Teach Soap

Hello,

I am a very new cold-process soap maker (I am brand new to this online community!) and I have a question regarding oil and lye solution temperatures. Many recipes that I have read call for the lye and oil to be at about the same temperature when you combine them (usually around 110-130 degrees). This involves allowing the lye solution to cool down to that temperature range, and then using an external heat source to warm up the room temperature oils. My question is, why must the oils and lye solution be the same temperature when the soap maker combines them? Why not combine the two components before the lye solution cools down, and use the heat of the lye solution to warm up the oils? Does the temperature of the oil and lye solution components at combination affect the hardness of the final soap bar product? Is it "okay" to use room temperature oils if I bring the raw soap to a very heavy trace before putting it in the mold?

Many thanks,

Chrissa

There are a few methods of using different temps for soapmaking.
1. Screaming hot lye to melt room temp oils and butters
2. Using lye and oils at room temperature
3. Melting oils to about 110 and letting the lye cool down to about 110

Mixing oils and lye water at 130 degrees will definitely speed up the saponification process.
I melt my oils/butters and let the lye water cool down. I go by the feel of my hands on the soap pot and the lye pitcher. When both are just warmer then my hands, I soap.

It is best to know your temps in the beginning. You can use a laser thermometer available online or at your local hardware or car parts store.

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

Thank you very much! Is there a significant difference in the soap bar quality resulting from the three different methods?

Thank you,

Chrissa

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

Thank you for your help!

Chrissa

I'm relatively new too, that is a great question. I made a batch today and was a little impatient so I added the lye a little earlier than I normally do...I feel my mix went to trace faster, is this why?

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

Much like freezing goats milk so it won't burn when you add the lye, can you do the same with water, like using ice cubes so it won't trace as fast?

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