Recipe advice for newbie
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Sherry1956
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If you buy your coconut oil in the grocery store, it is a 76 degree melting point.
Thanks, I did buy some online for my first batches but I usually get it from overseas (no real labeling, etc) so that's why I was worried. It's bought in the market or privately in bulk so I don't have a way of knowing. But it seems to have a very low melting point so I'll go with the 76. Thanks!
I use an ice cream scoop on my 76 deg melting point coconut oil, and unless the kitchen is chilly, it scoops pretty easily. I imagine the higher-temp coconut oil is going to feel rock-solid at a typical room temperature.
The lye saponifies the oils no matter what temp the soap is at--even when frozen solid. (I just put a milk soap out in 10-20 degree weather for 3 days. I brought it in, and no lye zap). But the reaction of lye and oils creates heat, and if the heat doesn't dissipate fast (heat dissipates because there's no lid, or a fan is blowing on the soap, or it's a shallow mold sitting on a cold counter, or tiny molds, or it's in the fridge, or freezer, or outside in the winter...), the batter turns translucent (like a gel) once it's above a certain temperature. Again, if the heat isn't dissipating much, that gel temperature and look will spread all through the mold of soap. If the heat is dissipating some, then only the center area of the mold gets that hot. Once the soap cools back off it doesn't look like gel anymore, but the area that gelled is darker. Some people don't like the look of partial gel. Some people prefer the feel of ungelled soap, some prefer gelled soap.
I think the important part of this for you is that soaps in gel phase can also overheat, especially if they contain sugary ingredients--like MILK. They can develop a big crack in the top, and even ooze up and overflow the mold! (Overflowing is mostly in a column mold or big loaf). Overheating can also cause separation, meaning a layer of oil on top of a layer of soap with more lye in it than it should have. Or you may get caverns in the soap with lye and oil in them.
So, since you will be wanting to use your lovely goatmilk in your soaps as soon as you feel up to it, learning about temperature control of the soap in the molds will be important for you. Starting out you can just use cardboard boxes or plastic bins lined with FREEZER paper as your molds, (or unlined pringles cans--they do not have aluminum lining as some people think) you don't have to buy anything special.
You seem to have a good connection for those supplies for your soap. A good bulk supplier of soap ingredients is Soaper's Choice in Illinois. If you decide you want other ingredients than you're already set up to get, (perhaps Castor, it is a nice addition to soap) you could buy from there in bulk.
The lye saponifies the oils no matter what temp the soap is at--even when frozen solid. (I just put a milk soap out in 10-20 degree weather for 3 days. I brought it in, and no lye zap). But the reaction of lye and oils creates heat, and if the heat doesn't dissipate fast (heat dissipates because there's no lid, or a fan is blowing on the soap, or it's a shallow mold sitting on a cold counter, or tiny molds, or it's in the fridge, or freezer, or outside in the winter...), the batter turns translucent (like a gel) once it's above a certain temperature. Again, if the heat isn't dissipating much, that gel temperature and look will spread all through the mold of soap. If the heat is dissipating some, then only the center area of the mold gets that hot. Once the soap cools back off it doesn't look like gel anymore, but the area that gelled is darker. Some people don't like the look of partial gel. Some people prefer the feel of ungelled soap, some prefer gelled soap.
I think the important part of this for you is that soaps in gel phase can also overheat, especially if they contain sugary ingredients--like MILK. They can develop a big crack in the top, and even ooze up and overflow the mold! (Overflowing is mostly in a column mold or big loaf). Overheating can also cause separation, meaning a layer of oil on top of a layer of soap with more lye in it than it should have. Or you may get caverns in the soap with lye and oil in them.
So, since you will be wanting to use your lovely goatmilk in your soaps as soon as you feel up to it, learning about temperature control of the soap in the molds will be important for you. Starting out you can just use cardboard boxes or plastic bins lined with FREEZER paper as your molds, (or unlined pringles cans--they do not have aluminum lining as some people think) you don't have to buy anything special.
You seem to have a good connection for those supplies for your soap. A good bulk supplier of soap ingredients is Soaper's Choice in Illinois. If you decide you want other ingredients than you're already set up to get, (perhaps Castor, it is a nice addition to soap) you could buy from there in bulk.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to respond in such detail, I appreciate it! Right now I've decided to use a recipe already formulated by someone else so I don't mess up too much. The recipe has OO, CO, Shea butter, almond oil and castor oil. Does this sound like a good combo?? There are so many recipes out there, so I just chose one. I bought a small "crafters choice" silicone loaf mold so I can make a small first batch. I read good reviews, and it was really cheap compared to other molds.
I have been doing just what you suggested about trying to understand the temps when working with goat milk. The most important things I've gotten so far are: freeze the milk and put bowl in ice bath when SLOWLY adding the lye and making sure it stays at a pretty low temp. Also, possible putting in the fridge after pouring or at least in a really cool place. Any more pointers you'd like to give id glady take.
Hi lanafana, and welcome!
You've really gotten some great advice here, enjoyed reading it over to affirm what I've only recently learned as I'm a newbie too. This is such a great group of people!
I *guess* I would agree with the "start with water first before you try milk" but I have to admit that (not knowing any better at the time) I used goat milk in my very first soap. I have dairy goats too and it just seemed like the thing to do. It turned out beautifully! In fact, it was all snatched up by family and friends very quickly after cure. I've made 8 batches since I got started in this addiction in November, all goat milk. Hope I don't run out of goat milk that I froze in the fall before new kids arrive in the spring!roblem: It sounds like you've got the procedure down for milk....I used frozen solid milk to which I started sprinkling the lye on a little at a time, going very very slowly as it melted so as not to raise the temperature too fast. I kept my lye pitcher in an ice water bath as I added and stirred and kept an eye out so that the temperature never exceeded 90. I added my 90 degree oil to 90 degree milk.
As for gel, I attempt to keep mine from gelling just because I feel like that's best for a milk soap. I put it outside in the cold for several hours after pouring. Even though I use a divided slab mold--which I think is better if you're trying to avoid gel--I still haven't escaped it completely. But it seems that the gelled part is only the very center of each bar, so it is only noticeable after the soap is halfway used up.
Good luck in your soapmaking and let us know how it turns out. And by the way, I'm a fellow Marylander!
You've really gotten some great advice here, enjoyed reading it over to affirm what I've only recently learned as I'm a newbie too. This is such a great group of people!
I *guess* I would agree with the "start with water first before you try milk" but I have to admit that (not knowing any better at the time) I used goat milk in my very first soap. I have dairy goats too and it just seemed like the thing to do. It turned out beautifully! In fact, it was all snatched up by family and friends very quickly after cure. I've made 8 batches since I got started in this addiction in November, all goat milk. Hope I don't run out of goat milk that I froze in the fall before new kids arrive in the spring!
roblem: It sounds like you've got the procedure down for milk....I used frozen solid milk to which I started sprinkling the lye on a little at a time, going very very slowly as it melted so as not to raise the temperature too fast. I kept my lye pitcher in an ice water bath as I added and stirred and kept an eye out so that the temperature never exceeded 90. I added my 90 degree oil to 90 degree milk.As for gel, I attempt to keep mine from gelling just because I feel like that's best for a milk soap. I put it outside in the cold for several hours after pouring. Even though I use a divided slab mold--which I think is better if you're trying to avoid gel--I still haven't escaped it completely. But it seems that the gelled part is only the very center of each bar, so it is only noticeable after the soap is halfway used up.
Good luck in your soapmaking and let us know how it turns out. And by the way, I'm a fellow Marylander!
Hi lanafana, and welcome!
You've really gotten some great advice here, enjoyed reading it over to affirm what I've only recently learned as I'm a newbie too. This is such a great group of people!
I *guess* I would agree with the "start with water first before you try milk" but I have to admit that (not knowing any better at the time) I used goat milk in my very first soap. I have dairy goats too and it just seemed like the thing to do. It turned out beautifully! In fact, it was all snatched up by family and friends very quickly after cure. I've made 8 batches since I got started in this addiction in November, all goat milk. Hope I don't run out of goat milk that I froze in the fall before new kids arrive in the spring!
As for gel, I attempt to keep mine from gelling just because I feel like that's best for a milk soap. I put it outside in the cold for several hours after pouring. Even though I use a divided slab mold--which I think is better if you're trying to avoid gel--I still haven't escaped it completely. But it seems that the gelled part is only the very center of each bar, so it is only noticeable after the soap is halfway used up.
Good luck in your soapmaking and let us know how it turns out. And by the way, I'm a fellow Marylander!
Hey there fellow Marylander! I feel like I must use milk in my first recipe. Yes, I know it's risky, but I am so eager to do it that I don't think I'll have enough patience to wait it out!! It will either be a complete disaster, a great success or somewhere in between....but.... I a ready to accept the consequences (or at least I think I am
. I am going to try my first batch this weekend and I will let everyone know how it goes. I do agree that the people here are absolutely wonderful and I am so encouraged and excited!! I'm especially encouraged by ur success story, there is hope for me after all! Should I set my soap outside or put in the frig is one better than the other? I am just waiting on my molds to arrive and thermometer, can't wait to take the leap into the soapmaking world! Thank you for sharing ur experience. I need to get more goats!!!!!
Lin
Well-Known Member
I stuck my goats milk soap in the freezer immediately after pouring. After 24 hours I removed it from the freezer, and let it come to room temperature before unmolding and then cutting.
I'd just like to thank all you kind people for your tips, advice, cautions and sharing your experiences! I just put my first batch of CP soap in the fridge and will upload some pics when I unmold (how can I wait 24-48 hrs!!!!!??). I hope it turns out okay. And if not I'll be back on the forum with many more questions . Thanks again!
and sharing your experiences! I just put my first batch of CP soap in the fridge and will upload some pics when I unmold (how can I wait 24-48 hrs!!!!!??). I hope it turns out okay. And if not I'll be back on the forum with many more questions . Thanks again!
An amazing first batch! An amazing 10th batch, come to think of it
Thanks so much!! Your advice helped A LOT and made me more comfortable in taking the big leap. I'm hoping I'll get better with time, but at least it wasn't a disaster! I can't wait to do it again.
That looks wonderful! :-D I'm excited for you! Did you end up freezing it? The last couple of times I put it outside (in the freezing temps--but protected from the snow!) for several hours. I think next time I'm gonna do like Lin and leave it out in the cold for a full 24 hours. Also thinking of changing my recipe a bit, it stays too soft to remove from the mold for DAYS, it's just too long to wait and then it still doesn't come out as smooth as I'd like. How was the hardness of your recipe?
Thanks! I am super excited as well. I know if my first batch came out horrible I would have been a bit discouraged. Unfortunately my mind works like that...I'm usually overly excited and obsessed with doing something and the next moment (depending how that "something" worked out), completely uninterested!
I didn't put mine in the freezer or outside. I was worried about it being too cold. I'm not sure why. But I knew I didn't want to take the risk of leaving it on the counter. So I chose what seemed to be in between those two options and stuck it in the fridge. I was surprised at how cool the milk stayed when adding it to the lye ( my first time actually dealing with the stuff) I actually heated it up a bit before mixing it with the oils.
I unmolded before 24 hours had passed (Yes, a bit anxious and impatient!) so it was a tad bit soft. But it came out incredibly easy (another thing I was worried about). I love the silicone mold (I say this never having tried anything else though
). It sliced great. I used a cheap bright yellow bevel that I had from Home Depot I got with a saw I used years ago to build my first chicken coop and a dollar store SS knife...it worked great (although I still have my heart set on one of those fancy guitar string thingies...too awesome!) I check on the bars everyday as if they're my kids, and they are hardening up great and seem okay. If the bars feel good I am definitely using this recipe again because it was easy and I like the way they turned out. Does the color change during the curing process with milk soap? Just wondering, I'd love for it to stay that creamy white color throughout. Thanks for the encouragement. I've already made my second batch of soap...Castile with goat milk. Yes, I'm crazy and I have no idea how this one will turn out. If it's not still soup by tomorrow or the day after I'll try unmolding it and cutting and will post pics.Ha! You sound just like me lol!
As for the color, mine have stayed the same creamy ivory/sort of off-white color as when I poured them. BUT...that ivory color was giving me fits when I tried to color a batch a very light lavender the other day. It kept wanting to be a putrid gray! Finally got it figured out but ended up with a much darker purple than I wanted.
Awwww! Purple is my absolute favorite color! I had lots of plans for purple soap. I hope I can figure it out. What did you use to color the soap?
judymoody
Well-Known Member
So pretty and creamy looking! Congrats!
grayceworks
Well-Known Member
Turned out great! Good job!
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