Teach Soap

On a lark, I made some shea body butter the other day.

Simple recipe: 75% shea butter 25% castor oil, FO.

Whipped it by hand when it had hardend up a bit - got a nice, white creamy texture. However, once it hardened completely, it clearly did not get any air in it. Its not a bad texture at all - a touch softer than chilled butter from the fridge, only room temperature. Melts on contact with the skin...

Before I wear myself out trying to whip air into another batch - is it hopeless to do it by hand? We cook a lot but don't have an electric mixer, as we are neo-Luddite about cooking tools when possible, and prefer non electric.

What about using an egg beater? Would that work?
http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Eg ... egg+beater

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

Great minds think alike Linda. I was gonna suggest the same thing. I actually got one of those stuck in my hair as a kid. I was babysitting the neighbor's little girl and put her down for a nap. I was watching TV on the couch and fell asleep. I woke up because I felt a sharp tug on my hair and she was up and playing beauty shop with the egg beater in my butt length hair. I had to cut it off to shoulder length thanks to my new hairstylist.

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

Answering my own question:

Yes, you can whip body butter by hand if "you = man with somewhat muscular arms".

But its not quite the results one would get doing it with a machine - a little lighter than not doing it at all. You do have to use the "5 pointed star" method of whipping rather than the "circular" method.