Salt Dough Your Questions Answered
Salt dough is one of my favourite homemade materials to craft with because it is so easy to make and use. Here on Rainy Day Mum, we have two basic Salt Dough Recipes – a classic Salt Dough that can be dried in the oven or a microwave salt dough recipe that saves you so much time that you can make, dry and decorate salt dough ornaments all in one class or sitting! This is especially useful for some crafting with toddlers and preschoolers who don’t have any patience at all.
Whenever I share either salt dough recipe I get lots of questions about it so I thought I would put together the most common questions and answer them here for you. I’ve split this into two parts – these are common questions that apply to all salt dough and I also have a lot of questions about painting and sealing the dough which I will answer in a different post.
How Do you Make Salt Dough?
This is the easiest one to answer – check out either of the recipes below – the microwave recipe or the classic recipe if you don’t have a microwave or have time to wait. Although the microwave recipe works just as well when all of the instructions are followed because it doesn’t use the microwave if I have the time I like to use the classic method.
How Long to Cook Salt Dough?
The length of time that you need to cook the dough for will depend on the thickness and size of the object that you are trying to dry.
If you have thin ornaments for the tree then in the oven they may only take an hour or two.
However, if you are drying something thicker like a sculpture or a candle holder then this will take much longer and it may be better for you to dry using the air drying method.
How do you make White Salt Dough?
We have an alternative recipe that is pure white and sparkles slightly without the use of glitter.
Although you need to make the mix for this Baker’s Clay in the pan it dries in the oven and looks really good especially for snowmen or other ornaments for the tree. It’s also great as it doesn’t use any salt to make it. Although the ingredients don’t taste very good at all!
The other way to make white salt dough is to follow our simple recipe that ensures you have a white dough to use or you could, of course, paint it using Acrylic Paint.
What flour do you need?
You need a flour with no raising agents in it so plain flour in the UK or all-purpose flour in the USA. We always buy the budget flour for making it up as it doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
It’s not advisable to use Self-Raising Flour as this will make it puff up as it dries out in the oven or in the microwave.
How do you Store your Finished Ornaments?
Finished ornaments are very susceptible to moisture as it’s one of the ways that you can reactive it if it dried out before you have finished a crafting session.
So storing in a damp place is not advised.
However, if you use a sealable container and add a small bag of silica gel – here’s our affiliate link to the best silica gel we have found to use for storing the Christmas decorations our kids have made over the years., rice or even a marshmallow the moisture will be absorbed by these and will prevent your salt dough going moist and mouldy.
Why does my Salt Dough Puff Up and How to Stop it Puffing Up!
There are two reasons why it will puff up.
If the oven is at a too hot a temperature – you need to make sure it is as low as possible. My home ovens lowest temperature is 75C which is perfect for slow drying of the salt dough.
If you find that your oven has the lowest temperature of above 150C then I would advise you to air dry your salt dough creations which will take considerably longer but will prevent the puffing up.
It may also puff up if you have used self-raising flour instead of plain or all-purpose flour.
Can you Air Dry Salt Dough?
Absolutely, in fact, it is the best way to make sure that you have no puffiness and avoid any oven accidents.
Top Tip for Classes and Groups
If you are using the salt dough with a group that meets weekly then create your ornaments one week and leave in a warm dry place and then decorate the following week.
Depending on the room temperature, humidity and thickness it may take from overnight to a week to dry out fully.
How can I tell that my Salt Dough is fully dry?
When dry has a consistent colour, if it looks “greasy” or when you touch it, it can be pressed it needs further drying.
For sculptures that are thick the outside will dry first and as long as you don’t “seal” it fully the moisture in the centre will continue to evaporate and dry out even more.
Can you make Salt Dough ahead of time?
You can but it will start to dry out but you could mix the correct quantities of salt and flour ready to add the water as the mixing takes very little time to do at all.
Why is the Salt Dough Bubbling in the Microwave!
This is because you are heating the dough too quickly – make sure that you follow the instructions on the microwave recipe exactly to avoid bubbling or burning.
Can you Eat it?
NO NO NO NO NO – okay just a few more – NO NO NO NO NO. If you have pets please make sure that the area where you are creating is fully cleaned as the quantity of salt in the dough is dangerous to them as well as to you.
How Long does it Last?
It can last an incredibly long time – if stored properly.
The best way to store it is outlined above however, you can also keep it out as long as it doesn’t get damp.
More Salt Dough Inspiration and Ideas
Christmas Scented Recipe and Star Garland
Share these Tips for Using Salt Dough with Others on Facebook
Pin this Salt Dough Advice for when you need it
I’ve broken the end off the hands on a few fingers. Can I reshape and rebake in the oven?
If it’s still soft dough then yes, but if you have already dried it’s unlikely to attach correctly. Instead we recommend using a strong glue and attaching that way.
Can it break? Once it’s air fried or oven baked I am wondering if it can break. It’s been years since I have made anything.
Btw I meant air dried. Darn autocorrect.
It can break but not normally easily, treat like a clay. I protect ours that come out year after year by wrapping in kitchen paper.
Quick question if anyone knows:
After making, baking, and sealing my salt dough creations, will they burn if heat is applied?
For instance, could you make a wax warmer or useable coffee cup from salt dough as long as it is properly sealed with a heat-safe seal?
Hi, they will burn and even when sealed really well microcracks can appear in the sealant and destroy them.
I’ve made quite a big family hand print Ornament but it has curled up after being baked, is there anything I can do to flatten it out again?
Hi, it sounds like it may have been a little thin and with a slight slope on your baking tray when dried. You could try sprinkling with a little water (spray bottle) this will soften it slightly and then a pizza stone or similar that doesn’t have a slope back in the oven to dry again.
If I want the pieces to look like real bread eg. rolls, loaves, baguettes, etc would I use self raising flour & brush with beaten egg to give the golden shiny look?
How will I seal them when complete?
I would still use plain flour and then paint with acrylic paint for the colour or colour the salt dough beforehand. To get the shiny look you can use a gloss mod podge to seal this will give your salt dough loaves that shine but also seal them so they should last a while.