So I have this food dehydrator....
- Thread starter Shalisk
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There was a trial with this. It didn't seem to work too well as I recall, which is a shame. I think it would be good for really wet soap, like a rebatch or some such, if used on low for a little while. But apparently it is no real help in reducing cure time. Do be careful, as you can warp your soap by doing it too hot too fast.
Cure time is about more than loss of water. Cure time improves the quality of the soap tremendously.
Dehydrators will warp your soap. So will placing a fan too close to your soap if trying to speed the process. The closest I can get a fan without warped soap is the ceiling fan.
Dehydrators will warp your soap. So will placing a fan too close to your soap if trying to speed the process. The closest I can get a fan without warped soap is the ceiling fan.
robosqu1d
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A few months ago I spotted a dusty, unboxed food dehydrator in a charity shop. It was labelled £4 (4 GBP) so naturally I made a grab for it and went straight to the checkout. Someone tapped me on the shoulder in the queue and asked what it was. The checkout lady also asked what it was for - none of the staff knew!
Crombie
Well-Known Member
If you don't set the temperature of 95 degrees, you should have no warping of soaps. It will help your drying time some, but I agree with others that cure is about more than water. There is a soaper in California who dehydrates every batch of soaps she makes. She weighs them and keeps them in the dehydrator until they quit losing weight. I have done this, but I still keep on the curing rack the same amount of time. I just think you protect your superfats by reducing the amount of time it has moisture in the bar. This is simply a personal opinion and no scientific evidence to back this up.
Dorymae
Well-Known Member
Ok, I do this all the time, no warping and it will make the soap harder quicker. However I have a professional dehydrator so that may make a big difference. The one I use is large, bigger than a microwave oven, has very specific controls and a lot of space. I think it was just over $500 new.
So if you have one like this then definitely go for it, you won't be disappointed. You will notice a HUGE difference with castille soaps. However as others have noted the longer you leave it in, the less of a difference it makes. (I dehydrate at between 95-105 degrees)
Edited to add: It really helps when you make a rebatch, you can add more water to get a smoother appearance and then dehydrate the water out.
So if you have one like this then definitely go for it, you won't be disappointed. You will notice a HUGE difference with castille soaps. However as others have noted the longer you leave it in, the less of a difference it makes. (I dehydrate at between 95-105 degrees)
Edited to add: It really helps when you make a rebatch, you can add more water to get a smoother appearance and then dehydrate the water out.
Last edited:
Candybee
Well-Known Member
I like the idea of using one for rebatched soap. I always end up using more liquid to make the soap as smoothe as possible and end up with really soft soap for weeks.
