Teach Soap

Does it take a bit longer for the soap to set up?

I made a batch, in a slab mold, a few days ago. The mold is silicone, and I put it in the freezer for a few hours so i could smoothly peel the mold off the soap. I got the soap out of the mold yesterday afternoon, and after it thawed, it seems a bit soft - just a bit harder than cream cheese.

The first batch of lard I made was in smaller molds, rather than one large one, so I really didn't notice if they were softer coming out of the mold or not. (And I froze them solid, to easily unmold.)

I'm just wondering if I need to give it more time, or have I really messed something up? (Hope not, 'cuz I got some really nice swirls on this one)

Thanks for the help.

Anita

I usually use a wooden log mold and gel in the oven for my lard soaps. They set up and get cut in 24 hours. When I tried the same soap in a silicone mold and did not gel, it took 4 days to set up.

I know that lard takes longer to trace. What was your recipe? If it didn't gel, then yes, the soap can start out softer then gelled soap. Once cured, it should be fine.

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

I use lard in almost all of my soap and I've never had a problem with it being soft if it gels (I always gel).

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

I use lard in about half my recipes.. I wait only one extra day to cut it, compared to my regular veggie recipes.

I have never had an issue with my lard soaps being soft, but my last one was soft. Lard percentage was the same but I did sub cocoa butter for shea butter and I think this is what had done it. I have been trying to make one snowball from each batch that I do and this one is taking a few extra days for me to get it out of the mold. Sometimes I gell and sometime I don't. The last batch started to gel on me because I was doing a spoon swirl and I am not fast at it.... so if my soap starts to gel I do not get in its way!!!

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

Thanks for all the input.

Recipe used:

Castor oil 3oz
Cocoa butter 3oz
Coconut oil, 76 degree 9oz
Lard 18 oz
Olive oil 18 oz
PKO 9 oz

Water 22.8 oz
Lye 8.5 oz

Soaped at 80 - 85 degrees F, no gel.

I've used this same recipe (well, the lye amount may differ) using tallow instead of lard, and never noticed an issue with it being kind of soft right out of the mold. If I just need to leave it alone for a few more days, that's fine. It's for a craft show the middle of next month, so not a tearing hurry yet.

I'm reassured that all I need to fix this is patience.

Anita