Hot Process

[Gravy]

I created my first hot process batch yesterday. It went terrible.

I followed online advice and used a crock pot. I got it to trace easily. But I never could get it to gel. Or maybe I did and I didn't recognize it. I had plastic wrap on the top to keep it from losing moisture. But it kept bubbling on the edges because there were hotspots. So I kept stirring it. I thought at one point it looked like I was getting to gel, but then I stirred and it never appeared that way again... And it just kept getting firmer and firmer until it went from the consistency of apple sauce to that of mashed potatoes. At some point I turned up the heat hoping to find gel and I think possibly I burned it.

Finally I gave up and scooped the mess I had into a loaf and tried as best I could to shape it like a loaf of soap.

What happened? Do I need to give up the crock pot and use something that can get it to gel faster, and just stir it?

Help Please?!?

 

[Obsidian]

Don't worry so much about trying to reach gel or trying to see it clearly. It probably gelled and you just didn't see it, especially if you were stirring often which can mix in air and make the soap appear more opaque.

When I HP, I only cook it until its a thick apple sauce or so. I don't worry if its completely gelled, I would rather get it into the mold halfway easy. If it still needs to saponify, it will do it in the mold.

Next time, cook it on low and only stir it when you absolutely have to. It bubbles up the sides, thats normal, just don't let it bubble over.

Have you watched any videos on HP? That is really helpful, I like this one.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scokYOkLcQo[/ame]

 

[Cindy2428]

Remember that hot processing soap only ensures that the soap fully saponifies (no active lye). So if you put it in the mold "early" - before it fully cooks, that's okay you will still have soap. It will finish saponifying in 12-36 hrs.

Also of note is that you will still have to wait the same period of time, or more! for your soap to cure due to high water content. No short cuts

 

[SoapTrey]

Hi Gravy - I think you might have done better than you're giving yourself credit for. The way your are describing the consistency is right on. That's exactly how it should be... like mashed potatoes. The first couple of times I HP'd soap I had a hard time telling if it had gelled or not and my experience mimics yours a lot. Now that I've done it a few times... I can easily tell when it's gelled.

Give it 24hrs then un-mold it. You may be surprised how well it turns out. If you feel like posting a pic... I'd like to see.

Next time I HP a soap... I'll take some pics during the process to show what I go through and see, so when another thread like this pops up I can post them.

 

[psfred]

Some recipes have a distinct and obvious "vaseline" gel stage and other's don't. I suspect it depends on the stearic/plamitic acid to oleic/linoleic ratio, with higher stearic acid soaps not showing much "vaseline".

If you did a water discount, you won't see much gel either, and the end product will be pretty stiff. I'd use full water (38% of oil weight), it makes the stages easier to see and the final product somewhat more liquid. So does using sodium lactate and some extra glycerin after the cook. A little more water won't hurt either, just takes a bit longer to cure the finished product.

If you didn't burn it, it's fine. Probably looks a bit "lumpy" and inconsistent, but as it cures the difference between dry and not so dry soap fades quite a bit.

Unmold it as soon as it's cool, it will be quite firm, and you can usually cut HP soap in a few hours after molding. It hardens up MUCH faster than CP, and you don't want to battle cutting very hard soap! I've had a difficult time cutting one I left overnight from a late afternoon cook, I prefer to cut them about three hours after I have them in the mold.

 

[Gravy]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I do think the air bubbles hid gel. The soap looks pretty good other than not having enough color or scent. I will eventually get that right too. I sliced it after 24 hours and its hardening up nicely. Its not burned.

I will post a picture of it soon.