Dumb Question about Coconut Oil

[Tiffiny Shea]

So, I am brand new to soap making (haven't even made my first batch yet) and ordered the 76 degree coconut oil from Columbus foods for my soap recipe. It came in a big tub with a little capped opening, for pouring. Except that of course it's solid.

I didn't know what exactly "76 degree oil" meant until now, I realize 76 degrees is the temp at which it will melt. So my question is how do I melt it to measure it for my soap? Can you just stick in the microwave, or is there some important method to it? I can't pour it out of of the bottle until it somehow gets to 76 degrees. Aaag.

 

[Relle]

Put the container in a large bucket and put boiling water in it and it will slowly melt and you can pour it out. While your at it, you might be able to put it in a smaller bucket that way you can scoop it out when it is solid and then microwave it. Hope thats as clear as mud :wink: .

 

[carebear]

or let it get good and solid (you want to be sure) and cut the bottom off the jug and put it into a small bucket (Home Depot sells 'em cheap and they are re-useable).

Alternatively, you can simply melt and pour off what you need. Coconut oil doesn't need to be mixed so you can just let melt the amount you need. A pan of hot water will do the trick.

 

[IrishLass]

or let it get good and solid (you want to be sure) and cut the bottom off the jug and put it into a small bucket (Home Depot sells 'em cheap and they are re-useable).

That's what I do. I get out my box cutter and have at it, then I scoop/scrape all of the solid oil out into a wide mouth container/bucket with a good lid.


IrishLass

 

[Tiffiny Shea]

or let it get good and solid (you want to be sure) and cut the bottom off the jug and put it into a small bucket (Home Depot sells 'em cheap and they are re-useable).

That's what I do. I get out my box cutter and have at it, then I scoop/scrape all of the solid oil out into a wide mouth container/bucket with a good lid.


IrishLass

So, how do you melt it once it's in the giant bucket?

 

[carebear]

You just scoop or chunk out what you need.

 

[Relle]

I put mine in a pyrex jug and melt what I need after I've scooped it out.

 

[xyxoxy]

Don't microwave it. They use a foil seal under the cap which could cause problems.

I fill my laundry sink with hot water and let it sit in that for a while, then pour it out into a wide mouthed jar.

 

[Guest]

Measure it by weight and not by volume.
Coconut Oil 76deg has a density of .92 so...

1 pint (16 fl. oz.) = 14.72 ounces = .92 pounds by weight

 

[IrishLass]

So, how do you melt it once it's in the giant bucket?

You just scoop out and weigh however much you need into a heat-safe container.

IrishLass

 

[donna75126]

So you need to melt it before you weigh it?

 

[Lindy]

Nope. The melting part is to help you get it out of the jug. Mine comes in a large bucket and I just scoop the solid oil out and put it into whatever I'm making my soap in to weigh it. I melt it all together at the point I'm making my soap.

I like the idea of use a knife to open the bottom of the jug to scoop it out into a bucket. It will make your life way easier....

 

[Stinkydancer]

I melt mine in the oven uncapped and fill a smaller jar with it. My oven is usually at 200 and it doesn't take long- a few minutes will melt enough coconut oil to fill my jar.

 

[Relle]

Don't microwave it. They use a foil seal under the cap which could cause problems.

I fill my laundry sink with hot water and let it sit in that for a while, then pour it out into a wide mouthed jar.

Mine is put in the microwave in a pyrex jug after I scooped it out of the bucket. There is no foil seal under the cap on the one I buy here and I couldn't get a 5 litre container in my micro if I tried .

 

[xyxoxy]

I was talking about the oils from Columbus Foods that were mentioned in the first post. Their gallon jugs have a foil seal under the cap.