Sudden color change

[msunnerstood]

Had a bizarre experience while making soap tonight. Prior to adding any FO or colorant and just nearing the end of the cook, My soap started turning greyish blue in spots. I stirred and the entire batch turned that color. I didnt add any yogurt or anything and Ive made this recipe before without that issue.

Recipe
Fluid: 50% Aloe Juice 45% Distilled water 2 Egg Whites to equal 100% (Egg whites beaten and added at trace)
30% Coconut Oil 76
30% Lard
30% Walmart GV Shortening,tallow, palm
5% Castor Oil
5% Soybean Oil

Additives: 1 tsp PPO Kaolin Clay
1 Tblsp salt added to lye water
1Tblsp sugar added to lye water

Any idea why this would have happened?

 

[lsg]

Did you temper your egg whites before adding them to the soap mix? I usually use the whole egg and add it to the oils and then blend with the stick blender until the egg is well incorporated into the oils. I then add the lye. If I wait and add the egg at trace, I temper the egg by adding a little of the soap mix to the egg and beating until I think there is enough of the mixture, then add it to the thinly traced soap.

 

[Obsidian]

Eggs can turn bluish even if tempered. I've had them go blue or green in soap, it always faded as it cured.

 

[msunnerstood]

Eggs can turn bluish even if tempered. I've had them go blue or green in soap, it always faded as it cured.

Ok whew. Weirdest thing I ever saw. spots of blue were popping up and it was growing Till it was all that grayish blue. It didn't happen the last time I made the same recipe but it's good to know that it can happen. I was trying to leave this batch With no color so I hope it fades.

Did you temper your egg whites before adding them to the soap mix? I usually use the whole egg and add it to the oils and then blend with the stick blender until the egg is well incorporated into the oils. I then add the lye. If I wait and add the egg at trace, I temper the egg by adding a little of the soap mix to the egg and beating until I think there is enough of the mixture, then add it to the thinly traced soap.

No I didn't before I made my 1st batch I did a lot of research but there was so much conflicting information out there. I will try it this way the next time

 

[DeeAnna]

Bear with me for a moment because I think this story might relate -- I am fermenting garlic cloves. The first batch I did last year stayed nice and white. This year the cloves are turning an interesting bluish green. After some checking, I understand the color is the reaction of proteins in the garlic with trace minerals in the water or salt, but the color change or lack of color change is not a sure-fire thing -- the results can vary. Last year I used plain canning salt. This year I used sea salt. Both years I used filtered tap water. I suppose it might be the different salt, but it's hard to say for sure. Your color change could be from a similar reaction between the egg proteins and trace minerals.

edit: Every source I have read says this color change is harmless.

I've made several batches of egg soap with good results, but like lsg I add the egg to the fats before I add the lye. So far, knock on wood, I've had good results with this approach. Here's how I do it: https://classicbells.com/soap/eggSoap.html

 

[msunnerstood]

I do use salt in my lye water. Non iodized but I imagine it could have traces of something. I used distilled water.

I'm hoping it's still safe to use if that's the case?

 

[Obsidian]

Yes, its perfectly safe to use. I also tempered eggs and added them to the oils, don't want cooked egg bits in your soap.

 

[SaltedFig]

msunnerstood, an alternate thought ... it's like the blue-grey ring around overcooked eggs ... there's a sulphur reaction (same for garlic) that only needs a tiny bit of metal (I always think copper, but apparently iron and other elements can do it too) to react and give you the colour. The amount is so small that it is unlikely to cause DOS or any other problem in your soap. In soap the colour will transition to reddish orange in high amounts, but settles to a very pale creamy colour in low concentrations.

In other words, it will fade and you will get the creamy egg colour once the soap has cured

@DeeAnna ... are you planning on celebrating LaBa on the 8th?

 

[DeeAnna]

I have no idea what LaBa is, @SaltedFig. But if it requires green garlic cloves, I'm definitely ready!

edit: Ah, I see what you mean -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laba_garlic

 

[DeeAnna]

Here's what mine look like at this point ....