HotProcessSoap

[itsmenoodlehead]

Hello all,

Ok so I've made maybe about four or five batches of soap. I think I've decided that I would like to mostly make HP. I'm still having trouble trying to figure out when it's done. I've watched lots of videos and have tried to keep an eye out for the different "stages" , however I have noticed that soap does not always play by they rules. I have done the zap test. I dunno. I'm just feeling really stupid over here. Kind of feel stupid for even having to post this. I mean jeez. How hard can this really be?

[Guest OldGlory]

Take a breath! I think most of us experienced some anxiety our first 10 batches, or so. Very normal. I've never made HP, only CP and RTCP which I prefer, so I can't say anything about the HP process. Someone will though.

You are in good company. Just be patient with yourself

[TallTayl]

With HP, i found that waiting for full vaseline stage ended up overcooking my soap. Once it seems to get mostly translucent on the edges and still has that island in the middle it is done enough.

Remember, like meat, soap will keep cooking after you take it off the heat source because of the latent heat (remaining heat in the batch). It takes a while to cook, all the while still doing its magic. You will usually need to cool the batch some before adding other additives, like fragrance, so it cooks as it cools.

Good luck!

[Jcandleattic]

I do the same as TallTayl when I HP soap. I don't wait for the entire batch to become translucent/vaseline stage, otherwise it is way too lumpy, rustic, and dry looking. (and sometimes won't stick together because it's over-cooked)

As long as you had trace before starting to cook it, it will be soap without separation.  As stated, once it starts climbing or gets to the vaseline stage on the edges I turn off the heat, stir in all of my after cook goodies, mold, cover and wait for the next day to cut. 

Most of the time you can't tell the difference in look from my CP or HP soaps, and I do cure my HP soaps for the same amount of time as my CP soaps. They just seem to be more solid and have more "umpf" to them, so to speak. 

 

Good luck... 

[ktaggard]

Along with the above recommendations and the zap test. I like to take a dabble of soap in my rubber gloved hands, run it under water, rub my hands together and see if soapy bubbles occur. If it does, soap is sponified enough to put in molds. If soap slides around and does not bubble, more cook time is needed. This helped me a lot when first starting HPing.

[puma52]

Hi Noodlehead!

 

I also worried about how I was going to test my hot process soap also. I make 5 # batches at a time and I wanted and needed to make sure my soap was done cooking...not undercooked...not overcooked. I searched online and found this video where a woman uses phenolphthalein solution to test her soap for doneness. I have never made hot process soap with a double boiler, but testing your soap is done exactly the way she does it. Make a note...the soap you put your phenolphthalein on does have to be thrown out , so when testing , do a really good stir on your soap and just take a half teaspoon - 3/4 teaspoon size out of your crock pot to test.  I hope this helps you, it sure did me. I love this stuff and had it in my grubby hands before I even made my first batch. Works wonderful and no guessing if your soap is done.  

 

 

http://youtu.be/Yg6tEa9hGFE

 

 

UNDER SOAPMAKING SUPPLIES  - YOU CAN FIND THIS @ WWW.THECHEMISTRYSTORE.COM - This is how I test m

Phenolphthalein Solution    82062

 

 

Description: Phenolphthalein 1% is used as an acid or base indicator where in contact or presence of acid it will turn colorless and with base, it will turn into a pinkish violet color.

 

 

•  

 

[Faerywren]

I love HP and choose it as my primary soap making method. I wait until I get a little crater with pooled glycerin on top, then stir that glycerin back in and mold the soap. In my crock pot, on low heat, it takes about 40 minutes for a 3 lb batch to reach this stage. Although it's totally safe to use, I cure my HP soaps for about 4 weeks just to make sure a lot of the water is evaporated and it makes a nice hard bar.  

[Shar]

I was going to share a link, but just noticed some copyright jargon, and was unsure about leaving it posted. There's a lot of tutorials on the net, and videos on youtube that are helpful.

I prefer the oven, as I like using stainless steel pots with handles. Easier to pour the batter in the mold. My crock is heavier and bulky. I rarely hp unless the fragrance oil a morpher or seizer.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Shar

[TallTayl]

A good soapmaker friend specializes in HP. She has a series of crock pots in which She heats her oils to 160, adds the lye solution, and cooks for only about 10 minutes before pouring off to a non-heated container for scenting, coloring and molding. As the crock empties, she adds the next set of oils. Repeat. She churns out 100 or so logs a day this way. SAP is always complete by the next day when the soap is fully cooled. No need for pheno tests....

[Jcandleattic]

A good soapmaker friend specializes in HP. She has a series of crock pots in which She heats her oils to 160, adds the lye solution, and cooks for only about 10 minutes before pouring off to a non-heated container for scenting, coloring and molding. As the crock empties, she adds the next set of oils. Repeat. She churns out 100 or so logs a day this way. SAP is always complete by the next day when the soap is fully cooled. No need for pheno tests....

This is actually more likethe way I do my HP - but couldn't figure out how to phrase it. LOL But I cook for about 20-25 minutes. 

As long as your batter is at trace before cooking there is no need for a full cook. And like a lot of people, all of my HP soaps get a full cure just like my CP soaps do.

[itsmenoodlehead]

A good soapmaker friend specializes in HP. She has a series of crock pots in which She heats her oils to 160, adds the lye solution, and cooks for only about 10 minutes before pouring off to a non-heated container for scenting, coloring and molding. As the crock empties, she adds the next set of oils. Repeat. She churns out 100 or so logs a day this way. SAP is always complete by the next day when the soap is fully cooled. No need for pheno tests....

Doing this would almost be like half HP/CP. Makes sense. I would imagine that you make sure and insulate the mold? I'm going to give it a try. Looks like The hubby is gonna have start building me some molds. I'm saving everything around here that looks anything like a mold and it's driving everyone crazy. Now their try to sneak behind me and throw stuff away.

[puma52]

A good soapmaker friend specializes in HP. She has a series of crock pots in which She heats her oils to 160, adds the lye solution, and cooks for only about 10 minutes before pouring off to a non-heated container for scenting, coloring and molding. As the crock empties, she adds the next set of oils. Repeat. She churns out 100 or so logs a day this way. SAP is always complete by the next day when the soap is fully cooled. No need for pheno tests....

 

This is actually more likethe way I do my HP - but couldn't figure out how to phrase it. LOL But I cook for about 20-25 minutes. 

As long as your batter is at trace before cooking there is no need for a full cook. And like a lot of people, all of my HP soaps get a full cure just like my CP soaps do.

This is wonderfully informative guys! Thank you so much for sharing!

[Shar]

This is actually more likethe way I do my HP - but couldn't figure out how to phrase it. LOL But I cook for about 20-25 minutes. 

As long as your batter is at trace before cooking there is no need for a full cook. And like a lot of people, all of my HP soaps get a full cure just like my CP soaps do.

What about for a morphing fo such as coconut? In this short of cooking time is the lye neutralized enough that it won't cause the scent to morph?

[CareBear]

A good soapmaker friend specializes in HP. She has a series of crock pots in which She heats her oils to 160, adds the lye solution, and cooks for only about 10 minutes before pouring off to a non-heated container for scenting, coloring and molding. As the crock empties, she adds the next set of oils. Repeat. She churns out 100 or so logs a day this way. SAP is always complete by the next day when the soap is fully cooled. No need for pheno tests....

Doing this would almost be like half HP/CP. Makes sense. I would imagine that you make sure and insulate the mold? I'm going to give it a try. Looks like The hubby is gonna have start building me some molds. I'm saving everything around here that looks anything like a mold and it's driving everyone crazy. Now their try to sneak behind me and throw stuff away.

I'd say it's more like CP with hot oils, but whatever works!  My challenge is neatly pouring from a crockpot!

[Jcandleattic]

What about for a morphing fo such as coconut? In this short of cooking time is the lye neutralized enough that it won't cause the scent to morph?

I don't do a zap test this early on, but I would think it would probably zap a bit if I did. I have never had a problem with morphing or fading scents doing it this way. 

 

 

I'd say it's more like CP with hot oils, but whatever works!  My challenge is neatly pouring from a crockpot!

That's the main reason I don't do the full vaseline stage of the cook with HP - when I'm done cooking mine it is cooked but still fluid enough to scoop and pour with no worries about lumps or bumps or the rustic look of HP. 

Also adding SL will help with the fluidity of HP. 

I have tried the "Byrdie Jean" method of using 50% water and the microwave to get it so fluid it feels just like CP but with a full cook and the extra water added after the cook. You can swirl and make it look exactly like CP, but for me, it was too much work for the little reward. Because I cure my HP soaps for the same amount of time that I do CP I would rather just do CP at that point. 

[TallTayl]

I have some of my friend's HP soap and it is most definitely the texture of HP, just not as rough or "rustic" as most.

She chose HP because she does not want to mess with flaky fragrances and CP.

Byrdijean's method was an epic fail with my soap formula.

[Jcandleattic]

Byrdijean's method was an epic fail with my soap formula.

Mine wasn't a fail but it was so much work that it really just wasn't worth all the extra effort. 

HP always seems to be more bubbly to me in the shower, so mine even though it LOOKS like CP you can tell (or I can as a soapmaker) the difference between the two. Of course because I am the one that made them, it could just be because I know, you know? But I don't think so. LOL Sorry, I'm making sense in my head... Just not typing it out. LOL 

[puma52]

What about for a morphing fo such as coconut? In this short of cooking time is the lye neutralized enough that it won't cause the scent to morph?

 

Shar,

 

I was thinking of what you had typed here....I made 2 - 5 lb batches of soap today ...needless to say, I am fearful of leaving my tried and true ways of making hot process soap...so I cooked it until the phenolphthalein solution said it was done, then added my extras and scent and everything turned out great. No worries that way for me.

Edited October 12, 2014 by puma52

[Shar]

Shar,

 

I was thinking of what you had typed here....I made 2 - 5 lb batches of soap today ...needless to say, I am fearful of leaving my tried and true ways of making hot process soap...so I cooked it until the phenolphthalein solution said it was done, then added my extras and scent and everything turned out great. No worries that way for me.

As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"..

I soaped 5 batches today, and one was my coconut fragrance that I oven hot processed. This time I stick blended to thick trace, put stainless steel pot of soap with lid on in 180 degree oven. I decided I was only going to cook for 30 minutes. I did check it at 15 min. and the soap had risen to almost the top of the pot, so I stirred it down. Put it back in the oven, and I took it out 15 min. later stirred really well and added my fo and stirred like crazy. Plopped it in the mold, still ugly like when I cooked it for a longer period of time. I did add sodium lactate, but I should probably increase my water amount too to help stay more fluid, but will probably result in warped bars..Another thing is I use my slab mold, and should probably use my log mold instead so I can scrape off the fugly top. Anyway at least it smells good:)

I will keep experimenting..I'll try coconut lime verbena next time.

[puma52]

As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"..

I soaped 5 batches today, and one was my coconut fragrance that I oven hot processed. This time I stick blended to thick trace, put stainless steel pot of soap with lid on in 180 degree oven. I decided I was only going to cook for 30 minutes. I did check it at 15 min. and the soap had risen to almost the top of the pot, so I stirred it down. Put it back in the oven, and I took it out 15 min. later stirred really well and added my fo and stirred like crazy. Plopped it in the mold, still ugly like when I cooked it for a longer period of time. I did add sodium lactate, but I should probably increase my water amount too to help stay more fluid, but will probably result in warped bars..Another thing is I use my slab mold, and should probably use my log mold instead so I can scrape off the fugly top. Anyway at least it smells good:)

I will keep experimenting..I'll try coconut lime verbena next time.

Hi Shar!

 

You know if I just cooked it for 10 or 20 minutes it is still the same difference to me anyways that I am doing a CP soap....as a matter of fact I only know how to hot process in the crockpot. That is wonderful that you are such a great experimenter!  I have never cooked in the oven and I would be terrified I think to try. It is GOOD that you are not afraid to experiment....sometime soon I feel you will figure out the ultimate trick to making your soap.  The scents I made my soaps in is Woodlands by Sweetcakes and I also did a blend of Black Raspberry and Strawberry also by Sweetcakes.....Oh gracious! They smell sooooo good. Have you ever tried Provence by The Scent Works? It is so divine, but they have been out of stock for months now on it. SO SAD about that!   I swear the Woodlands has an exact same NOTE that Provence has....not totally, but there is a note that gives it the Provence tinge and I JUST love that. Talk soon friend!

 

Take care and have an awesome week!

Edited October 13, 2014 by puma52

[Shar]

Hi Shar!

 

You know if I just cooked it for 10 or 20 minutes it is still the same difference to me anyways that I am doing a CP soap....as a matter of fact I only know how to hot process in the crockpot. That is wonderful that you are such a great experimenter!  I have never cooked in the oven and I would be terrified I think to try. It is GOOD that you are not afraid to experiment....sometime soon I feel you will figure out the ultimate trick to making your soap.  The scents I made my soaps in is Woodlands by Sweetcakes and I also did a blend of Black Raspberry and Strawberry also by Sweetcakes.....Oh gracious! They smell sooooo good. Have you ever tried Provence by The Scent Works? It is so divine, but they have been out of stock for months now on it. SO SAD about that!   I swear the Woodlands has an exact same NOTE that Provence has....not totally, but there is a note that gives it the Provence tinge and I JUST love that. Talk soon friend!

 

Take care and have an awesome week!

Gosh, for me making cp soap is so much easier and quicker, and get much prettier bars. The Only time I do oven process hp is for my coconot scented soap or if a fragrance oil causes my soap to seize, then I just stick the pot in warm oven and after it gels I pour it in the mold.

With this new batch of coconut from yesterday, after smelling the soap today, I think I will go back to cooking the soap longer like before because the fragrance doesn't smell as good as my previous batch. I'm thinking that maybe the lye was still active and affected the scent a little.

I've been reading good reviews on Sweetcakes Strawberry, going to have to try it sometime! Oh I love TSW Provence, and sure hate that they are not restocking all those great oils. That one is sure a favorite, and such a nice clean scent. Maybe somebody will dupe it. I know how you like Cajun's oils..if you like citrusy scents their Hurricane Daiquiri is great! Sells out evertime I make it! I had to make a new batch again yesterday..Hope you have an awesome week too, and happy soaping!