Room temperature method

[Shannon_m]

I don't usually take temps...I sometimes do if something feels warmer than normal, but usually I melt my solid oils and add them to the liquid oils once my lye has cooled down to just slightly warm. It all depends on how big of a batch I'm making, but for my 3 lb batches my lye usually takes about an hour to cool if I just leave it on the table. So after about 50 minutes I go feel the pitcher, if it's just warm I'll go ahead and melt my solid oils.. if it feels hot I wait a bit longer.

 

[melstan775]

So some of you add hot lye to warm or cool oils. I leave my lye to cool while I set up because I thought a big temp difference could cause a
Lye volcano. Yes,no? And is hot lye water hot enough to melt hard butters?

 

[Genny]

So some of you add hot lye to warm or cool oils.

Yep

I thought a big temp difference could cause a
Lye volcano. Yes,no?

Only if your oils are hotter than your lye water.

And is hot lye water hot enough to melt hard butters?

It's hot enough to melt my coconut oil & shea butter.