Teach Soap

Hello, I have some question regarding HP and CP soap.

I just made two batch of HP soap, after 2 days I found out that the bottom part of my soap gets a pool of oil. Not much though. But I wonder, it is an indication that my batch still don't completed yet or it is just normal? Overall I'm satisfied with the results.

Secondly, Before I tried HP process, I had done 5-6 batch of CP soap. I had only 1 batch that reach light trace, the others just getting very light trace (very fluid, even a trail cannot be sustain for one second). Is this my formula/ingredients problem or is it the whipped that has to be longer?

To be known, my last formula for both these HP and my last CP soap are:
35% Coconut oil
65% palm oil
Both I purchase in liquid state. (I wonder this is what makes my soap difficult to reach higher trace)
I use 10% superfat.
And I use manual whisk.

Thank you for your help...

Ardy
Never give up to fast to catch your fortune

The first thing that springs to mind, ArdyMulio, is your manual whisk.

I used to soap that way and with a big spoon. It does not produce the best texture in soap, and, it takes forever to get to trace. With your recipe, you should have had trace in at least 20 minutes or less... With my stick blender and a recipe like yours, I get trace in about 8-10 minutes.

Invest in a stick blender. It doesn't have to be Cuisinart or anything fancy. Just get one with a steel shaft, not aluminum. Sometimes the cheaper ones work better than expensive. I got a Couri (Italian version of Presto) that came with a mini-food processor, a footed beaker, and a whisk, in addition to the immersion blender head = for just $22.

It's the best little improvement in modern soap making since pre-made lye, I think.

It should get your oils & lye blended so well that there's nothing in the pot that doesn't get thoroughly emulsified. Trace comes so much easier & you don't waste the time wearing yourself out.

My grandma's old lard soap recipe would take about an hour to trace & my arms would ache... And then we cooked it & it took another 3 hours stirring over a wood fire... Never again...

BTW - the zoom-zoom sounds makes it more fun, too.

You definitely need a stick blender. Stirring with a hand mixer takes forever. Before stick blenders were invented I used a large stainless spoon. Never again.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

So much thanks cabravieja and soapbuddy for your fast responses

Do the stick blender still apply for the HP to eliminate the oil pool problem? 'Cause I imagine that when in "mashed potato" state it would be easier to use stainless steel spoon to blend.

regards

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

[/quote]
You only stick blend in the beginning til you reach at least an emulsion or a light trace. I use a silicone spoon when I cook the soap to stir with when I use a crockpot. I don't want to scratch the interior. Unless you didn't reach a true trace or the soap overheated, you should not have an oil pool.[/quote]

Ok, thanks soap buddy. That really makes sense.

Can't wait to try another batch.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.