Need Honey & Goat Milk Crash Course!

[TashaBird]

doesnt matter

it will take about 1/2 hour to reduce to half and cool again (over ice water)
you can make your lye water and do the honey infusion while the gm is reducing

if you have a full plan in your head sometimes its better to not change that, but have a think
using syrups and reductions gives you total control over the temperatures
(honey, gm and oatmilk soap loaves become simple)

Good idea for next time. I don’t want to thaw, reduce, and then refreeze the GM.

 

[Marsi]

cant wait for the photos

(for later - syrups and evaporated milks can be at room temperature)

 

[TashaBird]

Thank you to everyone super bunches for all your help. The goat milk and honey soap went really well! It worked great with the GM frozen cubes! And, then added the dissolved honey after I’d blended everything. It was REALLY slow to trace which was surprising! I did 3 layers, and popped them in the cooler with some frozen jugs between layers.

 

[TashaBird]

I’m so glad someone here said it would temporarily smell like ammonia, or I would’ve freaked out!

 

[TashaBird]

I cleaned out my freezer yesterday and found some more frozen goat milk cubes. So, I just made another goat milk and honey soap. First time with the 7.5lb mold. A few things went different, and I’m hoping it’s ok. What do you think?
*Sprinkled lye onto goat milk ice cubes slowly. Last few sprinkles maybe too fast as it went up to 90 degrees. So, I put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes while I got my oils ready.
*Oils were at 105, previously I’d had them at 90.
*Removed goat milk/lye solution from freezer and made the soap.
*Temp went up to 105 at one point and the soap turned darker orange than last time I did this. There was some graininess. I’m worried I cooked it, or it curdled. But, I went ahead with making it and it looks nice. Then I started worrying that maybe the lye wasn’t fully activated.
*pour the soap, did a swirl. Top of the loaf temp was 75 so I actually covered it with a towel for a little bit. Checked on it after 20 minutes and it was at 85, so I uncovered it again.

Should I leave it uncovered? Do you think the lye activated and it’ll be ok? If the milk cooked or curdled a little, will it still be ok?
It never got over 105.
Thank you.

 

[Marsi]

flecks of milk soap and some caramel colouring is ok
(you would know if the milk is too scorched by the unmistakable odour this gives the soap)
yours looks ok in the pictures

how did your soap come out in the cut?

 

[Basil]

I cleaned out my freezer yesterday and found some more frozen goat milk cubes. So, I just made another goat milk and honey soap. First time with the 7.5lb mold. A few things went different, and I’m hoping it’s ok. What do you think?
*Sprinkled lye onto goat milk ice cubes slowly. Last few sprinkles maybe too fast as it went up to 90 degrees. So, I put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes while I got my oils ready.
*Oils were at 105, previously I’d had them at 90.
*Removed goat milk/lye solution from freezer and made the soap.
*Temp went up to 105 at one point and the soap turned darker orange than last time I did this. There was some graininess. I’m worried I cooked it, or it curdled. But, I went ahead with making it and it looks nice. Then I started worrying that maybe the lye wasn’t fully activated.
*pour the soap, did a swirl. Top of the loaf temp was 75 so I actually covered it with a towel for a little bit. Checked on it after 20 minutes and it was at 85, so I uncovered it again.

Should I leave it uncovered? Do you think the lye activated and it’ll be ok? If the milk cooked or curdled a little, will it still be ok?
It never got over 105.
Thank you.

I’m no expert but I’ve only worked with goat milk so it’s all I know. I’ve had my milk turn that orange before when I’ve dumped the last of the lye in quicker than usual. It’ll be white , then BAAM it’s orange in a heartbeat! LOL It’s also happened when I discount the liquid/ milk. I’ve also had the oils be a little warmer as well like you said. I usually keep the bowl of milk cubes in the sink filled with cold water so it stays on the cooler side but it’s still happened. I started straining the milk/ lye last year to help with the graininess regardless of orange or white. Since it didn’t seize after mixing etc, looks like you’re fine IMHO. Anymore I always cover my soap with saran or lay freezer paper on it and sometimes a dish towel. Very rarely have I left it uncovered. It’s usually on the cooler side around 85 -90 and has been a little lower than that. If it was 100 or over I wouldn’t cover . I did that once and the soap started to crack. I look forward to your pictures

 

[TashaBird]

Your responses make me feel so much better! Thank you. I began to worry that I hadn’t activated the Lye all the way. But the way the batter heated up, I guess that it was activated. And yes, I probably dumped that last bit off lye in too quickly. the lye/milk was still whiteish before I added it to the oils though. I think the honey is what got it really heating at that point.
The bars look a little chunky, and the pics don’t really get the colors well. But, I like them! They don’t smell quite as ammonia-y as I remember though. Maybe because I used pine, lemon, cedar, EOs it’s kind of covering it ?

 

[TashaBird]

Edit to delete accidental double post.
So, you think the slightly chunkiness of it will be ok? I think they’ll be good soap! The goat milk is such a volatile variable!!

 

[Basil]

Edit to delete accidental double post.
So, you think the slightly chunkiness of it will be ok? I think they’ll be good soap! The goat milk is such a volatile variable!!

I think it looks good. Colors are really pretty once again! I’m
Not sure what you mean by chunkiness? Maybe texture is different than what you’re used to? Pine lemon and cedar sound really nice. Wish we had smell on here !