OIlive Oil

[Fabius]

Hello All,

I've been looking around the area markets to see what supplies I could buy locally and at what cost. I can not find pomace olive oil locally. Can I use other grades with equivalent results? I see there is olive oil labeled just "pure olive oil". Thanks.

Tom

 

[kazmi]

I suspect that the OO labeled 'pure olive oil' is what is referred to as 'grade A'. It's what is produced after the EVOO is made. I haven't used EVOO or pomace yet so I can't tell you the soaping differences are but I use grade A (labeled as pure olive oil from Sams Club) and like that it doesn't impact the color of my soap. I haven't found pomace locally either but just purchased some from WSP to see the difference. It'll be interesting to see what one I like better or if I find very little difference.

Here's a good read on differences: http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapmakingoils/a/Types-Of-Olive-Oil-For-Soap-Making-Recipes.htm

 

[sistrum]

Grade A is just fine. Not sure why you want to use pomace but try looking for a restraraunt supply store.

 

[Forsenuf]

I'm sure I read somewhere that "pure olive oil" is a blend of grades including pomace. Whatever it is, it's all I've ever used in soapmaking- no need to knock yourself out for pomace.

 

[Moody Glenn]

Hello! I use Grade A or as labeled on the can as 100% Olive Oil. Extra Virgin and Virgin olive oil is the first pressing of the olives. The virgin oils are more valuable for cooking and consuming since they contain more valuable nutrients, minerals, vitamins, etc.. You can use them for soaping but from my reference books they make your soap batter very slow to come to trace and cure time is extended longer. The cost is also a factor. Grade A oil is not as costly and behaves more in soaping; reasonable trace times and curing time. Pomice olive oil is the last pressing of whatever remains of the olives. There is speculation that chemical solvents are used to help in this extraction. Also, this grade of oil speeds up trace time - sometimes too much. It is a popular soaping oil if you become more adapted of its behavior.

Please note: Always try to find an honest to goodness true supplier of 100% olive oil. Some unscrupulous businesses combine other liquid oils to lesser percentages of olive oil and market them as real olive oil. These added oils messes up the soaping calculations when making soap. Good suppliers will supply good restaurants with 100% real olive oil.

 

[savonierre]

Costco has fabulous Grade A 100% olive oil for soap.

 

[kdaniels8811]

Do you have a Gordon Food Service around? That is where I get mine for $14 for a gallon.

 

[Fabius]

Do you have a Gordon Food Service around? That is where I get mine for $14 for a gallon.

Yes, there is one nearby. I'll pay them a visit later today. Thanks.

 

[saffy]

Beware bad olive oils!

I started making soap in 2009, bought olive oil from a supermarket in Portugal - was very cheap - but made terrible soap - not a nice colour to start with and slowly went dark brown on the outside - as in the attached picture - apologies for poor quality. We decided to use it in the kitchen but tasted vile - bitter.

Research led me to a story of olive oil adulteration in Europe - cheap non-olive oils adulterated with chlorophyll to get the green colour then sold as olive oil. I guess the chlorophyll oxidised to give the brown colour.

I tried using pomace but was not so easy - went to trace very fast making it difficult to pour into moulds - grade A was much better.

 

[Candybee]

I tend to buy my olive oil from my local grocers in the large cans. The ones I buy are marked 100% olive oil and used for sauteeing and cooking. If it tastes good to me it also soaps good for me. Buying it locally also cuts down on shipping so I save. Also, I use the same olive oil for cooking that I use for soaping so it has to taste good to me.

Heck I've even used the Walmart EVO and had no problem soaping it although the color is more olive green. It gives me more of a cream color as opposed to the white from the regular sauteeing type olive oil. But the Walmart EVO tastes nasty so I don't like to buy it unless in a pinch as a backup OO.

 

[Fabius]

GFS & WalMart

Do you have a Gordon Food Service around? That is where I get mine for $14 for a gallon.

Stopped by Gordon's and WalMart today. Gordon's had 1 gallon of extra virgin and pomace at the same price $15.99 This was in Northwest Indiana. The best deal was at WalMart, the pure olive oil in a 17 oz bottle that if you bought enough to make a gallon cost about $15.50 a gallon. I went with the WalMart 17 oz bottles. Not to just save 50 cents but I like the smaller bottles. Easier to store and handle.