So far, I have made 4 batches of soap. When I make them, I add all my oils to a plastic dollar tree mixing bowl and melt them in the microwave. Today, I started to wonder if this was the best idea? The reason I do it that way, is to keep all my soaping supplies separate (my OCD mind doesn't want to use any of my cooking stuff for soap- even if it is stainless and supposed to be ok).
Melting Oils
- Thread starter Bamagirl
- Start date
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kchaystack
Supporting Member
Pretty much what I do, but I use plastic paint containers from Home Depot.
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
Assuming the plastic is soap safe, it's totally fine. The oil doesn't know the difference between being heated on the stove or in the microwave.
Those are fine. Just watch as the handles do have a tendency to crack after awhile. I use them to melt my oils.
paillo
Well-Known Member
For what it's worth, this is my favorite soaping bowl. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ANY6UW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 It doesn't look like it would be all that steady, but it has a nice gripping bottom and hasn't even tried to tip on me.
I microwave all of mine, and after several years of use my old ones were starting to crack, leaving me fearing a break while in the microwave or a handle breaking off while moving the bowl. What a mess either would be!!!
I microwave all of mine, and after several years of use my old ones were starting to crack, leaving me fearing a break while in the microwave or a handle breaking off while moving the bowl. What a mess either would be!!!
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TBandCW
Well-Known Member
I do the same Bamagirl, melting oils in microwave in dollar tree plastic bowls. I'm just careful to hold the handle and the bottom of the bowl with 4lbs of oil! I also use the same bowls to make my lye. I have the red bowls for that. Keep in mind that I use frozen gm for my lye so the red bowl doesn't get scary hot.
Sounds like you're destined to be a champion soaper Bamagirl!
Sounds like you're destined to be a champion soaper Bamagirl!
navigator9
Well-Known Member
Your method is just fine, but just in case, for whatever reason, you can't use your plastic bowl, know that for years I've been using a stainless stock pot as my soap pot, and a stainless saucepan to mix my lye, and I use both of them, (well washed of course) for food all the time with no ill effects. I would not do this with any material that's porous, but stainless is fine.
snappyllama
Supporting Member
I nuke all my hard oils in the microwave inside of $1 painter buckets from Home Depot. Like other folks mentioned, they work a treat. I add my oils that are liquid at room temperature afterwards to quickly cool down everything .
