Gel Phase

[LunaLion]

How long does it last? My soap has been in an opaque gel phase for at least 4 hours. Is this a sign of something going wrong?

 

[lizflowers42]

I don't know for sure...I usually let mine insulate for 12-24 hours before I cut them and I haven't experienced partial gel yet!

 

[LunaLion]

How do you insulate yours lizflowers? I put my mold in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. Right now it's just sitting on my stove top. I'm still trying to figure out what process I'm comfortable with when it comes to gelled soaps...

 

[Genny]

How long the gel phase lasts depends on a lot of things, like how large your mold is, any overheating ingredients, how well you've insulated, etc.

 

[Cherry Bomb]

How do you insulate yours lizflowers? I put my mold in a preheated oven for 20 minutes. Right now it's just sitting on my stove top. I'm still trying to figure out what process I'm comfortable with when it comes to gelled soaps...

I know this question was for the lovely lizflowers but I do not preheat my mold. I pour my soap into the mold, wrap Saran (plastic wrap) tight around the entire mold, and then fold a thick bath towel in half and wrap the towel around the entire mold making sure the bottom is fairly flat so my soap is even in the mold. I then leave my soap in the mold covered for at least 24 hours. I know it's hard to wait but I have yet to have a partially jelled soap. I do not use this method with milk products!!!!!

 

[jcandleattic]

Gel phase varies as Genny said.
It can last anywhere from an hour to upwards of at least 6 - 12 hours.
There are too many variables with different recipes and environments that would make it hard to pinpoint exactly how long soaps will actually gel.

 

[CaliChan]

Whenever I cpop I put it in the fridge or freezer after it comes out of the oven to help it cool off faster. Usually its an over night thing and its always completely cooled by morning

 

[lizflowers42]

I know this question was for the lovely lizflowers but I do not preheat my mold. I pour my soap into the mold, wrap Saran (plastic wrap) tight around the entire mold, and then fold a thick bath towel in half and wrap the towel around the entire mold making sure the bottom is fairly flat so my soap is even in the mold. I then leave my soap in the mold covered for at least 24 hours. I know it's hard to wait but I have yet to have a partially jelled soap. I do not use this method with milk products!!!!!

Answer thief! :twisted:

Anywho! I have two large fleece blankets that I fold up several times and wrap them around my wooden mold, nice and tight. You can really feel the heat under the blankets! Also if you have an insulated cooler, that works too!

 

[melstan775]

Is your soap still warm? Just curious if it's still cooking after 4 hours or starting to cool down.

 

[Seifenblasen]

As Genny mentioned, it varies a great deal. I had soap that sill feels warm after 16 hours.

 

[LunaLion]

Is your soap still warm? Just curious if it's still cooking after 4 hours or starting to cool down.

Yeah, it still felt pretty warm. I was surprised. It's fine now but it doesn't look as creamy as I'd like..but i guess that's expected from gelled soaps.

 

[christinak]

I use a 2 lb. mold. I pour it in, put it into a cardboard box (eggo box, 12 pack pepsi box) and then wrap a towel around it. I can unmold 12 hrs. and onward.

 

[LovelyMalia]

Answer thief! :twisted:

Anywho! I have two large fleece blankets that I fold up several times and wrap them around my wooden mold, nice and tight. You can really feel the heat under the blankets! Also if you have an insulated cooler, that works too!

Insulated cooler? I never thought of that.

I just drape 1-2 towels over mine. Seems to do the trick. Its worked for my 1lb batches and my most recent 4lb batch (that's the largest I've gone so far and I feel like that was a lot. I give you 12lbers credit!)

 

[Lindy]

I actually don't wrap. I just let my soap do what my soap is going to do. I spray with ethylene to keep the ash away....

 

[Kansas Farm Girl]

I set my mold in a cardboard box or an insulated cooler - depends on the size of the mold and the size of the box I have. There are even times I do both. I like gel. I want to make sure it gels all the way through.

 

[melstan775]

Yeah, it still felt pretty warm. I was surprised. It's fine now but it doesn't look as creamy as I'd like..but i guess that's expected from gelled soaps.

Yeah, gelled soaps get a translucent look. If you like creamier soaps, it's into the freezer for you.

I don't really "gel" my soaps, but if I leave them out, they gel. I don't cover them, and so far (4 whole gelled batches!) so good. I live at 4300 feet though, and I suspect the higher elevation acts as a kind of pressure cooker. Even food cooks fast here and I always have to compensate using extra water to cook things through before it evaporates. Just saying, I don't know for sure.

 

[christinak]

What can I do about the top getting white? Mine all gel but sometimes they get that ashy look. I saw a vid about steaming it off which was cool....but seems like a pain.

 

[Badger]

I have one batch that got really ashy. I am not planning on selling it or having anyone but myself and my partner use, but I am hoping that I can avoid it on some of my other batches. I know that spraying the top with alcohol will help reduce the ash, but I am not sure if you can do that after it has started curing. I am also not sure about spraying the sides of the bar...

 

[Ruthie]

I have one batch that got really ashy. I am not planning on selling it or having anyone but myself and my partner use, but I am hoping that I can avoid it on some of my other batches. I know that spraying the top with alcohol will help reduce the ash, but I am not sure if you can do that after it has started curing. I am also not sure about spraying the sides of the bar...

I've been spraying the tops when I mold for some time but (DUH) just recently started spraying the other sides when I unmold. Seems to do the trick. Don't know about how long you can wait to spray the top.

Some people are bothered by doing this, but when you have a bar with ash, you can just rinse it off. I tried one yesterday and it comes off easily. I'm not using the bar of soap to clean my own hands, just rinsing it under clear water.

 

[ruby61]

It is probally still cooking. Mine usually takes at least 8 hours before it starts cooling.