I haven't used it to make soap yet. If I ever somehow find that I have a bunch of fat I'll have to give it a try. Then again, I still haven't gotten around to making soap at all. I still have a block of chevion fat that I keep meaning to make into something...unless someone threw it out. Which would break my heart. I'll probably get a few more goat kids this spring to render some more - at least enough to make a large batch of soap.
I did some digging around and found this about making soap out of goose fat...now I'll really need to get a surplus:
I did some digging around and found this about making soap out of goose fat...now I'll really need to get a surplus:
Wonder if clean goose fat would make soap? Sorry - new obsession of mine................
YES!!!
It makes a really, really nice soap. We made a goose-fat soap with a little carrot, orange and coriander added to it last year (with Christmas '03's goose fat). Has to be nice and clean, of course.
It makes a soft-ish soap if you don't add any other fats to it, it doesn't make a strong foam, but it's very, very mild I find. It's a great soap for shaving, and it's nice as a shampoo bar.
It's really easy, but I haven't got the book on me so I can't tell you the precise quantities. If you have a look at Lowlanders soap making topic, that's a good place to start.
Basically, you warm up the fat a little, make up the lye solution, and mix the two. Stir it intermittently till it begins to harden (or 'trace') and then you add in other ingredients (essential oils, scents, dried up herbs, etc). Pour it into molds, let it set a bit, cut it into bars (probably the next day) and let it cure, wrapped up in a towel, somewhere warm until it's good and ready (give it a month). Then you have lovely hand made, cold-process soap.
Remind me and I'll dig out the quantities later, and I'll point you to a good book on the subject.
They never did dig out the quantities. Still, it's something.
I also found this, which was equally exciting since I tend to have more duck fat than goose fat:
YES!!!
It makes a really, really nice soap. We made a goose-fat soap with a little carrot, orange and coriander added to it last year (with Christmas '03's goose fat). Has to be nice and clean, of course.
It makes a soft-ish soap if you don't add any other fats to it, it doesn't make a strong foam, but it's very, very mild I find. It's a great soap for shaving, and it's nice as a shampoo bar.
It's really easy, but I haven't got the book on me so I can't tell you the precise quantities. If you have a look at Lowlanders soap making topic, that's a good place to start.
Basically, you warm up the fat a little, make up the lye solution, and mix the two. Stir it intermittently till it begins to harden (or 'trace') and then you add in other ingredients (essential oils, scents, dried up herbs, etc). Pour it into molds, let it set a bit, cut it into bars (probably the next day) and let it cure, wrapped up in a towel, somewhere warm until it's good and ready (give it a month). Then you have lovely hand made, cold-process soap.
Remind me and I'll dig out the quantities later, and I'll point you to a good book on the subject.
They never did dig out the quantities. Still, it's something.
I also found this, which was equally exciting since I tend to have more duck fat than goose fat:
I used duck fat in soap one time and it worked out just fine. I collected it after roasting a couple of ducks one night, just put it in the fridge until it solidifies, then take the fat out of the broth that is left. There won't be much broth anyway because duck is so fatty.
I don't really remember how I substituted it into the recipe. I probably just treated it like tallow, which is what I usually use.
Urgh. I'll never have enough waterfowl. Or enough time.
I don't really remember how I substituted it into the recipe. I probably just treated it like tallow, which is what I usually use.
Urgh. I'll never have enough waterfowl. Or enough time.
