HOW TO MAKE OOBLECK WITHOUT CORNSTARCH
If you’ve ever read the book Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss, you may remember the peculiar substance known as Oobleck. This substance captured the imagination of many readers, and people have been concocting it in their kitchens ever since! It definitely isn't an ordinary material; it’s a Newtonian fluid! This means that it is sticky, oopy, goopy, hard, soft, and pretty mesmerizing all at the same time. It acts as both a solid AND a liquid! Isn’t that cool?
This makes it the perfect medium for sensory play, especially for little hands. Usually, cornstarch is the key ingredient in Oobleck recipes. However, you can make it with many other things, most of which will be right inside your pantry!
Today, I’ll show you how to make Oobleck and create another fun sensory play opportunity for your slime or goop lover! Here’s how to make Oobleck without cornstarch:
How to Make Oobleck Without Cornstarch
How to Make Oobleck with Baking Soda
Ingredients
2 cups of baking soda
1 cup of room-temperature water
1-2 drops of food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Gather your materials.
First, you will need to gather your materials, including the ingredients listed above. You will also need a bowl, measuring cups, and a wooden or non-stick spoon to stir your Oobleck.
Step 2: Combine baking soda and water.
In your mixing bowl, add the baking soda. Then, gradually pour in the water while stirring. Adjust the water amount until you have achieved a gooey Oobleck consistency.
How to Make Oobleck with Flour
Ingredients
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup of room-temperature water
1-2 drops of food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Gather your materials.
Get your mixing bowl, measuring cups, and a spoon to stir your mixture, and collect your ingredients. Prepare yourself too. This is a messy one!
Step 2: Combine the flour and water.
In your mixing bowl, add in the all-purpose flour. Then, slowly stir in the water.
Step 3: Mix thoroughly.
Stir the mixture until there are no lumps and the flour and water are fully combined. The classic Oobleck texture will form as the mixture thickens.
Step 4: Add food coloring (optional).
For added sensory benefit, add in a drop or two of food coloring. Stir in the food coloring until completely combined.
Step 5: Test and adjust.
Manipulate the Oobleck in your hands to test the consistency and modify if necessary. You can adjust the consistency if need be by adding more water or flour.
How to Make Oobleck with Baby Powder
Ingredients
2 cups of baby powder
1 cup of room-temperature water
1-2 drops of food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Gather your materials.
Gather your ingredients and materials, including a mixing bowl, measuring cup, and a spoon to stir your mixture.
Step 2: Combine the baby powder and water.
In the mixing bowl, add the baby powder. Then, slowly pour in the water while you stir.
Step 3: Mix thoroughly.
Stir the mixture thoroughly, getting rid of any lumps. Make sure the baby powder and water are combined. Now, your Oobleck will feel like Oobleck!
Step 4: Add food coloring (optional).
For a sensory play bonus, add in a drop or two of food coloring! Your kids will love to help pick the colors in this step!
Step 5: Test and adjust.
It’s almost ready to be played with! Pick it up, play with it a bit, and determine if it’s the right consistency. If it’s not, add a little more water to thin it out, or a little more baby powder to thicken it up.
How to Make Oobleck with Corn Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup of corn syrup
1 cup of room-temperature water
1-2 drops of food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Gather your materials.
First, grab your mixing bowl, measuring cup, and a non-stick stirring spoon, as well all your ingredients.
Step 2: Combine the corn syrup and water.
In your mixing bowl, add the corn syrup first. Then, very slowly add your room-temperature water. Make sure that you use room temperature water, as cold water will make this extremely hard to mix. Feel free to apply pressure if you have to.
Step 3: Mix thoroughly.
It may take you a while to mix this concoction, as corn syrup can be quite sticky. Take as much time as you need to ensure that everything is mixed together properly.
Step 4: Add food coloring (optional).
If you’d like an extra pop of color and added sensory benefits (and fun), consider including some food coloring! A couple drops will go a long way with a smaller batch recipe like this.
Step 5: Test and adjust.
Now, the fun part! Test your Oobleck to see if the consistency is just right for you and your little one to play with. If it’s not right, adjust using corn syrup and water. The best part of this Oobleck recipe is that the ingredients make it taste safe for your younger children!
Is Oobleck Edible?
No, Oobleck is not intended to be eaten, even if it uses food-related ingredients like a cup of water and pantry starches. While many recipes (especially those without cornstarch) use edible pantry ingredients, raw starches (like cornstarch, arrowroot, or tapioca flour) are not a good thing to eat straight and can pose digestive issues if consumed in quantity. Plus, vibrant food coloring and mixes made for sensory play aren’t formulated to be food-safe, so it’s best to treat Oobleck as play material only and keep it away from mouths. The corn starch recipe is taste-safe, but still not entirely edible.
Is Oobleck a Solid or Liquid?
Oobleck is known as a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning it doesn’t fit cleanly into the usual “solid” or “liquid” categories. It’s made of particles (like starch) suspended in water, so under gentle movement, it flows and behaves like a liquid. But apply sudden force (by squeezing or hitting it), and it momentarily acts like a solid. This is what makes it such a fun sensory and science activity.
How to Store Oobleck
Because Oobleck is mostly water and starch, it can dry out or separate if left exposed. To help it stay usable between play sessions, you should:
Transfer your batch into an airtight container as soon as play is done (especially if made with only starch and a cup of water) to reduce drying.
Store it in the fridge if you won’t use it within a few hours, as colder temperatures slow down spoilage or bacterial growth.
If it begins to dry out, you can refresh it with a tiny bit more water and stir back to consistency.
Note that even with storage, Oobleck is best used again within 24–48 hours. It’s not a long-term or reusable project.
Can Oobleck Go Bad?
Yes, Oobleck can go bad because it contains water that supports microbial growth. If you see:
Foul smells
Discoloration
Slime or mold
Texture changes dramatically beyond normal separation
It’s a sign the batch should be tossed. Even when stored airtight, Oobleck is not a food and doesn’t have preservatives, so it won’t stay “fresh” the way food does.
How to Dispose of Oobleck
Don’t pour Oobleck down the sink or drain, it’s a bad idea. It can actually solidify and clog pipes as the water drains away and the starch stays behind. The best ways to dispose of Oobleck are:
Let the batch dry out in a disposable container or tray until it hardens, then throw it in the trash.
If cleanup involves a bowl or utensils, scrape off excess into the trash before washing.
Wipe sinks with a wet paper towel to catch any small residue before rinsing.
Immerse your little one in sensory play using Oobleck!
This sensory activity is not only fun, but also super easy! I recommend putting your Oobleck in a sensory table (here’s a DIY sensory table) to keep it contained and accessible for your kids of all heights. And, remember to store your Oobleck in an airtight container once you’ve finished playing so that you can use it again for future adventures.
For more quick sensory play activity ideas and so much more, check out the Mothercould blog, where you can download the handy Mothercould in Your Pocket resource for more inexpensive family enrichment ideas!
