Glad I didn't quit my day job...hot process problems!

[EmBlakey]

Hi, I've been eyeing the soaps displayed in awe - I'd love to be able to make some of those! I started making soap very recently and I seem to have mastered laundry soap...however my regular soap can only be described as 'dangerous'!!
I tried making a coconut oil/olive oil batch today and my tongue is raw!! I used the following quantities:

water: 133g
lye: 54g
oil: 350g

I mixed lye and water and threw it into a crock pot with melted oils. I totally forgot to make sure they were within recommended temperature range:/ oops! Anyway, I achieved what appeared to be trace then added some coffee grains. I carried on stirring and heating for about 10 minutes then did the zap test as Im away from home and forgot pH test strips...well I got zapped! So I carried on stirring and heating and tested again....zapped again! So I stirred for another 30 mins or so and the mixture got extremely thick...so thick I could barely stir it any more! Like a very sticky dough I guess...but some oil started to separate for some reason. I tried the tongue test again and got zapped with more intensity! Ouch! My tongue is now raw and I just spooned the soap into moulds as I'm not sure what else to do with it:/

Any ideas please? I've read what I can but still non the wiser!

Cheers

 

[osso]

Have not done hot process, but the quantity of each type of oil is important in checking your recipe.

 

[Seawolfe]

Oh dear.
Ok if you are doing cold process, your batch has not saponified and is NOT safe to zap test until after you mold it and cut it! DO NOT LICK THE SOAP BATTER!!

If I guess your recipe at 50/50 OO and CO, your lye would be at 53 grams and your water at 133 grams for a 5% superfat. This is a really tiny recipe (1.2 lbs) that needs a super accurate scale. If anything is off by the tiniest fraction, it can change your superfat from 5% to nothing (or worse). I would recommend at least 600 g of oils to make about 900g of soap at the end of HP

Trace is basically just an emulsification - its only the very start of saponification and theres lots of lye running about in there.

If you are making hot process, once your soap has completed trace (stickblend in the crockpot until its like pudding), just cook it without stirring till its at that vaseline state - looks like greasy applesauce or mashed potatoes to me. In my crockpot at low heat my 2 lb batches take 45 minutes to cook to this stage. I dont stir and I dont even open the clear lid! And I still wouldnt zap test it! Its hot and even if it has saponified its quite raw.

THEN turn the head off and add your coffee grounds and superfat and EO's or scents on the cooldown and glop it into the mold. After it has cooled and you have cut it into bars you can then zap test it. But truly - it still needs 4-6 weeks cure to be any good. While HP soap may be safe to use after cutting, its not very nice without a good cure.

Hope something here helps

 

[EmBlakey]

Lots of good points! Thanks I have only ever made laundry soap before and after 20 minutes heating it was done and I could zap successfully...this came as a huge shock to me! Is 5% correct ya think? I usually do batches this small but, again, only for laundry soap. Do you think the method I did was not good for regular soap? And also...can I wrap the stuff as soon as it's dry or must I wait weeks before I take it out of the moulds? I make a lot of natural products and this was supposed to be my latest addition in gifts for tomorrow

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Hot process soap can be unmoulded and cut pretty quickly (depending on the recipe) but will need at least 4 weeks cure before it is really ready for use. It should be able to breathe in this time, so wrapping it is okay as long as it can get air. To be honest, if leave wrapping it until it's cured

 

[EmBlakey]

Hmmm so not to sound toooo dumb...but how do I determine now if mine is hot or cold process since I cooked it for longer but it is nothing like my normal hot processed soap??
TIA and merry Christmas

 

[Jstar]

Edited..cuz I can't read apparently..your soap is HP..doesn't matter if it cooked longer.

HP is the addition of heat to the entire mixture.{crockpot, double boiler, etc}
CP is no addition of heat after the melting of oils together. The soap will heat up on its own in the mold

 

[EmBlakey]

Ahh thank you so much - you have all been wonderful! I really appreciate the help I think I will package the soap but I'll make sure it is able to breathe in the meantime....:clap:

 

[Jstar]

Just remember it will shrink a bit as it cures

 

[Susie]

Hot process soap can be unmoulded and cut pretty quickly (depending on the recipe) but will need at least 4 weeks cure before it is really ready for use. It should be able to breathe in this time, so wrapping it is okay as long as it can get air. To be honest, if leave wrapping it until it's cured

^This. That soap is not ready to be given away.

 

[DeeAnna]

I think the important point to remember, whether you're doing hot process or cold process or something in between, is the saponification rate is not a fixed process.

You cannot assume because one batch of soap saponifies fast enough to be zap free in 20 minutes that another batch will be the same.

Just changing the fats can greatly affect the saponification time. For example, a 100% coconut oil soap will saponify quickly and a 100% olive oil will saponify slowly, all other things being equal.

There are other variables that will affect the saponification rate. Water content, the types of fats, the lye solution concentration, the use of any sugary additives or tricky fragrances, the initial temperature of the ingredients, size of the batch, type of mold, use of a stick blender, etc. will all affect the rate at which a soap saponifies.

Now, about that zap test. Never, ever lick a fresh, untested soap. Just don't. There is no reason to ever risk having a burned tongue. Gently rub your fingertip on the soap and very lightly touch your fingertip to your tongue. If the soap is zappy, you'll feel the zap, but at a safe level. If you get a zap, rinse your mouth immediately with cool fresh water until the zappy sensation is gone. If you test for zap and don't get one, then by all means indulge yourself with a big lick.