Teach Soap

I figure this probably belongs here, though it would probably be equally at home in off topic chatter. So I got a huge shipment of coconut and palm oil while I was vacationing in Cape Cod. Today I decided to make a plain uncolored unscented batch with 62% Olive, 20% Coconut, 15% Palm, and 3% Castor with 5ml Sodium Lactate per 450 g of oils and an 8% Superfat. ANYWAY, I decide to put the bucket of Palm Oil into a pot of hot water on the stove to to melt it. All was going well until I decided to try and lift the bucket of melted palm oil out of the hot water. The bottom of the bucket had melted to the bottom of the pot... I still used the oil and now have the water/oil mix cooling in my crock pot till the oil solidifies and can be physically seperated from the water, but now I have no place to put the oil in the mean time, and no clue how I should go about melting my palm oil in the future since I know you need to melt all of it or else the SAP value and effect of the palm oil go all wrong. Any tips on gently melting a bucket of oil to keep this from happening again?

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Just call me "Apo"

I would have put a heating pad underneath it, or put it in the tub with hot water around it.

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

I melt it, stir it well, and separate it into small plastic containers that hold a pound or two of oil. Then I can melt a smaller quantity when I need to use it.

Sorry you have to deal with that mess!

I had a quick question that seemed like it would fit here lol. I order the 7 pound bag from Bramble Berry of palm oil. It had semi melted when it got here, then I took the whole box that arrived with me to the city and it was in the truck all day. By the time I got home, it was fully melted, and I just sorta squished the bag around to make sure it was all incorporated together, then used it. Is that ok? Now I don't melt it down when I measure it, I just measure it out then put it in the melting pot with the rest of my ingredients. Am I doing that right, or do I need to melt it each time before I measure?

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

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

So glad this was posted, as it made me realize I FORGOT to do the melt it all thingy.

Otherwise...probably would have brain farted it until I had problems.

When I got my BB Palm oil it came in a clear plastic bag with a spout. It was separated and partially melted. I melted all my palm oil and put it into a plastic container. When I went to use it the next time it looked like Crisco I went ahead and melted it all again before using it and put it back. Same thing the next time. My question is if it keeps solidifying like that do I still need to melt the whole thing each time or can I just scoop and use it. I live where it stays pretty cool year round. If it were separating I could could see going through the trouble, but if it's not necessary I'd love to skip it.

The stearic will still sink to the bottom as it cools, so yes, you do need to melt & stir it every time. It's a pain, but necessary.

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