| Home Current Issue Archival Issues Contact Links Staff Search |
 |
February, 2002 Volume 1 Issue 1 Page 2 The Kitchen Laboratory: Metamucil Flubber Story by Brad Clark |
| << Page 1 | Return to Issue Index | Page 3 >> |
You can create homemade "flubber" by using Metamucil. Place a teaspoon of the product into a shaker jar with 8-10 ounces of water. Shake vigorously for about 60 seconds, then pour the contents into a standard size cereal bowl. (Here's where it gets fun) Place the bowl into the Microwave. Run at full power for 4-5 minutes....until the goo starts to "rise". It will look like bread-dough rising in a bowl, but much faster. When the bubbles are just about to overflow the bowl, turn off the microwave. Let it cool slightly and repeat. The more times you repeat this process, the more "rubbery" the flubber gets.
After 5 or 6 runs, pour the goo onto a plate or cookie pan. With a spoon, stir the goo while it's cooling. (Be very careful, as this concoction will burn your fingers right down to the bone in a nanosecond, until some cooling has taken place.)
Once it's cooled, you have a "non-stick" Flubber. Take a knife and cut it into different-size pieces. You can shape it into all kinds of neat things... use your imagination.
If your first batch is "sticky" to the touch, you've used too much water. If prepared properly, it should feel cold and clammy to the touch, but should not stick to your fingers or anything else. If it does, try another batch with less water.
Flubber will keep for months if you store it in a baggy...it will last even longer if you refrigerate it.
How does it work?
The active ingredient in Metamucil is Psyllium, which comes from the Plantago ovata plant. It is a a bulk-forming fiber. Other fibers that belong to the class of bulk-forming fibers are cellulose, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, karaya, malt soup extract, polycarbophil, and wheat bran. 1 Due to this, Psyllium is a laxative, and makes it a great way to make Flubber, by retaining the water.
Brad's Note: This one looked really neat, so I just ran downstairs and tried it. It seems to work quite well. Watch when you're microwaving that you don't over-do it.. it should still be a little runny so that you can pour it onto a plate while it cools... I cooked mine a little too much, and it came out like rubber.
from Randy Krumland @
http://freeweb.pdq.net/headstrong/slime.htm
References:
1. http://www.metamucil.com/healthbenefits/psyllium.html
TAlC/bc
| << Page 1 | Return to Issue Index | Page 3 >> |