Teach Soap

I've done some searching tonight and I can't seem to find a definitive answer. Some say yay, some say nay (really shouldn't ask horses a serious question), some say it kills the oils and your soap won't perform as well.

So... oh wise ones (*stares intently at Irena*) is it ok to melt your hard oils and butters (in my specific case - coconut and cocoa butter / mango butter) in the microwave instead of on the stove top? I set my microwave to half strength and zap 1 minute at a time. But now I'm starting to wonder if that is in fact the reason I'm not noticing as many "bubbles" with my soap. Or perhaps I'm just more dirty, the FO, etc, etc might be causing it...

Apart from "test and see" (I don't have the patience to wait 4 weeks lol!), what are people's theories on using a microwave to melt the oils and butters? Am I killing my soap?

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I melt mine in the microwave, have never had an issue.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I too have always melted my butters & hard oils in the microwave. I don't see that they would harm the oils any more than heating on the stove.
Now if you burn your oils, then they don't perform as well.

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Genny

When I started soap making I used a double boiler to melt everything... then I saw a video of someone using the microwave and started using that. I did not notice any difference in the soaps, just the process with the microwave being faster.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

I'm all about the "pour the hot lye water over the room temp oils and melt them that way" method now. However, the first (and only) batch I did that way had a little more shea in it, and the lye water didn't melt it all of the way. So, I dug it out and popped it in the microwave. Came out great!

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www.facebook.com/Semplice-Naturals

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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www.facebook.com/Semplice-Naturals

I used lard in the 3 batches I did.... melted fine. One of the tricks is to pour the lye water over the solid oils first and once melted add the soft liquid oils.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

I have a large stainless steel pot and melt my oils on the stove. It wouldn't fit in the microwave.

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

Irena would need a jumbo industrial sized microwave!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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

Excellent!! Thanks all. My gut feeling said it was ok to do, but I read a couple of iffy comments last night that put doubt into my mind. I will continue loving and abusing my microwave.

_________________
The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Genny