Today, we’re going to make a new version of EDIBLE SLIME using gelatin!
In the past we’ve made several different versions of slime. Slime can be made with many different ingredients, including glue, borax, cornstarch, potato starch, or gelatin. Today, we’ll be using gelatin AND cornstarch to make a fun-to-play-with, taste-safe slime!
First, let’s learn a little bit about our ingredients. Both gelatin and cornstarch are used as thickeners; gelatin is usually used in desserts, while cornstarch is commonly used in gravies or sauces. While they both do the same job, they perform it differently.
Gelatin is a protein that comes from the collagen in animal skin, bone, or connective tissue. In order for gelatin to achieve its full thickening powers, it needs to be heated. Once it cools, it thickens, or gelatinizes. You may remember this happening if you made our Cranberry slime on Thanksgiving, or our edible gelatin slime on Halloween.
Starch is a carbohydrate that comes from a variety of plants and grains, such as corn, potatoes, or rice. Cornstarch also needs to be heated in order to thicken foods. When starch is heated, the molecules swell and absorb water, thus making the food thicker or creamier. That’s why you may have seen your mom adding cornstarch or flour (which contains starch) to gravy to make it thicker.
While cornstarch and gelatin are different in some ways, both thickeners require heating to do their work. Cornstarch thickens food as it is heated, but gelatin thickens food as it cools.
Now that you know a little bit about the ingredients you’ll be using, LET’S MAKE SOME SLIME!
YOU WILL NEED:
In the past we’ve made several different versions of slime. Slime can be made with many different ingredients, including glue, borax, cornstarch, potato starch, or gelatin. Today, we’ll be using gelatin AND cornstarch to make a fun-to-play-with, taste-safe slime!
First, let’s learn a little bit about our ingredients. Both gelatin and cornstarch are used as thickeners; gelatin is usually used in desserts, while cornstarch is commonly used in gravies or sauces. While they both do the same job, they perform it differently.
Gelatin is a protein that comes from the collagen in animal skin, bone, or connective tissue. In order for gelatin to achieve its full thickening powers, it needs to be heated. Once it cools, it thickens, or gelatinizes. You may remember this happening if you made our Cranberry slime on Thanksgiving, or our edible gelatin slime on Halloween.
Starch is a carbohydrate that comes from a variety of plants and grains, such as corn, potatoes, or rice. Cornstarch also needs to be heated in order to thicken foods. When starch is heated, the molecules swell and absorb water, thus making the food thicker or creamier. That’s why you may have seen your mom adding cornstarch or flour (which contains starch) to gravy to make it thicker.
While cornstarch and gelatin are different in some ways, both thickeners require heating to do their work. Cornstarch thickens food as it is heated, but gelatin thickens food as it cools.
Now that you know a little bit about the ingredients you’ll be using, LET’S MAKE SOME SLIME!
YOU WILL NEED:
* One package of sugar-free gelatin dessert
* One package of regular gelatin dessert
* ½ cup cornstarch
* Water
* Mixing bowl
* Measuring cup
* Spoon
Here’s what to do!
1. Measure ½ cup of cornstarch into your mixing bowl.
* One package of regular gelatin dessert
* ½ cup cornstarch
* Water
* Mixing bowl
* Measuring cup
* Spoon
Here’s what to do!
1. Measure ½ cup of cornstarch into your mixing bowl.
2. Tear open your package of sugar-free gelatin and dump the whole thing into the mixing bowl.
3. Mix the cornstarch and gelatin powder together so they are evenly distributed.
4. Pour a little water into the powdered mixture. Notice the sudden change in color!
5. Mix the water in and continue to add a little bit at a time. You will need to keep scraping the sides of the mixing bowl to get all the gelatin and cornstarch to mix together with the water.
6. Once you have a good clump of slime, pick it up and starch working any dry spots into the mixture. Your finished product should feel kind of like a firm but squishy play-dough.
7. If your slime is cracking or crumbling, add a little more water. If it seems too goopy, sprinkle in a little more cornstarch.
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Now, compare your sugar-free gelatin slime to slime made with regular gelatin. Repeat steps 1-7, but with regular gelatin. If you use a large package of gelatin (the 6 oz) only use half of the powder.
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What differences do you notice between the two slimes? Why do you think this is?
Take a look at the ingredients in each gelatin dessert. Everything else you did should have been exactly the same, yet the slimes turned out very different in consistency. The only difference was that the first slime was sugar-free.
Take a look at the ingredients in each gelatin dessert. Everything else you did should have been exactly the same, yet the slimes turned out very different in consistency. The only difference was that the first slime was sugar-free.
Findings:
The first sugar-free slime is almost like a dough. You can form it into different shapes, flatten it, and tear it apart.
The regular gelatin slime became runnier with less water, and was more like your typical non-Newtonian slime. When you apply any pressure, it behaves like a solid. You can roll it in a ball and it holds its shape. When you stop applying pressure, it oozes through your fingers like a liquid.
The ingredient list in regular gelatin dessert and sugar-free gelatin dessert is almost the same. The regular gelatin dessert contains sugar while the sugar-free uses aspartame. You wouldn’t think this would make such a difference in consistency of our slimes. BUT there is one other ingredient added in sugar-free gelatin dessert: maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is formulated from cornstarch! Maltodextrin is commonly used in candies and desserts to improve consistency and thickness. This explains why the sugar-free slime ends up firmer and doughier than the regular gelatin slime!
Have fun playing with your slime! If you mix the two slimes together, they form a slime that’s perfectly doughy and gooey!
The first sugar-free slime is almost like a dough. You can form it into different shapes, flatten it, and tear it apart.
The regular gelatin slime became runnier with less water, and was more like your typical non-Newtonian slime. When you apply any pressure, it behaves like a solid. You can roll it in a ball and it holds its shape. When you stop applying pressure, it oozes through your fingers like a liquid.
The ingredient list in regular gelatin dessert and sugar-free gelatin dessert is almost the same. The regular gelatin dessert contains sugar while the sugar-free uses aspartame. You wouldn’t think this would make such a difference in consistency of our slimes. BUT there is one other ingredient added in sugar-free gelatin dessert: maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is formulated from cornstarch! Maltodextrin is commonly used in candies and desserts to improve consistency and thickness. This explains why the sugar-free slime ends up firmer and doughier than the regular gelatin slime!
Have fun playing with your slime! If you mix the two slimes together, they form a slime that’s perfectly doughy and gooey!
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To save your slime, seal in a plastic bag and put in the fridge. To rehydrate the slime when you want to play with it again, add a little water.
More slimy recipes:
https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/spud-mud
https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/edible-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/cranberry-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/christmas-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/edible-holiday-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/two-times-the-slime-fun-with-polymers
More slimy recipes:
https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/spud-mud
https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/edible-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/cranberry-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/christmas-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/edible-holiday-slime https://www.discoveryexpresskids.com/blog/two-times-the-slime-fun-with-polymers
