How to Make Our Favorite Play Dough

There are lots of recipes for homemade play dough... but this one is our favorite. It's easy to make and the texture is fun for kids.

What You Will Need:

• 1 cup Flour
• 1 cup Water
• 1 or 2 drops Food Coloring
• 1/2 cup Salt
• 1 tablespoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Oil (vegetable oil works well)
• 2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Saucepan
• Wooden Spoon
• Floured Board
• Resealable Plastic Bag (or other air-tight container)

What You Do:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan.
2. Have an adult help you heat the mixture on medium heat until it just starts to cook. Make sure to stir the mixture while it is heating. When it is done, the mixture should form a ball and look like sticky play dough.
3. Take the play dough from the pan and put it onto a floured board. Let it sit until it is cool to the touch.
4. Knead the dough by pushing it down and away from you and folding it over, until you have a smooth dough.
5. Mold the play dough into whatever interesting shapes you can think of.
6. When you are done playing, store your play dough in a resealable plastic bag, making sure to get as much air out of the bag as possible.

Variations:

• We like to keep our play dough in the refrigerator, where it will last for weeks.
• Add a very small amount of vanilla, cinnamon, or other scent to make your dough have a wonderful smell.
• We like to use liquid watercolor paints to color our dough - much more vibrant colors!

The Science:

The primary structure of this play dough comes from the flour - which contains proteins (gluten) that provide elasticity and strength. The salt acts as a preservative, helping to prevent mold and extend the shelf life of the play dough. it also adds texture and makes the dough less sticky. 

The Cream of Tartar is an acidic compound that helps to stabilize the play dough. it prevents the dough from becoming too hard and extends the shelf life by maintaining the correct pH balance. 

The vegetable oil adds moisture and flexibility to the dough, making it easier to mold and preventing it from drying out too quickly. 

The water activates the flour's gluten proteins and combines with the other ingredients to form a cohesive dough. 

Heating the mixture allows the starches in the flour to gelatinize, which thickens the dough and gives it the desired consistency. Continuous stirring ensures that the heat is evenly distributed, preventing lumps and ensuring a smooth texture.