About Temperature Checking Lye

[Lotus]

I want to ask a question, and I'm afraid I'm going to get pounced on for it.

Since one needs to regulate the temperature of the oils and lye water, do you guys use a plastic fry thermometer to check your lye?

My thoughts are only that, should you use a general probe thermometer, the lye may react badly to the metal. I was just wondering if anyone actually uses metal thermometers regardless?

My thoughts are, I should probably research what kind of plastic is used for my fry thermometer, since my last one actually broke through the plastic and had the mercury exposed (this particular thermometer wasn't used for soap making, it was used for actual cooking).

Curious


Edited for grammar.

 

[Mommysoaper]

I use a glass candy thermometer. It works fine for me. I don't know what metal cooking thermometers are made of. I'd love to get an infrared thermometer. maybe I can add that to my birthday list in the hopes that DH may get me one.

 

[soapguy]

I just use a regular stainless steel oven thermometer. I am thinking about going against the grain and just pouring in my hot lye without heating my oils. In theory, the lye should heat up the oils while I stir. I saw some lady do in on Utube and it worked out fine for her. Rather than waste my oils, I will run a small batch. My only problem is I just made 72 bars, I think I should cool it for awhile. If all goes well, I plan on sending them to our soldiers in Afghanistan.

 

[Lotus]

I use a glass candy thermometer. It works fine for me. I don't know what metal cooking thermometers are made of. I'd love to get an infrared thermometer. maybe I can add that to my birthday list in the hopes that DH may get me one.

It seems like stainless steel. My husband agrees. By infrared, do you mean tho ones that are like a gun that you aim at and it reads the temp? Good idea, if so. My dad has one of those for his shop.

Soapguy: you mean like the ones that just sit there with no probe, meant to temp the atmosphere? You're crazy! I say this, because, I'm wondering, do you just set the whole thing in there? Hee hee. My oven started going wonky, so I NEED mine for my oven, and I LOVE to cook and bake. I wish you luck in thermometering.

 

[xyxoxy]

When I use a thermometer I use the infrared kind... works great. If you have a Harbor Freight near you they sell them fairly inexpensively.

You should also check out "Master batching" your lye. I won't go into the details as there should be numerous threads on the subject. But basically you mix up your lye in advance in large batches and then calculate your oils and water based on the lye to water ratio you used. And you mix everything at room temperature more or less. Much easier than trying to get your lye and oil temps to match which I think is a huge waste of time.

 

[Lotus]

When I use a thermometer I use the infrared kind... works great. If you have a Harbor Freight near you they sell them fairly inexpensively.

You should also check out "Master batching" your lye. I won't go into the details as there should be numerous threads on the subject. But basically you mix up your lye in advance in large batches and then calculate your oils and water based on the lye to water ratio you used. And you mix everything at room temperature more or less. Much easier than trying to get your lye and oil temps to match which I think is a huge waste of time.

I do have a Harbor Freight nearby, actually.

But, as much as I thank you for your recommendation. I'm a weird old soul, who loves doing things simply and tediously. Hell, if it wasn't quite so time consuming, I would mix all my batches the good old hand stirred way (in fact most of my soap batches have been done this way, until recently). I like the therapy of doing things in a fashion that takes thought and time. I'm weird that way. Thanks, though.

 

[Mockingbird Ramble]

I started doing the "thermal transfer" method and stopped obsessively checking the thermometer, trying to get everything to perfect temps.

If I ever do a milk soap I am sure I will have to heat up my fats, but not at that point now.

 

[Lotus]

I started doing the "thermal transfer" method and stopped obsessively checking the thermometer, trying to get everything to perfect temps.

If I ever do a milk soap I am sure I will have to heat up my fats, but not at that point now.

It is an interesting idea to me. It makes sense, when you thing about it. Still, it makes me a bit wary. I like to be safe with the things I do. Especially when lye is involved. Way down the road, maybe, I'll try it. But probably not, since I'm a weirdo who just loves the general CP process to death. But, surely you used a thermometer at some point, right? What did you use?

ETA: I do want to experiment with milk at some point. From what I've read about it, I think I want to read about current experiences a few times more, before I try it.

 

[mel z]

I just use an old $3 meat thermometer that I think I got at Walmart years ago. It's the kind you can clip on your pocket like an ink pen, and the shaft is stainless steel if that is what you have.

I was looking at the infra red ones so I could avoid putting my hands near the lye solution, even though I am wearing gloves I'm a worrier type. However, I have now done enough that I can feel the outside of the jug and tell when it is cool enough. I've been doing room temperature lately, and just wait until everything cools down so I don't need to use the thermometer.

 

[squeakycleanuk]

I do the thermal transfer method too and therefore don't use thermometers. Its great, you should give it a go. Tbh (and I know many will disagree) I think its a safer method because there is less fiddling around with the lye, as you're not checking temp and it doesn't sit around waiting to cool, so you can get it mixed and poured in half the usual time, therefore limiting your (and anyone elses) exposure time to it. As long as you wear safety clothes and you're careful with it there should be no problems but then applies for the usual method anyway

When I first started soaping years ago, I used a regular thermometer with the metal bit on the end and never encountered any problems, so I'm assuming they are safe.

 

[Ruthie]

I'm wanting to try thermal transfer. It does really seem like such a simple method! But my room temperature method seems to get in the way. When I think about trying it, my pot is already full of premixed oils. Wait! It is empty right now! Maybe today will be the day!

Lotus, I agree with you on liking to keep things simple. DH and I made my log molds, and I cut my soaps by hand. No fancy soapcutter at my house! Though I do have a bit of a different take on what is simple, I guess. ;-) But I also am a "weird ole soul." That's why my business is called "The Odd Duck."

 

[songwind]

I tried the thermal transfer method on my last soap, and it worked pretty well. Except...

The stearic acid didn't melt completely and I had to heat up the mixture. So, there's that. Maybe not the best method for a soap with significant stearic acid.

 

[soapguy]

"Soapguy: you mean like the ones that just sit there with no probe, meant to temp the atmosphere? You're crazy! I say this, because, I'm wondering, do you just set the whole thing in there? Hee hee. My oven started going wonky, so I NEED mine for my oven, and I LOVE to cook and bake. I wish you luck in thermometering."

No, not that type. just one I found in an old stove one day. It's pretty big(industrial type) and probably used to puncture meat. But now you have me thinking....

 

[soapguy]

I cant wait to try the thermal transfer method. The way I see it, it will cut down on cleaning and paper towels. This way you only have one lye container to clean and the rest of the reaction could be handled in a thick plastic paint bucket.

 

[dagmar88]

I used to use a glass chocolate tempering thermometer when I first started out.

 

[DeeAnna]

"...When I use a thermometer I use the infrared kind..."

I like the idea of not having to get caustic soap batter on a thermometer in order to check the temperature.

There is a shortcoming to infrared temperature sensors, though. An infrared device only measures surface temperature, not internal temperature. As with a large cut of meat, the surface temp of soap batter may not be remotely the same as the internal temperature.

Bottom line: If you want an accurate reading with an infrared gun, make sure your batter is well stirred before checking the temp.

As far as those who don't check temps, I'm sure lots of fine soap is made without the use of a thermometer. Being more of a scientific, curious bent, I like to follow the temps to get a better understanding of what I'm doing. For example, I am interested in figuring out how temperature changes of the soap batter might be related to or could be used to avoid "false trace".

Some of my observations of temperature have shown the following: The batter temp often drops a few degrees shortly after the fats and lye solution are mixed together. This temp drop can cause a slight thickening of the mixture.

I know that is not "true trace" -- I want to see a temp rise, or at least a consistently stable temp. This tells me the saponification reaction has really started in earnest. When the temp gradually rises a degree or two above the initial batter temperature, I know saponification is taking off, the batter emulsion is stable, and I can stop mixing, even if there are no obvious signs of trace.

On the other hand, my temperature checks have taught me that true trace can be reached even though the temperature remains stable -- but the key here is that the temp is stable, not dropping.

 

[Serenity]

I used to use glass thermometers but have broken one too many, so now I use a digital thermometer which has a metal probe and it's brilliant. It gives a fast read-out so I can pop it in the lye then quickly pop it in the oils with no problem. I'd like to get another one but that would cost money!

 

[Badger]

I use an infrared gun thermometer to check the temp on my lye and oil. I can go back and forth quickly with it and don't need more then one thermometer.

 

[Ruthie]

Well, I made my first thermal transfer. So glad songwind had warned me. But then I had kinda expected it. Due to my high amount of hard oils, just the temperature of the lye was not enough to melt them all. Put it in a sink of hot tap water and it was fine. Btw I had broken up the large pieces.