First attempts at hot process soap

[Val’s5]

Gm, I too seem to favor HP and had a question for yall- do you use a heat source (crock pot) or literally just the pot? I have seen a couple of videos with ladies NOT using a heat source and ws curious to try it…

 

[Ugeauxgirl]

Gm, I too seem to favor HP and had a question for yall- do you use a heat source (crock pot) or literally just the pot? I have seen a couple of videos with ladies NOT using a heat source and ws curious to try it…

I use the crock pot.

 

[AliOop]

I typically HP in a stainless pot on the stovetop. The crock part of the crockpot is too heavy and hard on my wrists when I'm trying to get everything out, and again when I'm trying to clean it in the sink.

 

[LisaBoBisa]

I really love the rustic chunky-looking top for some HP soaps--in an oatmeal soap, the top ends up looking like oatmeal. And with lavender soaps, the top looks a little like rough, uncut amethyst stone. It's appealing in an all-natural, farmhouse kind of way. I've always used a crock pot for HP, but after watching this Tellervo video, a bowl over a pot of water (makeshift doubleboiler) looks so much easier to pour than wrestling with a big, hot stoneware crock.

 

[AliOop]

... a bowl over a pot of water (makeshift doubleboiler) looks so much easier to pour than wrestling with a big, hot stoneware crock.

I don't even bother with the bain marie. I cook my HP soap in a heavy-bottomed SS pot right on the stove. Never had a problem with it, and the heavy crock is exactly why I prefer the stove.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I don't even bother with the bain marie. I cook my HP soap in a heavy-bottomed SS pot right on the stove. Never had a problem with it, and the heavy crock is exactly why I prefer the stove.

Do you do much stirring to get the heat evenly spread, or just cook it low and slow?

 

[Val’s5]

QUOTE="LisaBoBisa, post: 934385, member: 54195"]
I really love the rustic chunky-looking top for some HP soaps--in an oatmeal soap, the top ends up looking like oatmeal. And with lavender soaps, the top looks a little like rough, uncut amethyst stone. It's appealing in an all-natural, farmhouse kind of way. I've always used a crock pot for HP, but after watching this Tellervo video, a bowl over a pot of water (makeshift doubleboiler) looks so much easier to pour than wrestling with a big, hot stoneware crock.
[/QUOTE]

Hello, just saw this beautiful video (Tellervo) so graciously done- thanks for sharing- have you tried her method?

 

[DeeAnna]

I'm not an HP maven, but I've hot-processed enough batches to have a reasonable idea of what to expect. I sometimes use a sous vide method (soap in a bag that's heated in a hot water bath) for small batches. Otherwise I cook HP soap directly on the stove burner, like @AliOop.

I use a large, thick bottomed stainless steel pan. I don't stir continuously while the soap is cooking, but I don't leave the area either. The soap has "riz up" in the pan a time or two when I've had the burner set a little too high, so I keep an eagle eye on it as it cooks.

I've never had the soap burn or stick in the pan -- I think it would expand and overflow first and then make a major mess on the stove.

 

[AliOop]

Do you do much stirring to get the heat evenly spread, or just cook it low and slow?

I am not a patient person so I tend to go with higher heat and much stirring so it is done faster. Which in turn, requires a good bit of water if I want fluidity - usually 3:1.

 

[LisaBoBisa]

QUOTE="LisaBoBisa, post: 934385, member: 54195"]
I really love the rustic chunky-looking top for some HP soaps--in an oatmeal soap, the top ends up looking like oatmeal. And with lavender soaps, the top looks a little like rough, uncut amethyst stone. It's appealing in an all-natural, farmhouse kind of way. I've always used a crock pot for HP, but after watching this Tellervo video, a bowl over a pot of water (makeshift doubleboiler) looks so much easier to pour than wrestling with a big, hot stoneware crock.

Hello, just saw this beautiful video (Tellervo) so graciously done- thanks for sharing- have you tried her method?
[/QUOTE]

I'm hoping to try it this weekend! I'll let you know how it goes!