Most of us hate the traditional Styrofoam packing peanuts, but we think we’re stuck with them. Guess what? You’re not stuck with one particular type of packing peanut. You can actually make your own cornstarch packing peanuts utilizing common household ingredients. That means you can say goodbye to those white Styrofoam pieces that seem to get stuck on everything and say hello to something that is better for your items and better for the environment.
Instructions
1. Let your frozen bag of corn thaw until it’s nice and soft. You can either leave it sitting out overnight or put it in the microwave for a few minutes. You’ll want it soft, but not completely cooked.
2. Take a potato masher or fork to the corn and mash it until it looks like baby food. Alternatively you can toss the corn into a blender or food processor until it’s completely mashed. Place your corn in a large bowl, making sure to get out everything. Pour water into the bowl until the corn is completely covered and place it in a cool, dry spot for at least 24 hours.
3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the corn pieces from the bowl to a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. You can also run the mixture through a strainer as long as you remember to reserve the liquid. The liquid from the corn should sit for at least 15-20 minutes.
4. Run the water mixture through a piece of cheesecloth, which will trap the starch from the corn inside. Leave your mixture sitting in the cheesecloth overnight so it will dry. You can place an empty bowl underneath the cheesecloth to trap any liquid that might still remain.
5. Measure out one tablespoon of your cornstarch powder and mix it with teaspoon of a water in a small cup. As you mix the starch and water it will start to turn into a paste. Place your entire cup into a microwave on high for 15 seconds. When you remove the mixture you’ll have a small cornstarch packing peanut. Repeat the process to make as many peanuts as you need.
