Help with Crisco, tallow, lard

[rodeogal]

I have literally worn myself out running recipes through Soapcalc, so I am going to call upon you all and your experience.

The recipe I have been using calls for lard. However, the more I read and look on sites for handmade soap, it appears that people do not use lard, or at least the people who sell soap don't.

Do any of you use lard, tallow, or Crisco in your soaps?
Do you sell your soap?
Do your buyers object?

I am sorry to be so nosey, I am just trying to gather information. There was a lady at the county fair that did a soap demo, and she uses Crisco. Soapcalc showed this to make a softer bar of soap. Is that right?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Tons of soapers use Lard, Tallow, and Crisco. You'll have some customers balk at the idea of using animal fats, and others who are searching for it specifically. It's all a matter of preference. I personally do not use animal fats. I have had more customers request NO animal fats as opposed to asking FOR animal fats. I think it depends on your market and your geographics.
By the way: Old Crisco was made with Tallow. New Crisco is made with Palm and Soybean Oil, so it no longer falls under the Animal Fats category. (I also do not use Crisco)

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

I use both lard and tallow, but I live in an area where it's practically expected.
Whenever I tell people I make soap the responses are usually the same. the first question: 'you mean with lye?", second question: "do you use lard/tallow?" third question: "you mean like on Fight Club?" To which I reply yes, yes, and yes exactly like that!:roll:
I began using lard b/c it's what I have on hand, it's what I'm familiar with. I have continued using it b/c I enjoy the qualities it brings to my soap.

 

[CaliChan]

Ive recently started using lard in my soap for two reasons
1. I have friends that are allergic to coconut that want to try my soap and its an easy way to get a hard bar with out coconut oil
2. Im having issues with dry skin and i think that coconut oil could be the culprit.
Im aware that there are substitutes for coconut oil out there but i try to keep it pretty local (as in what i can find in stores)
soaps with alot of lard in them are a BEAUTIFUL white. and i really like it.
i dont sell my soaps (yet) ive gotten to the point were im comfortable with all the oils and some additives but im waiting till i am more experienced with colorants.
Lard is a pretty common ingredient in store soaps and alot of people dont realize it. (i know i didnt)

 

[Yooper]

I don't use lard, simply because the purchased "lard" available to me isn't all-natural 100% lard.

I do use grass-fed beef tallow, that I render myself. I also started using deer tallow this fall.

I don't use Crisco at all.

I tend to use olive oil, coconut oil, tallow, castor oil (normally 5%), and occasionally some shea or cocoa butter.

I don't sell my soap- I make them to give away and for personal use.

I personally have more of an issue with industrialized seed oil production than animal products, but I do make some all vegetable oil soaps for my vegan/vegetarian friends.

 

[Marilyna]

I use meat shortening which is mostly tallow. I've never had anyone question the use of tallow, ever. In some regions it might be more of an issue, I guess. I like lard, too, but I like the way tallow sounds on the label better.

 

[Clemmey]

I read on a tallow forum that focuses on the use of animal tallow that they only use a max of 30-40%, and it is used as a bar hardener. From my research it can be used instead of other hardening oils (coconut, palm and the like). I love the idea of taking a "useless" byproduct of an animal and making it useful. So far I have rendered (dry in my crockpot): Beef fat, deer fat and elk fat. I am finally grateful that my hubby has so many hunter friends... they give me all their fat!

 

[rodeogal]

Thank you for all your input! I, too, like the sound of tallow instead of lard. lol I have given a ton of soap away, and not one person has ever asked me what's in it. All the feedback I have received is great! I guess I will not worry, just label and go on. Thanks again!

 

[new12soap]

Another vote for lard and/or tallow, they make lovely soaps. The only people that have cared what is in it are a handful of vegetarian/vegan friends, and for them I use palm. Although I have in the past, I do NOT use crisco (or any other shortening). I know some people use it with no problems, but based on both what I have read and my personal experience it is very prone to DOS.

 

[judymoody]

I think lard or tallow would be fine for most people unless they are vegan/vegetarian. Lard makes a nice hard white bar as does tallow and both are a good substitute for palm oil (there are plenty of folks who are anti-palm; impossible to please everyone).

I wouldn't recommend Crisco, though. I have used it in the past (the soy/palm kind) and it didn't do much for my soap nor is it particularly cheap. The only DOS I ever got in my soap was with a recipe containing Crisco. Crisco can also impart an odd pink color to your soap.

 

[MaitriBB]

Another lard soaper here. I use it as about 38.5% of my standard recipe. It's available locally at my Walmart, it's inexpensive ($1.20 a pound, roughly), and it's easy to store and use. It makes a darn nice bar of soap, too. I live in Iowa where there's a lot of farmers and people who are familiar with farming, so I don't think there's much anti-animal-fat feelings about.

 

[nebetmiw]

For my hubby and me I only use lard due to our skin problems. I could not find it at local makers so I make or own. I can not use olive oil either due to my pore size it clogs it. Since lard comes from pigs and pigs skin is the closest to us it works best for problem skin.

I our area which has alot of farmers using lard and tallow is looked for in soap. They know how good a soap it makes. After all it is a by product of butchering and wasted if not used. I can not think of a better way to use it that is healthy and relaxing. :razz: