sugar's not melting, help!

[Rosey]

I have a question. I'm making a batch using sugar for the second time. I'm putting the sugar in with the oils. I figured heating and melting the oils would melt the sugar but it's not all melting. I nuked it more and it's super hot.

Is it ok or what do I do now?

 

[xraygrl]

sugar is water soluable so it won't melt in your oils. Sugar needs to be added to the water, and disolved in the water before the lye is added. strain it out best you can other wise you will end up with burnt lumps of goo in your soap.

 

[rubyslippers]

Sorry for your problem Rosey, but thank you so much for posting about it. I had no idea that sugar would not dissolve in hot oils! You may have saved me from making that mistake.

 

[Rosey]

well craptastic! eep! I'll see if it will melt when I add the lye. I already have the lye and water cooling.

I didn't want to add it to the lye cause I didn't want it to caramelize but now I know, I'll have to do it that way and watch the temp.

 

[TessC]

I wonder how it'd work if you reserved a bit of your water before adding the lye, then mixed your sugar with that, then added it like you would any other liquid ingredient.

The batches I made before switching from sugar to honey I used a simple syrup of sugar and water (roughly a 1:1 sugar/water ratio, cooked to a syrupy consistency) , that might work for you too.

 

[xraygrl]

If you disolvethe sugar in the water before the lye is added, it will not carmelize.

 

[Rosey]

that's awesome to know xraygirl, thanks!

I didn't strain it. It did dissolve in the end so phiew on that. I really like the bubbles from my preliminary test of last week's soap. I think it will be a staple in my recipe : )

 

[Guest]

I am sorry for your trouble. I always add the sugar to my water before the lye goes in. Hope this works out for you.

 

[Rosey]

I think it will since I couldn't feel the scratchiness of the sugar, know what I mean?

 

[carebear]

well craptastic! eep! I'll see if it will melt when I add the lye. I already have the lye and water cooling.

I didn't want to add it to the lye cause I didn't want it to caramelize but now I know, I'll have to do it that way and watch the temp.

I'll bet you a dollar you end with caramelized bits in your soap - but you may win.

You add it to the water and completely dissolve it BEFORE adding the lye.
Alternatively, you may use some of your water to dissolve the sugar completely and then add it at trace.

sugar is not oil soluble, nor is salt for that matter.

 

[Rosey]

We'll see.

I added goat's milk first to the oils and mixed it real well. We'll see what it does.

 

[Jody63]

In the past I have made a simple syrup first by boiling sugar in water on the stove top to dissolve. I add this to Lye water subtracting what is added in simple syrup from the lye water amount. It worked very well for me this way. What is left can be stored in fridge until next soap batch is made.

 

[amanda131]

I litterally choked on my spit and blew a little snot at "craptastic" this is by FAR my new fav. word! So two big thank you-s Rosey! One for the new word and one for the lesson on how to add sugar cause i'm totally doing in in my next batch!!!

Sorry for the TMI :shock:

 

[krissy]

i have done the same thing and my sugar dissolved. i was doing HP. i have used up the entire batch of soap that i did that on and not any caramelized sugar for me. i learned my lesson though, lol

 

[Rosey]

lol my husband came up for that word!

Well I learned a lesson too today so it's all good!

 

[Saltysteele]

lol

we use craptastic here. if you like that one, amanda, you might like craptacular

 

[Rosey]

muhahaha! I don't think we've used craptacular here.

 

[Guest]

If you disolvethe sugar in the water before the lye is added, it will not carmelize.

I agree with xraygrl -- I add sugar to the water, add the lye and it
doesn't get hot enough to caramelize (3 T. sugar to less than 2 c. lye/water).

 

[amanda131]

Thank you! Craptacular is good to! I was just sitting her laughing and my Hubby asked what I was laughing at ( I really didn't think he would find this funny) but he's laughing!!! I love new words!!!!!

 

[tincanac]

Hi there

I may be doing things wrong but this always works for me -

I use Caustic soda (lye) flakes, I measure out the flakes and then add about a tablesoon and half of castor or icing sugar to it and kind of stir it together gently, then I add that to the lye water and stir, it hasnt caramelised (yet, anyway) and it blends together all nicely.