Play with Your Food: Science Experiments

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup Water (boiling hot)
• 3 packets Gelatin (unflavored, about 7 g each)
• 0.5 cup Corn Syrup (light corn syrup)
• a few drops Food Coloring (green for extra gross effect)
• 1 cup Half‑and‑Half (chilled)
• 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
• a few drops Vanilla Extract (optional, for flavor)
• 2 tablespoons Chocolate Chips (optional, for mix‑in)
• 3 cups Ice (crushed or cubed)
• 0.33 cup Kosher or Rock Salt (coarse, for freezing)
• 1 cup Tonic Water (to freeze into cubes; contains quinine for glow)
• 1 cup Water (for regular ice)
• 12 Gummy Worms (any brand; can be whole or halved)
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda (approx. one level scoop)
• 1 cup White Vinegar

Instructions

1. Make Gelatin Slime Base

   Boil 0.5 cup water, pour over 3 packets of gelatin in a mixing bowl, stir until almost clear, then let rest for 5 minutes.

   Time: PT7M

   Temperature: 100°C

2. Add Corn Syrup and Color

   In a separate bowl combine 0.5 cup corn syrup with a few drops of green food coloring. Slowly pour the gelatin mixture into the corn syrup while stirring with a fork until a gooey, slime‑like consistency forms.

   Time: PT5M

3. Prepare Ice‑Cream‑In‑A‑Bag Ingredients

   Place 1 cup half‑and‑half, 2 Tbsp sugar, a few drops vanilla, and optional chocolate chips into a zip‑top sandwich bag. Seal tightly, removing as much air as possible.

   Time: PT4M

4. Create Ice‑Salt Bath and Shake

   Fill a gallon zip‑top bag with 3 cups ice and 1/3 cup kosher/rock salt. Place the sealed sandwich‑bag inside, seal the outer bag, and shake vigorously for about 10 minutes until the mixture hardens into ice cream.

   Time: PT10M

5. Prepare Glow‑In‑The‑Dark Ice Cubes

   If not already frozen, pour tonic water into an ice‑cube tray and freeze for at least 2 hours. Also freeze regular water in a separate tray. Pop both sets of cubes out and keep them in the freezer until ready to use.

   Time: PT2M

6. Prepare Dancing Worms

   Cut gummy worms in half with kitchen scissors (optional). Place the worms in a shallow dish and cover with just enough water to submerge them. Add 1 tsp baking soda, stir gently, and let sit for 30 minutes.

   Time: PT35M

7. Trigger the Worm Dance

   Fill a glass with 1 cup white vinegar. Using a spoon, drop one gummy worm (whole or halved) into the vinegar. Watch as CO₂ bubbles lift and spin the worm.

   Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

150

Protein

2 g

Carbohydrates

30 g

Fat

3 g

Fiber

0 g

Ingredient Substitutions

• Instead of Gelatin: Agar‑agar (different texture)
• Instead of Corn Syrup: Honey, Maple syrup
• Instead of Food Coloring: Spinach juice (natural green), Green food‑grade dye
• Instead of Half‑and‑Half: Whole milk + heavy cream (3 : 1 ratio)
• Instead of Granulated Sugar: Honey, Agave syrup
• Instead of Vanilla Extract: Almond extract
• Instead of Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chunks
• Instead of Kosher or Rock Salt: Table salt (less effective)
• Instead of Tonic Water: Regular water (will not glow)
• Instead of Gummy Worms: Other gummy candies
• Instead of White Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar (different flavor)

Equipment Needed

• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Mixing Bowl
• Fork
• Zip‑Top Sandwich Bag (1 qt)
• Zip‑Top Gallon Bag
• Ice Cube Tray
• UV Flashlight (Blacklight) (optional)
• Kitchen Scissors
• Glass
• Spoon

Critical Steps — Do Not Skip

• Allow gelatin mixture to rest for 5 minutes so it fully hydrates.
• Seal both zip‑top bags tightly before shaking to prevent leaks.
• Use UV flashlight to view tonic‑water ice glow.
• Add baking soda to gummy worms before the vinegar reaction.

Chef Tips from the Video

• Use cold water for the gelatin mixture to control the setting speed.
• Rock salt works better than table salt because larger crystals lower the freezing point faster.
• If you don’t have a UV flashlight, a smartphone with a UV filter app can work in a pinch.
• Fresh gummy worms give a more vigorous reaction than older, dried ones.

Troubleshooting

Storage

Refrigerator: Gelatin slime can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days; ice‑cream should be kept frozen if not served immediately.

Freezer: Extra ice‑cream bags can be frozen for up to 1 week. Tonic‑water ice cubes stay frozen for up to 2 weeks.

Room temperature: Dancing worms are best served immediately; they can sit at room temperature for about 1 hour before losing activity.

Make-Ahead Tips

• Prepare the gelatin slime a few hours ahead; it will thicken as it sits.
• Freeze tonic‑water ice cubes the night before the activity.
• Ice‑cream mixture can be assembled ahead; just add to the ice‑salt bath when ready to shake.

Frequently Asked Questions