This may be a silly question about SS pots

[thankyougifts]

I'm making my list of CP items I need and making sure I don't buy something I already have. We have a box of old kitchen stuff (just had our bridal shower so we got new stuff yay) that hasn't gone to goodwill yet and my old soup pot says 18 10 stainless steel. Does this mean I can use this as my soap pot? I don't know ANYTHING about this type of stuff and don't want to ruin my soap from something silly like that!

 

[kaseencook]

Stainless Steel works great, your pot and soap should be fine.

Just avoid aluminum, as lye reacts with aluminum (and will volcanoe and destroy the aluminum). Also, wooden stir spoons (organic things) will be digested by lye and will rot and fall apart over time (and prob get in the soap), so it's just something to look out for.

Plastic is great for soapmaking as well as silicone.

Be wary of using glass or pyrex as I have heard some soapers say that their glass/pyrex has exploded due to the very rapid temp change when adding lye to water.

Have a good time!

 

[AshleyR]

Be wary of using glass or pyrex as I have heard some soapers say that their glass/pyrex has exploded due to the very rapid temp change when adding lye to water.

Yup, happened to me with a Pyrex of oils that I nuked. Exploded into a million little pieces right before my eyes!

 

[rubato456]

i use glass but i'm careful to not overheat stuff....i'll heat oils only 30 sec-1 min at a time. i also use empty, cleaned jar that had held food that was canned like tomato sauce or sauerkraut. i figure if the jars were heat resistant enough for processing of sauerkraut or tomato sauce, they would be ok for the lye/water. i've not had a problem so far. i also heard that plastic will not hold up as well as heat resistant glass....unless the plastic is heavy duty, it can melt. i ditto everything about the ss....need to use that not aluminum

 

[xyxoxy]

Just as kaseencook said... SAVE THAT STEEL POT!
... and any other glass or plastic containers.

If you are not sure and have a place to store your unused kitchen items... store them. You can always donate them later. I'm always on the lookout for cheap or free containers to store or measure ingredients into. And I think of all the odd little items I've sold or donated over the years that I could soap with now.

 

[Jaderyn]

I just paid six dollars for a ss pot at big lots yesterday...its got a rounded top to make it easier for pouring

Also, thanks for the glass tip...

 

[thankyougifts]

oh great! I just didn't know what those numbers meant or if of was mixed with something bad. I'm happy to have everything but the stick blender and scale, which are on my startup list.

 

[xyxoxy]

You could do without the stick blender for a while if necessary (I rarely use mine) but a good trustworthy scale is a must.
It should measure in both grams and onces, have a tare function, and have at least a 10 pounds limit.

And be sure you don't get one that shuts off automatically after 60 seconds... ask me how I know! :roll: