HOWTO Make honest, simple fake snot

Oh, I know that there's this huge vogue today for making fake snot with molecular gastronomy techniques, a kind of gourmet fetishism for this basic, simple, honest farmland staple. I don't care. I like my fake snot like I like my text-editors: simple, powerful, and green. Lucky for me, About.com Chemistry's Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., has an old-fashioned, traditional folk-recipe for fake snot.

This is a gooey, gross variation of the traditional slime recipe, great for Halloween and other occasions requiring snot.

How To Make Fake Snot (via Make)

[#1 posted by glatt , October 16, 2008 8:44 AM]

The article says "Don't eat or inhale the snot. Borax isn't particularly toxic, but isn't good for you either." but then a linked page on the same website says "The estimated lethal dose (ingested) for adults is 15-20 grams; less than 5 grams can kill a child or pet."

If eating the snot will kill you, I'd say that constitutes being "particularly toxic."

[#2 posted by mork the delayer , October 16, 2008 8:53 AM]

What text editor do you use?

[#3 posted by nanuq , October 16, 2008 8:54 AM]

You're supposed to buy green, not make it.

[#4 posted by Takuan , October 16, 2008 8:54 AM]

has to be a PVA glue?

[#5 posted by andrewkantor , October 16, 2008 9:04 AM]

I'm just glad I can give up that dishonest-snot recipe I had been using.

[#6 posted by Anonymous , October 16, 2008 9:15 AM]

You might think this is funny, but it'snot.

[#7 posted by Kabur Naj , October 16, 2008 9:19 AM]

Wouldn't the only way to make *honest* snot involve soliciting donations from a bunch of people/animals? Any other type of snot would, by definition, be ersatz.

[#8 posted by help i cant comfirm my username themelonbread , October 16, 2008 9:37 AM]

What about just dieing the mucilage from an aloe vera green?

[#9 posted by mondegreen thoughts , October 16, 2008 10:14 AM]

#6....Ersnotz?

(somebody get me Wham-O...)

[#10 posted by fizzding , October 16, 2008 10:39 AM]

Another very easy "snot" can be made by boiling a cup of flax seed in a few cups of water.

It is edible, has a clear-to-opaque look that I imagine is easy to modify with food colouring, and is very inexpensive.

It also makes a nice egg replacement, go figure.

[#11 posted by Anonymous , October 16, 2008 1:28 PM]

I used to work in makeup effects and I know that we always used methyl cellulose for slime. The toy "slime" is the same stuff. Methyl Cellulose is non-toxic (you see it as a food thickener on ingredients labels and is used as a food supplement for constipation) and comes in the form of a white powder. Mix in cold water to desired thickness and you're good to go. Use food coloring in the water before mixing to tint it. I saw some online for about $12 a pound. Have fun getting slimy!

[#12 posted by 5t311a , October 16, 2008 1:52 PM]

I used to make this when i was 4 years old but my friend and I emptied the stuff from the Hoover and dirt from the garden into it to make it real!! No green food coloring tho........I didn't try it, but it did put me off from eating my boogers for a week........

[#13 posted by buddy66 , October 16, 2008 3:03 PM]

wonderful things

[#14 posted by waugsqueke , October 17, 2008 6:00 AM]

Do not accept dishonest snot.

[#15 posted by Evil Jim , October 19, 2008 9:13 PM]

What's wrong with just straining the yolk from an egg?

[#16 posted by Takuan , October 19, 2008 9:21 PM]

stench

[#17 posted by Antinous , October 19, 2008 9:36 PM]

I never seem to run out of the real stuff.

[#18 posted by Phikus , October 19, 2008 11:44 PM]

ANTINOUS: Everyone nose you are a good honest ol' factory? Does it run in the family?

[#19 posted by Takuan , October 19, 2008 11:58 PM]

don't be so phlegmatic.