Quick Playdough Recipe with Vinegar
Need a fast and easy way to make playdough? This playdough recipe with vinegar is your new best friend! Forget the store-bought tubs (and the cream of tartar) – create colorful, moldable fun right in your kitchen.
This post will walk you through the simple steps of how to make playdough with vinegar, as well as offer other tips and tricks for making playdough at home.
This fantastic playdough recipe, made with a common kitchen staple – vinegar – instead of cream of tartar. The finished product has a smooth, slightly elastic texture that’s perfect for little hands to mold and shape. Unlike store-bought varieties that can sometimes dry out or become crumbly, this homemade playdough stays pliable for weeks (I’ll tell you how to properly store it), allowing for extended creative play.
The simple act of squishing and molding the playdough provides a calming sensory outlet for preschoolers while also working their fine motor skills.
Children can roll it out flat with toy rolling pins, cut out shapes with cookie cutters, or use it to sculpt funny creations. The satisfying texture strengthens hand muscles and improves dexterity, all while having loads of fun! Playdough is a staple in my preschool classroom, as we use it nearly very single day.
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Why Vinegar Playdough?
In this playdough recipe, vinegar steps in for cream of tartar! While cream of tartar is a tried-and-true ingredient, it might not be readily available in every kitchen. Vinegar, on the other hand, is a common household item. And, it doesn’t matter what kind of vinegar you use. Any kind will work because…
The vinegar’s acidity activates the starches in the flour, creating that perfect playdough texture – smooth, elastic, and ideal for molding. This stabilizes the playdough, making it last longer.
This easy cream of tartar substitution makes the recipe more accessible for everyone, while still achieving the same fantastic results – a long-lasting, moldable playdough that fuels creativity and imaginative play for little hands!
To learn more about the ins and outs of making playdough at home, check out our playdough frequently asked questions post!
Homemade Playdough with Vinegar
This recipe utilizes a common kitchen ingredient – vinegar – as a substitute for cream of tartar, making it accessible and cost-effective. The finished product boasts a smooth, long-lasting texture that’s perfect for little hands to mold and shape, fostering hours of creative play.
This recipe is a favorite if you like playdough invitations to play!
Ingredients to Make Playdough at Home Using Vinegar
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- white flour
- water
- table salt
- cooking oil
- vinegar
- food coloring
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Kitchen Supplies Needed
- large mixing bowl
- glass, heatproof, microwavable 2-cup measuring cup
- measuring cups and spoons
- aluminum foil, parchment paper or wax paper
- wooden paddle for stirring
- Measures approximately 7″D, 8.25″D, 9.75″D
- Hand wash recommended
- Holds 32 , 64 and 96 oz respectively
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How to Make Playdough with White Vinegar
Ready to unleash some sensory fun with your little ones? This vinegar playdough recipe is just the thing.
Gather your ingredients and grab a medium pot. This will be your playdough creation station – Where the playdough making magic will happen.
Start by adding the flour and table salt to the pot. Now, pour in the water and drizzle in the cooking oil.
If you want to add a pop of color, this is the perfect time. Add a small blob of your favorite gel food coloring. Remember, a little goes a long way, so start small and stir it in. You can always add more if needed.
Over medium heat, grab your wooden spoon and get ready to mix! Stir all the ingredients together with until a smooth consistency is achieved. Imagine you’re making a giant pot of pancake batter. There shouldn’t be any dry flour pockets remaining.
Keep stirring patiently for a few minutes. You’ll see the mixture gradually thicken and begin to pull away from the pot. Soon, you will have a cohesive mass. Keep stirring until a ball has formed.
Once the dough has formed and starts to pull away from the sides of the pot, remove it from the stovetop. Let the mixture cool for about ten minutes. The hot dough can be sticky to handle, so give it some time to become comfortable to touch.
Wait for it to cool completely before determining if it needs a touch more flour or a squirt to water to perfect the consistency.
Once cool, transfer the dough to a clean counter. It’s kneading time! Kneading helps incorporate any remaining flour and creates a smooth, elastic playdough.
To properly knead the playdough, imagine you’re shaping clay – use the heel of your hand to push the dough away from you, then fold it back over itself.
Repeat this kneading motion for a few minutes until the dough feels smooth and no longer sticky. If the dough feels too dry, add a touch more water, a little at a time, and knead it in until it feels just right.
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What Can You Make With Playdough
The beauty of playdough lies in its open-ended nature, but one of it’s greatest benefits is developing fine motor skills in children. Here are some ways to do that:
- Roll, Roll, Roll!
- Grab a rolling pin and flatten the playdough into a colorful pancake. Can you make circles, squares, or even triangles?
- Cookie Cutter Creations
- Time to get creative! Use cookie cutters in all shapes and sizes to stamp out fun shapes from your playdough. Can you make a whole zoo of animals or a garden full of flowers?
- Let’s Build!
- Roll long snakes of playdough and twist them together to build a tall tower. Can you make a bridge for your toy cars to drive over?
- Squish, Squash, Squish!
- Feeling stressed? Playdough is a great stress reliever! Squish it, punch it, fold it in half. The satisfying texture can help you calm down and refocus.
- Sensory Play
- Roll the playdough between your fingers and feel its smooth texture. Can you make it feel bumpy by pressing objects into it?
- Pretend Play!
- Is your playdough a yummy pizza? Or maybe a delicious birthday cake? Let your imagination run wild and use your playdough for pretend play fun! This is one of my favorite aspects of playdough invitations to play.
Playdough Activities for Preschoolers
Need specific ideas? Try some of these:
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45 Playdough Recipes$10.00
Playdough Recipe with Vinegar
This simple vinegar-based playdough recipe creates a soft, colorful dough perfect for hours of sensory play. Vinegar acts as a clever substitute for cream of tartar, making this recipe accessible and fun for all.
Materials
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup table salt
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium pot over medium heat. - If you're using gel food coloring, a small blob is plenty.
- Stir everything together with a wooden spoon until smooth.
- Continue stirring until a ball forms (it might still be a little sticky but it will mostly resemble playdough at this point).
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for ten minutes, then dump onto the counter and knead to mix thoroughly.
Notes
Tips for proper storage to keep playdough from drying out:
- Smoosh the playdough in the bottom of an airtight container.
- Cover the playdough completely with plastic wrap.
- Cover the container with an airtight lid.
- Keep it in the fridge to make it last longer.
*If stored properly, this playdough can last up to 6 weeks (even out of the fridge)!
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I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
