Containers for Master Batching

[ScentimentallyYours]

What containers do you recommend for master batching oils and lye solution? I was so impressed to read @Vicki C’s work master batching production level quantities. (Wow!) I’m only looking at small scale avocational artisan quantities.

I have been using one a gallon polypropylene jug for MB 50:50 lye. The advantage of the sturdy PP jug is that I can put it in a hot water bath to re-dissolve NaOH crystals that precipitate from solution when basement temps go below 70° F. These are what I use.
https://www.amazon.com/WUWEOT-Resis...B08KZRTV93&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_m_rpt_ba_s_3_sc

Now I’d like to find containers for MB all hard & soft oils for a recipe in individual batches. The purpose of individual batches is so that if the oils separate, they will still be in the correct proportions when I go to use them. (In a large container they could separate with harder oils at the top and liquid oils below, which would mess up the recipe, unless I melted the entire container and stirred it.)

For a single recipe I need to store about 1250g of oils in each batch, so I’m looking at 1/2 gallon polypropylene containers. I could also look into 1 gallon containers of the same type for double batches. I have ruled out bottles because I cannot scrape them with a spatula to make sure I get all of the oil, even if I warm the bottles first, so I would end up with inaccurate measurements. I found these and think they may work well.
https://www.amazon.com/AKOLAFE-Buck...ucket+lid+polypropylene&qid=1740596260&sr=8-4

Do folks have other recommendations for small scale MB containers? I’m up for repurposing containers if they are something I would use anyway, or ordering them from Amazon or the Webstaurant store. Help, please!

 

[justsomeguy]

What containers do you recommend for master batching oils and lye solution? I was so impressed to read @Vicki C’s work master batching production level quantities. (Wow!) I’m only looking at small scale avocational artisan quantities.

For soap oils, I use round Cambro containers with lids. Quart, half gallon, gallon, 1.5 gallons, 2 gallons, 3 gallons. Bought them from restaurant Depot. They're here at webstaurant

For bath and body stuff I use the square Cambro containers same sizes as soap ones but no quart and an added 5+ gallons.

This was the two don't mix.

They're all dishwasher safe and mostly microwaveable. The 5 gallon ones don't fit. The handles are convenient and they are sturdy.

I use quart and pint deli bowls for the lye waters and oils sometimes for small batches. I use the 3.5oz ketchup things for fragrance oils for small batches.

All with lids.

For the masterbatched lye I'm using a carboy and a bucket. As well as the essential depot lye containers.

For the lye beads I'm using two 5 gallon dry buckets to store the sixteen 2 pound essential lye Depot bottles. With gamma airtight lids.

I though I was a small soaper but now I'm thinking maybe I'm not so small...

 

[dmcgee5034]

For my lye, I only MB a pound at a time, so I use 2 old containers on rotation that held 2 pounds of lye from BB that I saved. I don’t purchase my lye from them anymore, but these containers are thick and sturdy for this and hold just the right amount for ~3 of my ~1000g oils batches.

For my butters/oils/fats MB, I do exactly what you are talking about. I usually make 4 batches worth, so 4050g to account for some loss in process, and then portion it out to batch size. I make my ~4000g MB fats in this container. I use Ziplock containers with a screw top lid for a tight seal. These are great, because they handle the microwave really well for heating the oils over 165 degrees, they stack and store easily, and I can scrape them out well. I hand wash them, but I know they are dishwasher safe. I do 705g in the larger container and 305g in the smaller one. I label them with a MB batch number for tracking and to use my recipe in the c@lculator. For your batch size, @ScentimentallyYours, you could probably fit the difference in the small and large containers because I do have a bit of room left on them, or use 2 large containers.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Dishwasher? What’s a dishwasher? The only soap dishwasher in this house is named Scentimentally Yours!!!

For soap oils, I use round Cambro containers with lids. Quart, half gallon, gallon, 1.5 gallons, 2 gallons, 3 gallons. Bought them from restaurant Depot. They're here at webstaurant

For bath and body stuff I use the square Cambro containers same sizes as soap ones but no quart and an added 5+ gallons.

I was looking at those Cambro containers @justsomeguy. It helps to have a second opinion on them. The idea of round shapes for MB soapy things and square for bath things is good, too. I think the same could be done with different colored lids. For space saving, the square containers are attractive, but for now may have to be relegated to my wish list.

For my butters/oils/fats MB, I do exactly what you are talking about. I usually make 4 batches worth, so 4050g to account for some loss in process, and then portion it out to batch size. I make my ~4000g MB fats in this container. I use Ziplock containers with a screw top lid for a tight seal. These are great, because they handle the microwave really well for heating the oils over 165 degrees, they stack and store easily, and I can scrape them out well. I hand wash them, but I know they are dishwasher safe. I do 705g in the larger container and 305g in the smaller one. I label them with a MB batch number for tracking and to use my recipe in the c@lculator.

Assigning MB numbers and keeping a record is something I definitely will do in the future. Great advice @dmcgee5034! Previously I recorded info on a label and taped it to the MB, but that doesn’t help with tracking going forward, especially months after using it in soap.

The large container for master batching oils looks like what I had in mind for mixing. I have a large polypropylene picture that would work as well.I could just master batch the hard oils, which would let them fit into a smaller container. I don’t like having to scoop out the hard oils and would prefer them to be pre-measured. Liquid oils are easier.

I will look into the Ziploc containers. Screw on lids are attractive for the seal. I also have other quart size containers that would work if I only master batch hard oils.

Thank you!

 

[dmcgee5034]

The large container for master batching oils looks like what I had in mind for mixing. I have a large polypropylene picture that would work as well.I could just master batch the hard oils, which would let them fit into a smaller container. I don’t like having to scoop out the hard oils and would prefer them to be pre-measured. Liquid oils are easier.
I will look into the Ziploc containers. Screw on lids are attractive for the seal. I also have other quart size containers that would work if I only master batch hard oils.

I’m going to be interested in what you test out, @ScentimentallyYours.

 

[A-Polly]

Hey @ScentimentallyYours, for another opinion on the Cambro containers for both pre-measuring and mixing, have you come across this video on small-scale masterbatching by Simi at Muddy Mint? — although her version of a small batch is 10 lbs.! But she does go through her process in extreme detail, showing how she makes up several buckets at a time, leaving out one oil to add at the end in order to cool down the melted hard oils. I don't know if the Cambro containers come in a suitable size for your soap batches, but I'm sure there must be other ones out there that do. One thing Simi mentions that hadn't occurred to me before is not to assume that any 2 containers will weigh precisely the same, even if they are the same brand and model.

Like @dmcgee5034, I'll also be interested to see what you come up with!

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Hey @ScentimentallyYours, for another opinion on the Cambro containers for both pre-measuring and mixing, have you come across this video on small-scale masterbatching by Simi at Muddy Mint? — although her version of a small batch is 10 lbs.! But she does go through her process in extreme detail, showing how she makes up several buckets at a time, leaving out one oil to add at the end in order to cool down the melted hard oils. I don't know if the Cambro containers come in a suitable size for your soap batches, but I'm sure there must be other ones out there that do. One thing Simi mentions that hadn't occurred to me before is not to assume that any 2 containers will weigh precisely the same, even if they are the same brand and model.

Like @dmcgee5034, I'll also be interested to see what you come up with!

No @A-Polly, I haven’t seen the video, but I will watch it tonight. I use the method of melting hard oils and then adding the liquid oils to cool it down when I make Shea based soap. It’s good for helping avaid stearic spots in my recipes as long as the oils stay clear. I will look at the Cambro containers again after watching the video.

I have a very large polypropylene pitcher to heat & blend the hard oils, then pour them into the smaller containers. The most cost effective thing to do for now is repurpose 32 ounce yogurt containers or use polypropylene deli containers. That would let me heat the hard oils in a single or a double batch to 160° F, then cool it quickly adding high oleic sunflower oil, and castor oil. I soap at 120° F. I already have the yogurt and deli containers, and no one sees the soap room except me so it doesn’t need to look pretty with matching containers. At the moment, I am still leaning towards storing hard oils in 32 oz containers like @dmcgee5034 recommends with the screw on lid.