Plastic Milk Science Experiment

With 2 simple ingredients you have in your kitchen you can quickly and easily make your own plastic! Kids are going to be super impressed with this fun, hands on science experiment for kids.

I love doing science experiments that impress kids!

Not only are they eager to learn, but it stretches their little minds.

Today’s science experiment is going to really impress your kids!

Plastic Milk Science Experiment

To start out with you are going to heat up 1 cup of milk to almost boiling in a saucepan or by microwaving for 2 minutes.

Hint: I suggest using non-homogenized milk if possible for better clumping

Take off from heat and add 4 teaspoon white vinegar and stir for 1 minute. You will see the milk separate and clumps form.

Now pour into a strainer to get rid of the extra liquid.

This is what you are left with.

add some food coloring drops to color your plastic

If you’d like to color your plastic, just put a drop or two of food coloring in several small bowels and pour the milk in them just after you’ve added the vinegar; stir.

Spoon out your clumps from the strainer and pat dry with a paper towel. The more liquid you pat out the stronger plastic you will make.

The mixture can be formed into a ball and pressed flat. I suggest using a cookie small cookie cutter shape your mixture. Press down until it is smooth.

Allow to harden for a couple days.

Wondering about the science?

You made a substance called CASEIN which occurs when the protein in the milk meets the acid in the vinegar. The casein in milk does not mix with the acid and so it forms blobs.

Tip: This is a fun and interesting science activity for kids, but I would not recommend keeping it long term as it may sweat.