Playdough is always a favorite amongst kids. But why buy it when you can make it yourself? The brand you buy from the store can be expensive, because it dries out so quickly and you have to replace it. I swear, sometimes the containers get left open for an hour, and the playdough is already hardening!
In the past, I always wanted to make my own playdough but wasn’t sure how difficult it would be. I found several recipes, but they would never turn out quite as I wanted. I was able to create this recipe through trial and error. It’s the best recipe I’ve ever used.
It’s super soft and quick to make too. We’ve made this and left it set out for up to two days – and it never dried out! Honestly, there’s no reason to buy the store brand again!
HOW TO MAKE PLAYDOUGH SOFT AGAIN
This recipe will stay soft and not dry out for quite some time. But, if it does (or you have the store brand that is dried out), you can easily make it soft again.
First, add a drop or two of water to the playdough and work it in. It is important you do not add too much water or it will be oversaturated. Then, knead the water into the dough. Work with it rolling, pulling and stretching to work the water into the dough. If it is still dry, add another drop or two of water and continue to work it into the dough.
Another option is to wet a paper towel or napkin and roll the playdough inside of it. Make sure it is wrapped up tightly and then put it into an air-tight container for 24 hours. If it is still a bit hard, try the water method again to see if that doesn’t make it soft.
The final way to try to make your playdough soft is to use the bag method. Break up the playdough into small pieces and put it into a baggie that is air and water tight. Put a little water into the bag and start kneading to make it soft. While you can use a little more water with this method, you still do not want to add too much or it will be soggy.
If you’ve tried all of these methods and the playdough is still hard, it is probably time to throw it away and make a new batch.
IS HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH SAFE TO EAT?
If you have very young children, you know how tempted they are to put everything into their mouths. This is one reason to use this homemade recipe as it is 100% safe for human consumption. If you look at the ingredients, you will see that this playdough is made with cream of tarter, flour and other pantry staples.
You can rest assured that if your child decides to eat it that you have nothing to worry about. But, chances are they won’t like the taste and will probably spit it out. 😉
Other fun things to do with your kids:
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH
SUPPLIES
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup water
2/3 cup salt
2 Tbs vegetable or canola oil
1 tsp. cream of tartar
Food coloring
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all ingredients (other than food coloring) in a large pot and mix well with a silicone spatula. Split into batches and add ten drops of food coloring to each. Blend the color into the play dough. To make your play dough vibrant, you may need to add more food coloring.
Once mixed, the batter will look lumpy – and that’s OK! Put the mixture into a saucepan and heat on the stove (medium to medium-high). Stir continuously. It should solidify and have no “gooey” sections.
You may need to flip the play dough several times until it is solid. It should take just a few minutes. Remove the playdough from the pan and place it on a plate to cool. Once completely cooled, you can store in airtight containers.
This one recipe should equal the amounts of four regular store-bought containers.
