Temperature for mixing lye and oils/fats
Submitted by yetzke on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 14:25
I can't find any consistency in what the temperature should be to mix the lye and oils/fats. The directions on Soapcrafters say that the oils should be 120 to 130 degrees and the lye should be at room temperature. The book "Soap, Making it Enjoying it" says the temperature of both needs to be between 95 and 98 degrees. The pvsoap website said the temperature of both should be around 110 degrees. Help! Which is it?!
Thank you.
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I think that is Ann
I think that is Ann Bramson's book. That was the very first book that was written about soap making. It appears as though she was translating from some commercial manufacturing recipes. Or possibly she was trying to keep fragrance from burning off (there were no soap making fragrances then for hobby use) or it was just a safety measure.
What we have learned since she wrote that fabulous book that got most of us started, is that temperatures do not need to be that low. Also, if you use temps that low then you can run into some problems.
For instance, if there is a lot of shortening in your recipe then at 98 degrees it is going to look like it is at trace. When in fact it is just going back to its natural state because you are far below its melting point of 127 degrees, if I remember right.
By talking on the internet with each other as soap makers, we have really discovered so much and improved the cold process soap making method! We don't even hand stir it anymore! Woohoo!