Palm oil

[terminatortoo]

I notice that a lot of soap recipes use palm oil but I don't know where you can buy it. Could anyone tell me where it can be purchased?
Thanks

 

[Maythorn]

If you google "soap making supplies" you'll find that a lot of suppliers carry it.

 

[RocknRoll]

I bought mine through Bramble berry.

 

[chicklet]

I get mine from Soaper's Choice. Something I just learned the other day is that Palm Oil has to be melted down and stirred before using or you take a chance of getting stearic acid spots in your finished product. I'm not sure why I am just learning this - it says right there on the label to melt and stir! There is a "no stir" kind but I don't know if its good stuff or not.

 

[RocknRoll]

I get mine from Soaper's Choice. Something I just learned the other day is that Palm Oil has to be melted down and stirred before using or you take a chance of getting stearic acid spots in your finished product. I'm not sure why I am just learning this - it says right there on the label to melt and stir! There is a "no stir" kind but I don't know if its good stuff or not.

Good point, i made many batches without knowing this and now i can definately see and feel a difference in the finished bar. Its worth the hassle.

 

[danahuff]

Ditto Bramble Berry. I think it's Soaper's Choice that is the other major seller of sustainable palm oil. I like Bramble Berry's because it's a bit less expensive, but it's also not organic like Soaper's Choice's is.

 

[terminatortoo]

What's the difference between palm oil and palm kernel?

 

[Relle]

The difference between Palm Kernel and Palm Oil is that Palm Kernel Oil is white and has a high melting point. Regular Palm oil is more yellow and has a lower melting point. The higher the melt point, the harder the oil, and the harder your soap will be. Also known as PKO.

 

[lsg]

The new Crisco contains palm oil and is listed as an ingredient on SoapCalc. If you are in the U.S. you can probably buy it locally.

 

[terminatortoo]

Thanks I appreciate the tips.

 

[Soapsense]

The new Crisco contains palm oil and is listed as an ingredient on SoapCalc. If you are in the U.S. you can probably buy it locally.

Does this mean that you can substitute Crisco for palm oil?

 

[paillo]

I buy the organic sustainable palm oil through Soapers Choice. Yeah, melting and stirring a 5-gal bucket of oil is a pain in the butt in the winter when it's hard. Some people put it in a bathtub of hot water to soften it up enough to stir.

 

[squigglz]

Does this mean that you can substitute Crisco for palm oil?

No. Their values and the things they do in soap are quite different-check out soapcalc's thing and the values and whatnot for each.

It contains stuff other than palm oil (Crisco is, after all, a shortening, so it's a bunch of different oils).

SOYBEAN OIL, FULLY HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM AND SOYBEAN OILS, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, TBHQ AND CITRIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANTS).

^that's what's in it according to Crisco's website.

I have soaped with it instead of palm oil back before I could afford pure palm, and it makes a decent bar of soap when mixed with other oils.

 

[deb8907]

I buy my palm oil from WSP in one pound plastic bottles. I just microwave the bottles until almost melted and shake it up before measuring.

 

[Second Impression]

I get mine at my local natural market. At $2.79/lb, it's a great price for a hobby soaper like me.

 

[CaliChan]

You can substitute Palm oil for Lard or Beef Tallow. I try and stay away from things i can find locally.
You can also substitute Palm Kernel for Coconut oil.

 

[hoegarden]

Difference in Palm oil and Palm Kernel oil is probably the properties itself and obtain from different part of the palm fruit. Palm oil is from the flesh and Kernel from the seed if I remember correctly (this can be google online).
Palm oil generally do not have special benefits for the skin, but it keep the soap stable and hard. Palm Kernel is said to be slightly more moisturising by some soapers and good for baby soap. It also produce bubbles like CO and thus can be used to replace CO. However, there are arguements that Palm Kernel can be more drying than CO.
There are different school of thoughts on these. You might have to experiment it yourself.
I do not use palm kernel as palm oil is easier to buy on my side.

 

[Maythorn]

You can substitute Palm oil for Lard or Beef Tallow. I try and stay away from things i can find locally.
You can also substitute Palm Kernel for Coconut oil.

Do you mean local things sold by farms like eggs? I've never seen tallow or lard sold outside of Walmart's brand of shortening with those both in it.

 

[judymoody]

What's the difference between palm oil and palm kernel?

PKO comes from the inside nut or kernel of the palm tree and PO comes from the fruit that surrounds it. They are not interchangeable. PKO is similar to coconut oil in its fatty acid composition.

 

[Camdonnell]

Is it ok to buy PKO flakes?

Can I use palm oil flakes?

Oops. I mean palm kernel oil flakes?