some one asked me if they could be their soap in the freezer. This person really likes my soap, and wants to freeze it so it last. I know it can go into the ref, not sure about the freezer for a long term thing?
Soap in Freezer
- Thread starter Spice
- Start date
Help Support Soapmaking Forum:
How long term are we talking about?
If it is months, then it should be perfectly fine without freezing.
If it is for years, then you need to test your individual recipes in the freezer before answering.
If they are just one of those people that think everything needs to be stored in the freezer, then perhaps suggest that the refrigerator might be a better solution, although truthfully I don't see how it would hurt the soap to be stored in the freezer. They may find that the scent gets into everything in there, however. I would suggest a good double wrapping in freezer paper before storing in bags as the FO/EO will migrate through plastic alone.
If it is months, then it should be perfectly fine without freezing.
If it is for years, then you need to test your individual recipes in the freezer before answering.
If they are just one of those people that think everything needs to be stored in the freezer, then perhaps suggest that the refrigerator might be a better solution, although truthfully I don't see how it would hurt the soap to be stored in the freezer. They may find that the scent gets into everything in there, however. I would suggest a good double wrapping in freezer paper before storing in bags as the FO/EO will migrate through plastic alone.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
I have had a few customers buy bulk 12+ soaps at a time. With that many bars some may not be used up within a year or so. I give them the recommendation to store extras, that won't be used soon, in a dark and cool area to extend it's life. I have only had one bar go rancid. It was sitting in my grandmothers guest bathroom. It was my first oatmeal bar attempt and the chunks were far to large for my taste. But from the occasional use and being out for over a year the oils soured.
I have bars well over a year old that I keep in the basement that are phenomenal. Those are some of my early recipes that our family uses and some relatives that live near us get some from time to time. Good CP soaps seem to be like a fine cheese, they can age really well! Making soap and fermenting has made me want to get into cheese making someday. So many things to do, so little time.
If I use some very short life oils in the future. I will test out how they do without any ROE or any other antioxidant. I have heard putting bars in the fridge with short lasting oils is a common practice. Bring them out as you use them type of thing. I have never heard of people freezing soap but I know you can freeze most, if not all, oils to extend their life. I don't imagine the soap properties would be diminished in any way. But, like I said I have never heard of it or done it myself.
I have bars well over a year old that I keep in the basement that are phenomenal. Those are some of my early recipes that our family uses and some relatives that live near us get some from time to time. Good CP soaps seem to be like a fine cheese, they can age really well! Making soap and fermenting has made me want to get into cheese making someday. So many things to do, so little time.
If I use some very short life oils in the future. I will test out how they do without any ROE or any other antioxidant. I have heard putting bars in the fridge with short lasting oils is a common practice. Bring them out as you use them type of thing. I have never heard of people freezing soap but I know you can freeze most, if not all, oils to extend their life. I don't imagine the soap properties would be diminished in any way. But, like I said I have never heard of it or done it myself.
I froze some castile bars almost a year ago. Not sure how it affected the cure but the soap is perfectly fine to use, I don't see any ill effects.
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
I've got soaps that are 10 years old that are fine. I visit a dear friend of mine, and whenever I visit I take lots of soap for him and and his extended family as gifts. His grandmother never uses hers, and instead puts them in drawers to enjoy the scent. (And puts a bar of Dial in the soap dish by the sink! The HORROR.) Most of them are still good and still have some scent. A few have yellowed. I think storing in a freezer might actually be bad for the soap - too damp.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
That's great, about what % superfat are those 10 year old bars? Maybe vacuum packing them and freezing them would work to keep moisture out, but that seems very overkill. That might be good for the "preppers" who like luxury, or a deep freezer full of soap to barter with.
we used to keep purchased soap in the fridge (before I knew any better), and I hated it. you'd take it out and it would sweat and start melting. so annoying.
well made soap should last in a cool dark place (unused) for years, unless oils were poor quality or prone to rancidity.
well made soap should last in a cool dark place (unused) for years, unless oils were poor quality or prone to rancidity.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
What about oils with a very short shelf life, something like hemp seed oil? I have read of people storing the soap in the fridge with short life oils. Do you or anyone know how well it holds up? Lets hypothetically just say it's 10-20% hemp seed oil, and the rest a combo of coconut/olive/palm. I would imagine it would have a reasonable shelf life, but I have not tried it yet.
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
I soap with 5-6% superfat. Re: vaccuum packing - maybe after letting the soap age for a year? You do want to let the soap cure, and that means the water will slowly evaporate out of it.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply, great to know soap can last that long @ 5-6%. The vacuum pack/freezer/survivalist comments were more of a joke. Not very funny I suppose.
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
I don't soap with oils with a short shelf life. IMO, the benefits those oils offer are much better utilized in some kind of leave-on product, rather than soap.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the reply, makes sense.
LazyUmbrella
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2014
- Messages
- 97
- Reaction score
- 73
ok, going off-topic a bit, but does shelf-life of an oil still need to be considered after the oil has saponified?
I can understand if we're talking about the SF-ed oils, but isn't the oil no longer an oil after saponification? Unless of course we're talking about the non-saponifiables that are contributing to any rancidity?
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
My understanding - which could be totally wrong - is that it is the non-saponifiables that give these oils a lot of their benefits, and also gives them short shelf lives.
Although, I think that cocoa butter and avocado oil are also rich in unsaponifiables, but have long shelf lives? Maybe their unsaponifiables are different?
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
LOL, I was taking your literally. I have a friend who is very into reading about survivalist techniques (she hasn't actually tried any of them yet) and she was talking excitedly about canning bacon. So vacuum sealing soap is not outside the realm of possibility!
If I had some super special soap made from an ingredient that was very difficult for me to get - like giraffe tallow (is that even a thing?) or something - I might consider going the extra mile to store it.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
I'm sure it depends on the % superfat and the oil. Some oils have a shelf life of 4-6 months and if you leave behind 5-7% and used a substantial amount in the recipe I'd be very surprised if it lasted nearly as long as a cocoa butter / coconut oil type bar. I'd also imagine if you used only 3-6% of an unstable oil at a 3-5% superfat, that bar would have a great shelf life. But I have not had experience with short shelf life oils yet. I'm only guessing.
I'd be very interested in the details on what makes some oils go rancid much quicker than others. Wheat germ has very high vitamin E content (a natural antioxidant) but only lasts about 1 year.
I just did a quick google search and found this: "A study of the unsaponifiable fraction of wheat germ oil with special reference to vitamin E". I don't have time to read it right now, but it might shed some light on the subject.
This is getting kind of off topic. But, these are some fun subjects to think about.
I fed the kids and looked over that first linked article. Most of it is boring and doesn't answer much and/or is over my head. But I found something that is much more interesting! "What determines the shelf life of fats and oils?"
Last edited:
the soaps we had were CO and soybean oil. they were gummy and not great compared to mine (but I COULD be biased...hehe). we went through about a bar of soap a week and they got gummy and gross. I can't speak for any other oils like hemp, on its performance after being in the fridge, but all I can say is I will not be putting my handmade soaps in the fridge.
Earthen_Step
Well-Known Member
I have a lot of soap, I'm going to go ahead and freeze and refrigerate a few bars and see what happens over time.
4 half bars in the fridge 08/28/2014
4 half bars in the freezer 08/28/2014
Last edited:
dixiedragon
Well-Known Member
In my experience, canola and soybean often lead to gummy soaps, which is why I don't use them.
Similar threads
