Friday, November 9, 2007

Best, Creamiest Papier Mâché Paste ever




Important update (as of 4/26/17) for comment-section-complainers coming to this 10 year old (!) recipe from some random Pinterest board: this is a wheat paste recipe, sometimes we southerners call it "payper mushay" paste (we also call anything fizzy and sugary a "coke", even if it's a Dr. Pepper, which is the best kind of coke, btw). I am so sorry if that is confusing. If you are sad, instead of complaining, please google "paper clay recipe" or just go here: http://www.ultimatepapermache.com/paper-mache-clay. A colleague uses this recipe and it is legit. You're welcome.

I've made many, many batches of papier mâché paste (wheat paste) in the past year, and most recipes are lacking in a number of ways, they're lumpy after a night in the fridge, and never quite recover, or they start out lumpy, or they turn stinky way too soon. I've finally settled on a recipe of my own invention that is lumpless, mold resistant, is just as good the third day out of the fridge as it was straight off the stove, and always creamy. The real key here is the rice flour, so don't imagine you can leave it out and still expect the best, creamiest papier mâché paste ever.

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 tbsp rice flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup cool water

1. Mix the dry ingredients.
2. Mix in the cool water with a fork or whisk, adding the water a little at a time to keep it as smooth as possible.
3. Stir the flour mixture into the boiling water.
4. Allow it to boil for two or three minutes.

Options: After a night in the fridge just stir it up with a fork. It's even nicer if you heat it.

31 comments:

  1. I love paper mache!

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  2. At last a nice recipe. Thank you.

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  3. Is it glutenous rice flour or plain rice flour?

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  4. You don't eat it so plain rice flour should do the trick.

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  5. i dont have rice flour do i need it
    i don't have any rice flour can i still make paste?




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    1. If you have a ninja or a coffee grinder, you can just make your own rice flour. Just put some in and grind it into a powder.

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  6. Yes, of course. The rice flour just gives it a smoother texture, but it is entirely unnecessary.

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  7. Hvor er pap'et (papiret)
    henne i din papmaché?

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  8. On the options at the bottom it says about leaving it in the fridge overnight, but does that still mean after the whole mixture has boiled?

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  9. Where do you buy rice flour? Thank you
    southernlady582003@yahoo.com

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  10. baking soda..is that bicarbonate of soda or baking powder in england

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    1. It would be bicarbonate of soda--look at this website, it is very helpful explaining.
      http://www.aww.com.au/how-to/expert-qa/baking-soda-bicarb-soda-baking-powder-what-is-the-difference-13045

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  11. I add some PVA glue to the mix. Not much, maybe a TBLSP or so. It makes the article you are building a little tougher.

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  12. looks interesting - I'll try to do :)

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  13. I teach art to kids and we are making foot long bumble bees. I have 30 students. How far will one batch go? I am trying to decide how many to make. They are not fat just long.

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    1. When I make wheat paste for students, I generally start with a quart to quart and a half of boiling water: double or triple the recipe. Depending on the project, number of students, and their age (tweens and young teens are paste hogs), I often make multiple batches during a class. This fancy recipe is for my own use. When I make it in class I just eyeball everything and go. No rice flour, just water, flour, and salt. No time to be fancy with teenagers.

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    2. Thanks! I will make it as I go! Way easier!

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    3. Do you boil the non-fancy recipe as well? Also teaching =)

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  14. This is the only paper mache glue recipe I use. Thanks!

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  15. After looking at other recipes for paste your flour(dry ingredients ) ratio to liquid seem watery? Is recipe correct, BEFOR I start?

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    1. It is correct. You can absolutely add more flour for a thicker paste, but I would not go so far as to double it. If you've ever made gravy you'll know that a very small amount of starch or flour will thicken the liquid. Same thing here.

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  16. Does anyone know a really amazing papier mache receipt? Not only the glue. I am talking about this paste you put glue with pieces of paper together...I saw a photo of a really smoothie and very 'fine' papier maché .. but it was only a photo and I need a receipt. My papier mache is always too lumpy and there are too many pieces of paper in it. The paste I'm talking about is like a tough pulp or a not tough clay.

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  17. I see only flour no paper. It is just a glue? It says "Best papier mache paste ever."

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    1. Yes, this is just a wheat paste recipe. Binder for the paper strips. Look for paper clay recipes.

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  18. Replies
    1. It's wheat paste! Hooray. For making papier mache.

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