tartar

  • Measure and add 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar (20.25 g).

Step 4: Mixing the Ingredients

  • Take a whisk and mix the ingredients in the bowl thoroughly.

Step 5: Making a "Well"

  • Use a whisk or your hand to make a “well” (an indent) in the center of the bowl containing the mixture.

Step 6: Boiling the Water

  • Measure and place 2 cups of water (473 mL) in microwave for boiling.
  • Set time to 2:00 minutes; if the water does not boil then heat in 30 second increments until boiling is achieved.

    Caution: Be careful to not over boil the water,as to avoid spills in the microwave.

Step 7: Adding the Oil

  • While water is boiling, add exactly 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil into the “well.”

    Caution: Adding more than 2 tablespoons may prevent the mixture from thickening into playdough.

Step 8: Removing and Adding the Boiling Water

  • Now carefully remove the boiling water from the microwave using an oven mitt.
  • Carefully add the 2 cups of boiling water into the “well.”

    Caution: Please be careful, as to avoid burns.

Step 9: Adding the Color

  • Add 20 or more drops of liquid food coloring of your preference in the bowl.

Step 10: Mixing the Ingredients

  • Use a whisk to mix the ingredients in the bowl thoroughly until the mixture thickens.

Step 11: Allowing the Mixture to Cool

  • Allow the thickened mixture to sit in the bowl for 5 minutes or more until it cools.

Step 12: Remove and Shape the Playdough

  • Remove the dough and shape it into balls for play.

    References: —"How to Make Playdough Without Cooking." WikiHow. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Aug. 2014. <——http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Playdough-Without-Cooking>