How DOS and Crystalline (nasty) Fudge Can be Related...

[Soaper2024]

When you know how to make super silky smooth fudge, you know not to scrape the pot as the fudge is boiling. You also know to keep all that cruft from entering the batch of wonderful fudge. Even one grain of the sugar in that crufty ring gets in your fudge, and you'll never get a silky piece of fudge out of that batch. It's a super saturated solution chemistry experiment.

Just noticed the only DOS issues I've had are the scrap bars I make from the pot at the end. The ones made by scraping the edges and sides of the pot to make it. From now on, all that scraping goes in the rebatch pot.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Are you using a stainless steel pot? Aluminum or iron will cause DOS.

 

[Soaper2024]

I use only stainless, it's my sloppy methods creating the impartially mixed edge cruft. All it takes is a little bit mixed in the batch, so I'm glad it's only my dregs/test bars showing DOS. The rest of each batch looks great.

 

[AliOop]

In the past, I made only HP, and regularly mixed in the cooked soap from the edges. The only reason I stopped mixing in those extra-cooked bits was cosmetic; they tend to turn very light, or even white, and they don't combine well into the remainder of the soap. But they still work just like normal soap. Never once did any of those bars with overcooked bits have any DOS on them. I can't think of any scientific reason as to why or how DOS could be triggered from that.

As a form of rancidity, DOS is typically orange (hence the name, "Dreaded Orange Spots), but it can also be brownish or greyish. It usually smells like old crayons, but not always. It's most often caused contact with metals (other than good quality stainless steel), or from using old, oxidized oils, including oxidized EOs.

With that in mind, are you actually seeing orange spots that develop a few weeks after the soap has been made, and gradually spread through the soap? Or are you just seeing light or white overcooked soap bits that won't mix in with the rest of the soap, and remain constant in size and shape?

 

[Soaper2024]

Undercooked, as in CP. Edge cruft, as in parts not as thoroughly mixed near the rim of the pot.

I was gathering the cruft with the last bits of soap in each batch. All those cobbled soaps have developed DOS over time. So, one bar/lumpy-ball with DOS per CP batch.

I should have specified CP, as all my HP batches are fine.

 

[AliOop]

I'm scratching my head as to why you would have "parts not as thoroughly mixed near the rim of the pot." If you use a spatula around the edges during the mixing process, you should end up with a fairly homogenous mix. Are you pouring before the emulsion is stable?

Even if you are, that still makes no sense as to how or why that would create DOS. I obsessively scrape my bowls as clean as they can be to get out as much CP batter as possible (mostly because they are easier to wash up later). No DOS from that, ever.

Do you have any pictures to share?

 

[dibbles]

I obsessively scrape my bowls as clean as they can be to get out as much CP batter as possible (mostly because they are easier to wash up later). No DOS from that, ever.

Me too!

 

[Soaper2024]

Ha! I'm apparently the messiest. I'll see what I can do about photos the next batch.

 

[AliOop]

Ha! I'm apparently the messiest. I'll see what I can do about photos the next batch.

I meant photos of the DOS. I'm wondering if it is actually something else.

 

[Soaper2024]

I'll get a photo at some point, though I have to say I don't normally take photos of stuff. It's definitely DOS, as I don't color my soaps and the spots appear small and orange and grow slowly larger.

 

[artemis]

It's definitely DOS, as I don't color my soaps and the spots appear small and orange and grow slowly larger.

Ya, that's DOS. But I have to agree that I very rarely get DOS and I also am a pot scraper. But, your wording suggests to me that the part your scraping in is chunky or crusted over or something. Doing CP, I have never experienced that, either. I wonder what is different. Maybe something in your recipe or other conditions. Shrug. Soap is a mystery.

 

[AliOop]

Any chance that you are using tap water or wet hands to smush all the leftover bits together?

 

[Soaper2024]

Soo... I am going to buy some spatulas. lol My spoon techniques make it difficult to scrape sides smooth and clean. *smackforehead*

Fun!

 

[Relle]

Any chance that you are using tap water or wet hands to smush all the leftover bits together?

Even with tap water, I've never had this and I always scrape my bucket until nothing is left and I mean nothing, I get it all out.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Be sure to get a silicone soaping spatula color that stands out from spatulas you use in the kitchen for food. Plastic or silicone will hold on to the soap flavor and give a nasty surprise when you go to lick it after making candy or baked goods.

 

[bookworm42]

Be sure to get a silicone soaping spatula color that stands out from spatulas you use in the kitchen for food. Plastic or silicone will hold on to the soap flavor and give a nasty surprise when you go to lick it after making candy or baked goods.

I had no idea! That doesn't sound like a fun experience!

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

I had no idea! That doesn't sound like a fun experience!

Nope. Ask me how I learned about retention of soap flavor.