Teach Soap

My stick blender, that is. It died without warning on me the other day while mixing the first of two 9lb batches. In the future I plan to have a back up just in case this ever happens again! The first batch was almost done so it didn't take long to finish with hand stirring, but the second batch seemed like it would NEVER reach trace! I was soaping cold anyway because they are milk soaps, and after a couple hours of stirring that 2nd batch it was getting a little thicker but was the consistency of a thick soup, still very liquidy. I had to finish up because I had somewhere to be so I poured it.

They didn't gel and are solid but still soft. I thought about sticking them in the oven when I poured but since they are in silicone I didn't want the air bubbles that happen. Hope they come out ok. I usually gel my soaps to unmold faster, any tips for me on this batch? I'm worried it will stick to the mold when I try to get it out in a few days.

You could stick them in the freezer overnight to help get the soap out, or you can put them in a low (170 degrees US) oven til the soap gels.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

It turned out ok. They hardened up and I was able to unmold them yesterday. Thank goodness!

When I started soaping, we never used stickblenders! What a gamechanger they were.

_________________
Logansama aka Belinda
Nor Cal

When I started, my mother used a large wooden paddle to get the soap to trace. I now know that it's not a good idea to use wood to stir with. Over time, the lye will disintegrate the wood and it can splinter.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I am so happy someone invented stick blenders! My arm was sore after stirring the batch that started this thread. If I had to hand stir every batch I don't think I'd make enough to sell, I'd be greedy and hoard it all for myself.