How soon can I un-mold?

[dillsandwitch]

Howdy all,

I made some pine tar soap this afternoon and because I used milk instead of water I put it into the fridge as soon as i poured it into the mold to prevent gel. How soon can I un-mold and cut it? Its been in there for about 4ish hours and feels very firm on the top.

Recipe was 30% OO, 25% CO, 5% Castor, 30% Palm, 10% pine tar

TIA

 

[CaraBou]

Hi there. You need to go by feel. The soap should be firm enough that you don't damage it when you handle it. No dents, nicks or squishes. Pine tar can lead to a softer bar. Also, the kind of mold you used can have a big effect on unmolding time; for example, a silicone mold can take longer than a wooden mold. And soaps that don't gel -- especially refrigerated soaps -- can take longer. What kind of mold did you use?

I can't tell you exactly how long to wait, but I recommend at least 24 hours and possibly 48 before you get too excited about it. If it is still too soft at that point, you could try freezing it for a couple hours to firm it up more, and then cutting it.

Good luck, it sounds like a nice soap!

ETA: Oh, I forgot to ask: how much water did you use? That can affect the time it takes to firm up too.

 

[dillsandwitch]

38% water. I still haven't gotten a proper mold yet. its on the list of things to get when I have more $$$. I used a milk carton for a mold this time.

 

[Susie]

I would go with a minimum of 24 hours.

And don't worry. Many of us are still using household items for molds. I have silicone molds, but my soap firms up much faster in the plastic drawer dividers I got from Dollar Tree. If I need a larger container, I have a re-purposed food container(I forget what originally came in it.) that fits a double batch perfectly, and the loaf still fits in my miter box for cutting. For people who like round bars(I don't, but MANY do.) lots of folks use Pringles cans. Use what works for you. And don't be surprised if you find yourself reverting back to those household items.