Teach Soap

So I infused some olive oil for one of my batches and normally I use it same day or the next day however I have been so busy working that I haven't had time to get the soap batch made. Anyone know if there is a time limit on the infusion? I have it covered well to keep it clean but I should likely get it used ASAP correct?

Thanks

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Was you herb still in the oil or are you talking about oil that was infused and then stored?
Either way, it is fine to store for a good while. The longer the plant material sits in the oil though, the more chance of a contaminant being introduced, and if it was a fresh herb, rather than a dried one, the more likely you will be growing mold too. So, if the oil was infused and then stored without the plant material, as long as your oil is fresh, you are fine to use it within months. Smell it and see, you can tell when an oil is "off".
If it was stored with the plant material and that material was dried before you used it, it will last up to a few months, as long as it was stored properly (as in out of heat and direct sun, being shook daily, and without a lot of air space). This one gets a little tricky cuz you can't smell all bacteria, but generally speaking it will be good for 4-6 weeks without removing the herbs, then longer if you get all the plant material out of the infusion and store that.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

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Yes it should be fine. Just put it in a jar with a lid next time and you can keep it for a good long while. I usually always have a few jars of various infusions sitting on the shelf in the soap room. Girl scout and all!

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

_________________
www.fostersfields.ca
https://www.facebook.com/FostersFields

I have been infusing an oil with herbs or powders about once a week using a Little Dipper crock pot - you know the dinky ones that you can use to warm a dip. It gets a little hotter than I'd like (200 degrees F with oil in it, less hot with just water) but it works fine. My smaller normal crock pot gets too hot even on low. And the little dipper was only $1 at Goodwill.

Anyway, I like to infuse the oil for 8-24 hours. Sometimes I can't make soap the next day for whatever reason so I leave it for 24 hours covered. It's always been fine. I use dried herbs or powder, so there isn't much that could turn quickly.