11+ Edible Science Experiments: Food STEM Activities for Kids - Hess UnAcademy (2024)

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I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t enjoy eating. I myself LOVE eating so of course any excuse to enjoy a treat in our daily lessons is a win in my book. That’s why we’ve put such a strong focus on fun edible science experiments and edible STEM activities over the last year.

Of course, your STEAM activities don’t need to be edible to be a ton of fun. But food STEM activities are just a super awesome bonus. After all, who doesn’t like science experiments you can eat?!

In the guide below, we’ve put together some of our absolute favorite edible science experiments you can add to your list of STEM activities to do with your kids. We’ve been using many of these for years, so we know you’re going to love them. And keep an eye out for new ones added to the list!

The Best Way to Plan Edible STEM Activities for Homeschool

When it comes to preparing food STEM activities for your kids, you might feel a little overwhelmed. Not only do you have to find good ideas, but then you need to make sure you’re prepared with clear instructions, ingredient lists, etc.

That’s why we recommend the Yummy Crate from KiwiCo. When you sign up, your kids will receive a box every month with a new food STEM activity. Each crate includes:

• 2-3 recipes that teach the science of cooking along with useful kitchen skills
• STEAM activities that allow your children to experiment with kitchen tools and engage in hands-on projects
• Yummy Zine Magazine focused on the science and history around food
• A shopping list to make things as easy as possible

Make finding edible STEM activities as easy as possible – check out the Yummy Crate by KiwiCo here! You can also learn more about KiwiCo in our writeup here.

Get a Bonus Free STEM Project Sent to Your Inbox

Want a free STEM project to do with your kids? Click the button below to sign up to have an exclusive project guide sent to you so you can see exactly what to expect from our popular STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription.

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Or read more about the otherSTEM Made Easy Digital Subscription here.Each month includes 5 STEM project guides along with step-by-step instructions, worksheets, and extra learning resources to make STEM fun and engaging for kids ages 3-19.

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Top 11 Edible Science Projects and Experiments

These top 11 edible science experiments have all been enjoyed in our homeschool over the last few months. Click on one to learn more about it! Many of them even include free printable worksheets or lesson plans if you click through.

Tin Can Ice Cream

When you homeschool, ice cream is no longer just a summer afternoon treat. Now you can learn about physical reactions with your very own homemade ice cream activity!

Using a simple tin can and a water bottle, your kids will learn about heat transfer and how salt turns your creamy concoction into a frozen treat, all while getting some physical energy out!

Or you can do the same experiment using baggies instead of tin cans. The choice is your and the instructions are all here in the tin can ice cream STEM activity. Kids of all ages will love this activity. When you’re done, try experimenting with homemade sherbet. Enjoy this yummy treat all year long!

Edible Slime

While slime is typically considered to be a sensory activity for preschoolers, older kids can learn a lot about Non-Newtonian fluids with slime, and of course, there is always the scientific method. And it makes for a great slime science project.

Especially when using an edible slime recipe, kids can test and experiment with various ingredients to see what works, what doesn’t, and how each ingredient reacts. If your experiment wasn’t a bust, you have a fun and delicious activity to enjoy for an even longer amount of time.

You can make edible slime out of marshmallows, starbursts, gummy bears, candy corn, and so much more. Learn the food science behind these everyday treats. Can your kiddos make slime out of an Oreo? You won’t know until you try!

Enjoy this fun edible science experiment and try some edible slime today.

Edible Stained Glass

While most STEAM activities involve mostly science, math, engineering, etc, this edible stained glass activity turns the art up a few notches. Learn about how stained glass works and try your hand at your own edible glass using homemade candies or by melting jolly ranchers.

When you’re done, learn a little about famous historical stained glass pieces and the artists behind them. Now try and duplicate a famous work of art in your kitchen. Edible stained glass is an awesome edible STEAM activity that ends in a yummy treat!

Edible DNA Model

What better way to learn about the complexities of sciences than with an edible DNA model? Using delicious candies, your kids can build their own candy DNA model while learning about the basics of DNA structures and genetic codes. This is one of the simplest edible science experiments out there, but it offers a ton of educational value.

Use the free printable DNA worksheet to take the learning even further. Go get the step-by-step tutorial for learning with an edible DNA model now!

Pop Rocks

Pop rocks are a fun way to bring edible fun into an earth science lesson. Make your own DIY pop rocks and learn about what happens when air pockets get trapped inside other materials.

This project is perfect for preschoolers and elementary students, but older students will enjoy it as well. Learn how to make homemade pop rocks an edible science experiment your kids will never forget.

Fizzy Lemonade

Fizzy lemonade is a simple science activity that teaches kids about acids and bases. Using a simple cup or a jar along with a few other basic ingredients, your kids can make their own edible explosion and watch the chemical reaction of solids and bases at work.

Knowing about acids and bases is an important lesson to teach and for so many reasons. Learn the basics as well as how to apply these concepts to your everyday life with this fizzy lemonade experiment.

The Science of Cookies

This is one of my absolute favorite edible science experiments. The science of cookies turns an everyday activity into a full-on kitchen science experiment, all with the scientific method.

Use a basic chocolate chip recipe as your starting point. Then, changing one variable at a time, manipulate things until you have learned what part each and every ingredient plays in the overall cookie recipe. Do you know how to make a cookie crispy or chewy? Do you know what melted butter vs softened butter does? Learn all of this and more with a science of cookies STEM activity.

Butter Churning

What can you learn from homemade butter? From the history of the Pilgrims or prairie pioneers to the science of fat molecules and how they react when manipulated, there is so much to be learned!

Of course you can’t forget the art of making a delicious treat. Go learn about using homemade butter as an edible STEM activity now.

Toothpick Bridges

Toothpick bridges are another example of fun kitchen science activities and edible STEM projects. You can build these bridges using toothpicks, spaghetti noodles, gumdrops, marshmallows, or whatever else you can think of.

Model your bridges after real-world designs and structures and learn about engineering, math, history, geography, and more, all at the same time. go read more about how we use toothpick bridges in our homeschool.

Gingerbread Structures

Gingerbread structures are not just for Christmas. You can enjoy the science, engineering, and math behind these fun activity all year long just by changing up the structure you are building!

Bring in some real-world history or architecture by making a famous monument or landmark. The scientific method comes into play again as you experiment with various materials and learn what works best together. Find out more about how we turned gingerbread nativities into a full-on educational adventure!

Homemade Rock Candy

Homemade rock candy is a traditional kitchen science experiment and a good way to enjoy yummy STEM fun with preschoolers, elementary students, middle school students, and even high schoolers.

The concept is simple. Kids learn how to make sugar crystals using a supersaturated solution made from sugar and water. They can experiment with variables and test how each variable affects the final product. And at the end, they get to eat! For extra learning fun, use this same concept to try your hand at rock candy geodes!

For more information on how to enjoy this edible STEM activity and make your own rock candy in your home, read this article on homemade rock candy science.

Safety Considerations with Edible STEM Activities

When conducting edible STEM activities, it is essential to prioritize safety to ensure a positive and secure learning experience. You should always have adult supervision when conducting experiments with children, especially if the experiment involves heat or sharp objects. It’s also a good idea to have a basic first aid kit on hand for minor injuries like cuts or burns. Make sure adults know how to use it.

Before you begin any experiment where there are potential hazards, explain the risks and hazards associated with the experiment in a way kids can understand. Encourage them to ask questions about safety.

Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is important. Participants should wash their hands thoroughly before handling food, and utensils, surfaces, and equipment should be cleaned properly to prevent cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses.

Consider any known allergies or dietary restrictions of the participants when planning your edible science experiments. Make sure to choose ingredients that are safe for all participants.

You also want to ensure that the ingredients used are safe for consumption and make appropriate substitutions when necessary. Only use food-grade ingredients that are safe for consumption. Check for expiration dates and quality of ingredients.

Use age-appropriate utensils and equipment. Avoid sharp objects and hot surfaces. If you need to use knives or other potentially dangerous tools when putting together these edible science experiments, do so under strict adult supervision.

Adult supervision is crucial, especially when working with heat sources, sharp utensils, or potentially hazardous ingredients with these edible experiments. Adults should oversee the entire activity and provide guidance to ensure safe practices.

By following safety guidelines and implementing appropriate precautions, children can enjoy edible STEM activities in a secure and controlled environment.

STEM Resources Delivered to Your Inbox Every Month

If you liked this edible STEM activity, you are going to love the STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription. Each month, you’ll receive 5 fully-planned STEM project guides along with worksheets and instructions for how to make them fun and engaging for kids ages 3-19. Check it out now!