Microwave Play Dough
BEST. Playdough. Ever.
This easy microwave play dough recipe makes super soft and stretchy homemade playdough…in 2 minutes!
Can You Make Play Dough in the Microwave?
Play dough is one of our favorite sensory activities, and there are so many ways to make it! The “old-fashioned” way to make playdough is on the stovetop. I can remember my mom doing this when I was a kid.
You can also make playdough in the crockpot. Our slow cooker play dough recipe turned out amazing — and it’s foolproof because you just set it and forget it! In one hour you have the softest, smoothest play dough we’ve ever tried!
But what if you don’t have a slow cooker? And you don’t want to dirty pots and pans or turn on the stove? What if you just want to make a small batch of play dough quickly?
So….we decided to tweak our original slow cooker play dough recipe slightly and cook it in the microwave instead!
Would it work?
Would it be just as soft?
We tried it…
And I’m so excited to report that…YES!! You can make play dough in the microwave! And it is AWESOME!!
Microwave playdough is super soft, exquisitely stretchy play dough that’s ready in two minutes and it lasts for weeks and weeks! This recipe is a definite winner and in fact, it is now my go-to homemade playdough recipe! In my opinion, this is the easiest and BEST playdough recipe ever!
For your convenience in creating this easy play dough recipe, we’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the products used; disclosure policy available here.
Ingredients & Supply List
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 Tablespoons cornstarch
- Food coloring of your choice – we use gel food coloring because it creates such rich, vibrant colors!
- Microwave safe bowl(s)
- Microwave
Instructions – How to Make Play Dough in the Microwave
- Whisk together play dough ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then divide into separate microwave safe bowls for each color of play dough you’ll be making. Stir 2-3 drops of food coloring into each bowl, adding more until you achieve the desired shade.
- Microwave one bowl at a time. Start by microwaving for 1 minute and stir. Microwave an additional 30 seconds and stir again. Always use microwave safe bowls for this recipe and handle with care, as the bowls may become hot.
- If needed, continue microwaving in 15-20 second intervals until dough begins to form and pull away from sides of the container (or is no longer soupy).
- Allow to cool enough to handle and finish kneading by hand into a smooth ball.
Use this Microwave Play Dough Recipe to Make:
- Valentine’s Day Play Dough
- Christmas Play Dough Recipes
- Fall Scented Play Dough Recipes
- Kool-Aid Play Dough
- Red, White & Blue 4th of July Playdough
- Snow Dough Winter Playdough
Prep Tips
- Storage – This microwave play dough will last for weeks – even months – if you make sure to store it carefully. Wash hands before playing and always play on a clean surface, to keep dough cleaner longer. When done playing, keep in a plastic zip lock bag or air tight container. If it starts to dry out, just work a little water into your dough to rehydrate.
- Safety – Always supervise children when making or playing with play dough. Adults should handle the microwaving – always use a microwave safe bowl and handle with care. This dough is taste safe, meaning it isn’t harmful if tasted. However it doesn’t taste good and isn’t meant to be eaten. If you notice any signs of mold on your play dough, discard and make a new batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Cream of Tartar Do in Play Dough?
Cream of tartar is a common ingredient in homemade play dough. But what does it do?
There are two main benefits to using cream of tartar in your play dough:
- It acts as a preservative, helping your homemade play dough last longer. Our homemade play dough (both the slow cooker play dough and this microwave play dough recipe) last for weeks when stored properly!
- Provides elasticity, so your play dough is super stretchy and fun to play with!
Using cream of tartar in play dough helps it to last longer, as the cream of tartar acts as a preservative. It also provides elasticity to the dough, so it is stretchier.
What Can I Use Instead of Cream of Tartar in Play Dough?
If you don’t have cream of tartar readily available, here are a couple substitutes:
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, strained to remove any pulp
ALL of our Favorite Play Dough Recipes in One Place!
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Easy Microwave Play Dough Recipe (Printable Copy)
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Microwave Play Dough
Equipment
- Microwave
- microwave safe bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 TB cream of tartar
- 2 TB oil
- 1 TB corn starch
- food coloring
Instructions
- Whisk together play dough ingredients and divide into separate microwave safe bowls for each color you're making.
- Stir in food coloring, one color per bowl.
- Microwave for 1 minute, stir; microwave for 30 more seconds, stir. If needed, continue microwaving in 15-20 second intervals until dough begins to form and pull away from sides of the container (or is no longer soupy).
- Allow to dough to cool enough to handle and finish mixing by hand.
Video
Notes
Pin our microwavable playdough recipe on Pinterest:
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I’ve made play doh before but in the oven . This recipe is perfect . I just made some and what a timesaver and energy saver since we didnt turn on the oven. Thank you
So glad you loved it too! It’s my favorite recipe!
I love the texture of this play dough recipe. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Thanks, this was a great read!