Soap gelled???

[KentuckySilks]

Hi all! I have been experimenting with different temperatures with CPAP and trying to figure out if my soap is gelling. Couple batches definitely gelled and overheated with the alien brain. They are super glossy and shiny, wacky looking. I did another batch and I tested the temperature and the soap was in the 180s, I did a water discount And a lie concentration of 38 so it looks like it would gel when it reaches the 180s. It’s not as shiny as the other ones and I’m wondering how to tell if my soap gels or not. Any help is greatly appreciated!
My recipe is 55 lard, 25 coconut, 15 avocado, five caster percentages. I put it in the oven on 175 for approximately 30 minutes. The ones that overheated were in for longer. But I did see a full gel on them Before they must’ve overheated.

The left is really shiny and waxy (alien brain overheating ), right is dull

 

[bookworm42]

Generally gelled soap can be unmolded quicker. If you're watching the soap you should be able to see a color change after 30min to an hour. But if it's just set it up and leave it unless it goes through partial gel I don't know how to tell. Someone else might though.

Here are some pics for reference. From left to right: after pour, started to crack and gel underneath so I smoothed it out, going through gel on top.

And here is a white one going through gel

 

[KentuckySilks]

Thanks so much for the reply! I’ve been spoke soaping for over 10 years and with this new recipe, I have it makes it difficult to determine if it’s gelled unless I see the full gel in the oven and then it just overheats. I’ll just do some more experimentation and if I see a full gel, I’ll pull the soap out of the oven and have it cool so it doesn’t overheat. thanks so much for including pictures too. They really help!

 

[bookworm42]

I don't use an oven. I gel using a heating pad and place a cardboard box overtop. I do that for 15-30 min depending on how hot I soaped. Then I turn off the pad and let it sit for 18-24hrs.
I know that a lot of people on here when they put it in the oven they preheat it and turn it off before putting the soap in. The residual heat should help it gel. If you leave the oven on it often causes overheating.

Edit to add: I don't know how long they leave it in the off but warm oven but my guess would be a few hours or even overnight.

 

[KentuckySilks]

Makes sense, thanks!

 

[AliOop]

To CPOP or gel your soap, the oven should only be preheated to 175F and then turned off before you put the soap into it. Otherwise, you risk ruining your silicone liners and overheating your soap.

 

[KentuckySilks]

To CPOP or gel your soap, the oven should only be preheated to 175F and then turned off before you put the soap into it. Otherwise, you risk ruining your silicone liners and overheating your soap.

Ok, it seems the ones that gel overheat

 

[AliOop]

Ok, it seems the ones that gel overheat

That's most likely because you left the oven turned on after you put the soap into it. Once the oven has preheated, you need to turn it off before you put the soap into it. That way, the oven is slowly cooling as the soap is gelling.

 

[KimLynn]

I don't use an oven. I gel using a heating pad and place a cardboard box overtop. I do that for 15-30 min depending on how hot I soaped. Then I turn off the pad and let it sit for 18-24hrs.
I know that a lot of people on here when they put it in the oven they preheat it and turn it off before putting the soap in. The residual heat should help it gel. If you leave the oven on it often causes overheating.

Edit to add: I don't know how long they leave it in the off but warm oven but my guess would be a few hours or even overnight.

Me, too. I started out doing CPOP in my oven, but saw a couple of YouTube videos (can’t remember by whom) of using a heating pad and cardboard box. I now use a small insulated two-piece styrofoam cooler that I get my infusion supplies in with a little channel cut in the lip to hold the heating pad cord. I’ve (fortunately) never had an overheating incident.

 

[DeeAnna]

Another thing I've found is you don't have to SEE the soap go into gel. Soap made with a higher lye concentration (less water) does not necessarily show a darker gelled center like what you'll see when you make soap with a lower lye concentration (more water).

To get the benefits of a gelled soap, the key thing is the soap gets sufficiently warm enough. The visual signs are confirmation that you're there, but they aren't strictly necessary. When I want to check my soap, I feel the sides of the mold with the flat palm of my hand. If the sides feel toasty warm an hour or two after I fill the mold, I know I'll get "gelled" results even without visible signs of gelling.

It's kind of like the idea of bringing soap batter to "trace". Some people need to absolutely see signs of trace before finishing up their batch. Others are able to bring the soap batter just to the emulsion stage, where the batter is at a stable emulsion without showing visible trace.

 

[KentuckySilks]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I love gelled soap! It last longer and has a better lather imo

 

[KentuckySilks]

I just did another batch, checked it after 35 mins, and I saw gelling on the outsides- Vaseline, I know gelling starts in the middle so I guess it was completing gel phase? It looked like it was starting to gel from outsides- me and my strange soap!!

 

[melinda48]

I don't use an oven. I gel using a heating pad and place a cardboard box overtop. I do that for 15-30 min depending on how hot I soaped. Then I turn off the pad and let it sit for 18-24hrs.
I know that a lot of people on here when they put it in the oven they preheat it and turn it off before putting the soap in. The residual heat should help it gel. If you leave the oven on it often causes overheating.

Edit to add: I don't know how long they leave it in the off but warm oven but my guess would be a few hours or even overnight.

I have also created my own little “oven” using this and it works great! It can be cut to size. I have made a couple of different ovens (one for two loaves, one for four, and one for 6-8) inexpensive and works like a charm and easy to store.

 

[AliOop]

I have also created my own little “oven” using this and it works great! It can be cut to size. I have made a couple of different ovens (one for two loaves, one for four, and one for 6-8) inexpensive and works like a charm and easy to store.

I have something similar, and am very, very careful not to get any soap spatters on it, as the foil is made from aluminum.

The reaction between aluminum and the NaOH in fresh soap can be dangerous, e.g. highly exothermic, releases hydrogen gas into the air, etc.

 

[bookworm42]

I have also created my own little “oven” using this and it works great! It can be cut to size. I have made a couple of different ovens (one for two loaves, one for four, and one for 6-8) inexpensive and works like a charm and easy to store.

I actually got some frozen items delivered the other day and the packing was very well done. I'll have to update later with a pic but I saw it and immediately set it aside so it wouldn't end up in the recycling. I think it's going to be a perfect insulator for soap.

 

[AliOop]

I actually got some frozen items delivered the other day and the packing was very well done. I'll have to update later with a pic but I saw it and immediately set it aside so it wouldn't end up in the recycling. I think it's going to be a perfect insulator for soap.

Insulated food boxes can be fantastic for this! I used those for a long time before switching to smaller boxes, which I only did based on storage room.

 

[melinda48]

I actually got some frozen items delivered the other day and the packing was very well done. I'll have to update later with a pic but I saw it and immediately set it aside so it wouldn't end up in the recycling. I think it's going to be a perfect insulator for soap.

Great idea! I love learning/reading about the great ideas that folks here come up with!

 

[bookworm42]

Great idea! I love learning/reading about the great ideas that folks here come up with!

Here is a picture. I plan on cutting it in half so it fits a mold height wise. I can save the excess to insulate for when I make multiple loaves.

 

[melinda48]

I have something similar, and am very, very careful not to get any soap spatters on it, as the foil is made from aluminum.

The reaction between aluminum and the NaOH in fresh soap can be dangerous, e.g. highly exothermic, releases hydrogen gas into the air, etc.

True- that is why my molds all have covers. No chance of them touching anything outside the mold.