Cider soap - leaking fluid?

[Veggiebin]

hello everyone!

I made a batch of soap about a week ago, and went to cut it yesterday. It had a large brown spot in the bottom, middle of the slab that started oozing brown liquid (looked like the lye solution). I decided to cut the bars anyway to see how much damage had been done. Almost a third of the bars, ones in the center, have spots in them that look like potatoes (my impression...) a little lighter than the rest of the soap, with a little brown around them. The remaining bars looked completely normal.

I’ve attached some photos so you can better visualize what I have going on.

The liquid did not bother my ungloved hands, and when I tested it with phenothalein it did not turn pink. I have used this recipe forever (over ten years) and have never seen this before. I have substituted with beer before, but not cider.

Does anyone know what this could be? I made another batch earlier yesterday with another cider, so I will see whether or not it repeats. I’m wondering if it will cure ok and be fine or if I should repeat the batch or if I’m doing something wrong with the making of it.

Any insight would be helpful. Thank you!!!

 

[DeeAnna]

It's hard to say, but it looks to me like an emulsion failure due possibly to mild overheating.

 

[Saranac]

Did you use cider as a complete replacement for water? Sweet cider contains, IME, about 10% sugar; that may have contributed to the overheating.

 

[Veggiebin]

Thank you for your replies.

Yes, it was a full water replacement with the cider and I believe that overheating may be the culprit. The top was a little brainy looking as well. I was debating whether or not to insulate it as well as I usually do, and decided to go ahead and put the towels on. I’ll have to keep a better watch next time. This has me thinking of all kinds of experiments to try ))

The batch I made yesterday does not have the brain effect going, so I’m hoping it will be fine.

So, question for everyone. Is the soap usable? Would you sell it? Or scrap it and begin again?

 

[Kamahido]

Thank you for your replies.

Yes, it was a full water replacement with the cider and I believe that overheating may be the culprit. The top was a little brainy looking as well. I was debating whether or not to insulate it as well as I usually do, and decided to go ahead and put the towels on. I’ll have to keep a better watch next time. This has me thinking of all kinds of experiments to try ))

The batch I made yesterday does not have the brain effect going, so I’m hoping it will be fine.

So, question for everyone. Is the soap usable? Would you sell it? Or scrap it and begin again?

I think a better question than "would you sell it" would be... would you buy it?

 

[earlene]

Since it's not zapping (I assume, since the phenolphthalein was negative, but if you have not zap tested, I would) then I would say usable. But I would think selling your first failed cider soap is not necessarily a good idea. I'd let it cure and use it myself, and compared a bar from a good batch to the first batch after cure as well.

IMO when you develop a new soap formula, testing is part of the development that one must go through before the formula and method is perfected. Also, I'd probably start the first couple of testing with a smaller batch until I am confident about the outcome. After perfecting, then I'd consider selling that line.

 

[DeeAnna]

I would be okay to use it personally especially so I could monitor any changes over time, but I'd be uncomfortable selling this soap. I'm not saying I need utterly perfect soap to sell, but the reason why a soap is less-than-perfect makes a difference. Since the defects come from an unexpected processing problem, not an aesthetic issue, I'd err on the side of not selling.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

The two posts before make good points - if you're not 100% of what the cause is, can you in good conscience sell it?

 

[Veggiebin]

Yes, I was leaning that way too. I suppose I don’t have to ask if I know what my gut is saying.

I will definitely use it though for personal use. I’m thinking that it may cure out fine. It looks and smells great other than those bars in the middle.

Begin again! Yay!!!

Thanks for all the input