Soap Makers Help!

[OHhappychicks]

I just used milk also. So I should'nt insulate? I will take the cover off then. I placed the freezer paper on top of the soap, is this enough covering? It is touching the soap. Thank you RockyToggRanch.

 

[MSDeb]

Has anyone ever toasted their oats before adding them to your soap?

I'm thinking about doing a white bar using Spiced Fig FO, turmeric for color (swirled in) with coarsly ground toasted oats.

Thoughts?

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Quote:
I only put a light cover over mine. I don't insulate or they crack and rise in the middle like a volcano:/

I still get gel phase...

 

[OHhappychicks]

Quote:
I only put a light cover over mine. I don't insulate or they crack and rise in the middle like a volcano:/

I still get gel phase...

I took the blanket off and mine was kinda humped up in the middle. It was only on about 1-1 1/2 hrs. It was very warm to the touch, but has cooled down some. Well, we will see tomorrow!

I couldn't believe I left out the honey!! Thought of it just after it was poured. Made a reminder note of that little thing!! I'm keeping index cards on each batch, recipe, measurements, additives, any other tidbits I might need to know next time, and how each turned out at the end of the cure time. Live and learn, right!

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Honey will heat it up even more, so make a note not to insulate at all when you do milk AND honey..

 

[OHhappychicks]

Quote:
Thanks for the info! I didn't know that. I will make a note on this batch.

 

[galanie]

I'm confused about using milk. Maybe I didn't read well enough, but I think you simply replace water with milk?

What I'm confused about is that milk has fat in it, so doesn't that mess up the recipe somewhat?

 

[Morgaine]

It's not that much that it is going to mess up the soap. All it does is add a little extra superfat.

 

[glenolam]

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In most recipes, yes you can simply swap out the water for milk, and Morgaine is correct. It doesn't affect the other ingredients at all. Keep in mind, though, that when you do swap out all the water for milk you may want to freeze the milk or make sure it is really really cold and slushy before adding the lye to it. I've scalded milk because it heated up too fast with the lye. It does no harm to the soap, mind you, but you do get these ugly bright orange chunks of burnt milk.

The other method is to discount the water and add that amount in milk at trace. I've never tried it since I prefer 100% milk soaps, but have heard good things with that method. There's really no chance of burning the milk that way, either.

 

[glenolam]

Quote:
I only put a light cover over mine. I don't insulate or they crack and rise in the middle like a volcano:/

I still get gel phase...

What temperature do you both soap at? I soap at room temperature and rarely reach gel phase. Acutally, I avoid gelling by putting the mold in the fridge if I think the batch is getting too hot, but that's simply my preference.

There's nothing wrong with milk soaps (or any soaps) going through the gel phase so the choice to insulate is purely up to you...some say it speeds up the cure time and that they like it because it gives the soap that opague look. Me, I'm OK with waiting for the soap to cure and I prefer the milky look.