Make a Mummy—

with an Apple

Mummification preserves bodies by stopping or slowing decomposition. Once a creature or plant dies, it begins to rot. Bacteria and microbes cause it to decay. These tiny organisms need oxygen from the air and moisture to survive and multiply. The more of the organisms there are, the faster they can break down the remains of the creature or plant. 

A dry place without much oxygen doesn’t offer good conditions for these decomposers. That means that bodies are more likely to mummify. 

The Ancient Egyptians are famous for mummifying their dead. They believed that the only way to live after death was to preserve the body. (The Bible tells us that God made our bodies and we should take care of them. But God is the one who gives eternal life, no matter what happens to our bodies after we die. By His power, our bodies will be raised again one day.) The Egyptians often used natron, a kind of salt, to dry the bodies that would become mummies. 

Try mummifying an apple to see how the process works in real life. Here’s what you’ll need:  •  an apple •  about a half cup of salt •  about a half cup of baking soda •  a plastic bag •  a plastic knife

Use the knife to carve or peel a face (or other design) into your apple. Ask an adult for help with this part.

Mix the salt and baking soda together.

Put the apple into the plastic bag. Pour the salt and baking soda mixture all over the apple. Make sure it sticks onto the moist parts of the face. Close the bag.

Put the bag in a cool, dry place. Now comes the hard part. Wait seven days. Then look at the apple. Has it dried out? If not, you can put it into a new bag with new baking soda and salt and give it more time.

The salt and baking soda pulled moisture from the apple. That slows the decomposition process. But it probably wasn’t enough to stop the decay completely. So your apple might be a little mushy.

Take a look at your apple again. Did it shrink? Did it get darker and wrinkly? 

Note: Trying this process with an apple can be fun and educational. But remember: Every human mummy that ever existed was a real person, made in the image of God. So even as we study the processes and learn about the science, we should do so with respect, always giving dignity to those individuals who lived before us.

If you’d like, try more experiments. How does the apple change if you leave it in the salt and baking soda mixture longer? Try adding Epsom salt if you have it. Does wrapping the apple in strips of cloth after salting, like the Egyptians did, make a difference?