so what if it still zaps?

[mlktrkdrvr]

I just made my first HP batch this morning, all went really well until the end. I tried to spoon out some and add some green food coloring- it instantly turned tan- glad i did not add much. it got really thick so i figured that I better get it into the mold while i still could. I forgot that you had to zap test until i had it all molded. I tried it then and did still get a small zap (I think). I have never gotten a zap before so I do not know if it was small
what now

 

[Hazel]

The batch will still continue to saponify. HP just accelerates the saponification so the lye is all used up while it's in the crockpot. Just leave it in the mold like you would a CP batch and it will be fine.

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

ok do you have any ideas how long I should let it sit? A couple weeks like CP? When can I unmold it? I usually do after 24 hours. do you know what happened to my color?

 

[Hazel]

Do you mean how long you should let it cure? I cure CP for 4-6 weeks but HP you don't have to cure as long. Although it's said you can use HP right after it's done cooking, it's still not at its best. It will still benefit from several weeks of curing to help it harden and become milder. I'd say give it at least two weeks if you're impatient to try it. I haven't done HP for a long time but I preferred it to cure at least 4 weeks.

I think you can unmold it tomorrow but you still want to check for zap before you cut it.

Food coloring is unstable in soap because of the high pH. It also tends to fade. I'd say the lye morphed the color. To be fair, I've had micas and other colorants morph and fade in batches. You want to make sure any colorants you use are stable in high pH. You can use spices for color if you want to add color without investing in any colorants right now. Turmeric, paprika, parsley, tomato powder, etc will work. I've used parsley powder twice in HP and it turns a sage green. Add it to the batch after you've poured the lye in because it can discolor. I was told if you add it to the lye solution it will turn brown. I haven't tested that this would happen but I thought I'd mention it.

green soap posted about using botanicals and herbal infusions for color which you might find helpful to read.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/viewtopi ... =1&t=27147
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/viewtopi ... =1&t=28553

Also, agriffin wrote about natural colorants on her blog.

http://www.lovinsoap.com/2011/07/natura ... -at-trace/
http://www.lovinsoap.com/2011/07/color- ... ly-series/

 

[brandnew]

so IF a soap still zaps you shouldn't cut it?!?

 

[Hazel]

You can cut soap which still has a bit of zap but make sure you wear gloves. Salt bars are cut while still warm so I know they still have active lye in them. I did cut a loaf of regular soap which wasn't quite done saponifying and it turned out fine. However, lye is generally used up before soap is removed from the mold. I've read that in gelled batches, the lye is normally used up in about 12-18 hours. I want to emphasize I'm not positive it's this amount of time because I've never checked to verify it. But that's why I leave my batches sit until the next day before checking them. My ungelled batches normally take several days.

 

[new12soap]

If your soap still zapped after HP'ing, you may want to double check your recipe and your notes and make sure it isn't lye heavy. Yes, it will continue to saponify and cure, but all the time in the world won't help if you used too much lye.

 

[sudbubblez]

Even with CP, saponification is complete in about 48 hours. If you cut the soap while it still zaps, it may get ash on all exposed surfaces. Ash is the lye reacting with the air.

Any additional curing after it stops zapping is for purposes of loosing moisture and hardening the bars so they dissolve slower. It will drop in pH during cure as well, but only a tad.

 

[Hazel]

Any additional curing after it stops zapping is for purposes of loosing moisture and hardening the bars so they dissolve slower. It will drop in pH during cure as well, but only a tad.

Also, soap becomes milder during the curing process and the lather becomes better.

I stand corrected - I checked my notes and I did have down 24 to 48 hours. (This should teach me to double check rather than relying on memory.) Of course, saponification occurs faster if you soap at higher temps or use CPOP. Saponification takes longer if you soap at cooler temps and put a batch in the frig or freezer. I had a batch that took 5 days to completely saponify.

Just spritz the bars with 91% rubbing alcohol if you've cut and then find out there is still some zap. I said you can cut zappy soap but I don't recommend it. However, everyone gets impatient sometimes and just has to find out how the batch turned out. For me, I just had to cut the loaf to see how the swirls turned out. It was the next day and since it had gelled I didn't bother checking. Ash is only an aesthetic issue. It can be rinsed off, rubbed off or will be washed off when the bar is used.

@mlktrkdrvr

You'll have to make a note to check for zap before you take the batch out of the crockpot. :wink:

Please let us know how your soap turned out. I'm interested in hearing what you think of it.

 

[Val’s5]

You can cut soap which still has a bit of zap but make sure you wear gloves. Salt bars are cut while still warm so I know they still have active lye in them. I did cut a loaf of regular soap which wasn't quite done saponifying and it turned out fine. However, lye is generally used up before soap is removed from the mold. I've read that in gelled batches, the lye is normally used up in about 12-18 hours. I want to emphasize I'm not positive it's this amount of time because I've never checked to verify it. But that's why I leave my batches sit until the next day before checking them. My ungelled batches normally take several days.

So you have molded “unglelled” batches and let it sit several days before unmolding..?

 

[AliOop]

So you have molded “unglelled” batches and let it sit several days before unmolding..?

Honestly, whether my soap has gelled or not has nothing to do with when I unmold - I go by the firmness of the loaf.

 

[Val’s5]

I hp and always wait for it to pass the zap test- today I molded a like 10min after trace, looked like firm jello (if that makes sense). Anyway, its molded and I can tell top is hardening middle still seems soft but more worried that it still zaps… thinking by 24hrs zap should be gone..?