Cold Processed - Best for beginners. Bring the batch to hard trace and wait 1-2 weeks.
Cold Processed Oven Processed - A good alternative to the above.
Hot Processed - Most popular method.
This is where most beginners get into trouble. There are as many ways to make LS these days as there are LS-ers! LOL Every formula is different. IME and IMO (in My Experience and In My Opinion) the ZAP test isn't always reliable as to when the batch is done. Sometimes they over cook it; sometimes it needs to be cooked longer.
30 Minutes Process - I'm not familiar with this. ???
Carrie Petersen's Glycerin LS - I use this method to make 100% Olive Oil Castile because 100% OO takes a long time to trace and a long cook (10 hours for me the first time I made it.
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As the video shows,
the batch goes through all the stages of becoming soap before your eyes in 2 minutes! So exciting! CAUTION: It is an advanced technique and NOT for beginners due to the high heat of the lye solution, toxic fumes, and it has a tendency to scorch if not taken off heat as soon as you see "heat waves' rising from the surface.
Variations of Hot Process GLS - The most popular way to process liquid soap these days. Carrie's method was first introduced in 2011. Since then, many LS-ers have developed ways to use glycerin to not only shorten the time it takes to cook the batch but to also make the process safer.
Basic LS Tutorials - Although there are a few others, one of the best sites to learn the basics as well as providing other information on various elements of making liquid soap and providing Tips & Tricks, is
Alaiyna B's Blogspot.
HTH & HAPPY SOAPING!