Choosing The Perfect Crock Pot For Hot Process Soap Making

Making soap in a crockpot is a great way to speed up the curing process. The curing process for cold process soap can take up to 6 weeks, but with hot process soap, you can use the soap as soon as it's cool. The rustic look of hot process soap is also desirable for some soap recipes. You can use any soap recipe for hot process soap, but you want to use the full amount of water. This is because some of the water evaporates while cooking, so you don't want to skimp.

Hot process soap making is also known as crock pot soap

The main concept of hot process soap is that you are actively cooking the soap. You can cook soap in a crockpot, in a pot on the stove, in the oven, or even without any additional heat sources. The benefit of using a crockpot is that it allows you to retain more water, which is important if you want to have a fluid soap that you can swirl.

The process of making hot process soap in a crockpot is as follows:

• Make your lye solution and allow it to cool for a while (about 15 to 20 minutes).
• Heat your oils to 150° F (65° C) and add your lye solution after it has cooled for about 30 minutes.
• Cover the crock pot to retain moisture and avoid dry spots.
• Cook the soap on low heat for about 50 minutes.
• Test the soap to make sure the lye has reacted with the oils completely.
• If you are mixing in any additives, allow the mixture to cool briefly before adding them.
• Pour the soap mixture into a mold and set it aside for 12-24 hours, or until it sets completely.
• Remove the soap from the mold, cut it into bars, and allow it to dry for another day or so.

Hot process soap making is a great option for those who want to use their soap right away, as it does not require the long curing period of cold process soap. It also produces a slightly less-pretty bar, with a bit more lumpiness on top. However, it is a fun and easy process that can be done in a crockpot at home.

The main difference between hot and cold process soap is the curing time

Cold process soap, on the other hand, is made at room temperature and requires a curing period of around six weeks. During this time, the chemical reaction happens, and the soap becomes safe to use. The longer the cure time, the harder the bar of soap will be as the water/liquid within it evaporates.

Both methods require similar ingredients and safety precautions. Lye, a strong alkaline liquid, must be handled carefully with safety goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. It is corrosive and can burn the skin. Fats and oils must be prepared and melted, and then combined with the lye solution. This mixture is then blended until it reaches a "trace" stage, where it has the consistency of pudding.

Hot process soap is cooked in a crock pot or slow cooker

Hot process soap is a method of soap making that involves cooking the soap in a crockpot or slow cooker. This process is also known as crock pot soap or crock pot hot process. It is similar to cold process soap making, but the main difference is that hot process soap allows the chemical reaction to complete immediately, while cold process soap takes about six weeks to cure.

Hot process soap is cooked in a crockpot or slow cooker, and the process is quite simple. First, the lye and water are mixed and set aside to cool. Then, the oils are melted in the crockpot and the lye mixture is slowly added. The mixture is then blended with a stick blender until it reaches a trace consistency. At this point, the crockpot is turned on low and the soap is cooked for about 50 minutes. During this time, the soap will go through a gel stage, and it is important to stir the mixture occasionally to ensure even cooking.

Once the soap is cooked, it can be tested for doneness using a pH strip or a "zap" test. If the soap is still caustic, it will need to cook longer. Once the soap is done, any desired additives, such as essential oils or herbs, can be added. The soap is then poured into molds and allowed to cool and harden.

Hot process soap has several benefits over cold process soap. Firstly, since the soap is cooked, any fragrance or additives added do not come into contact with the lye, which can be gentler on these ingredients. Secondly, the soap is ready to use sooner, as the curing process is shorter. Finally, hot process soap has a rustic, chunky appearance that some people prefer.

You can use any soap recipe for hot process soap

Yes, you can use any soap recipe for hot process soap. The main difference between cold process and hot process soap is that hot process soap uses an external heat source to bring the soap to gel phase, where it is then poured into the mold. This is contrary to cold process, which does not use external heat; the heat is internally generated during saponification and the soap may or may not go into gel phase.

Hot process soapmaking is a lot like cooking a chicken. You can cook the chicken really fast over high heat, or you could cook it low and slow like BBQ. Both methods will yield a cooked chicken, and both can result in a tasty meal. However, as a cook, you will likely develop a preference for how you like to cook chicken and probably stick with one method after you have tried a few. Cooking hot process soap is a lot like that!

You can cook soap in a crockpot like we are going to do here, or in a pot on the stove, or in the oven, or even without any additional heat sources. And they will all result in great soap if you are able to identify when the soap is done, and if you manage the heat and water levels properly. In other words, there is no best method for hot process: what matters is that you choose a method you like and you learn how to identify the stages.

You can add essential oils to your soap

Adding essential oils to your soap can be a fun way to customise your soap's scent, but it's important to be careful. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant chemicals, so using too much could cause skin irritation. On the other hand, using too little will mean the scent may not come through, and you'll have wasted time and money.

When making hot process soap, you should add your essential oils after the soap has emulsified and/or thickened to a light to medium trace. This is when the soap mixture will have the consistency of pudding, and will hold its shape when you plop some on top.

It's important to note that the high pH in soap can destroy some scents, and the scent can also fade over time. To help prevent this, you can try mixing your essential oils with natural clays before adding them to your soap batter. Kaolin clay is a popular choice for this, but you can also use coloured clays such as green or pink clay. Simply mix your clay and essential oils together and let them sit for a few minutes before adding them to your soap.

If you're making hot process soap, it's best to add your essential oils after your soap is 'cooked' and has cooled to below 180 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce evaporation.

When choosing essential oils, it's important to consider their properties and how they will work together. For example, lavender oil is known for its calming and relaxing properties, while citrus oils like lemon essential oil are known for their ability to brighten and refresh the skin.

You should also be aware of any potential allergies or adverse reactions to essential oils. Fragrances, including essential oils, contain allergens that many people can have adverse reactions to, such as sneezing, hives, rashes, blistering, and swelling of the eyes and face.

When adding essential oils to your soap, a good rule of thumb is to use no more than 3% of your entire soap recipe (excluding the water amount). This is equivalent to about 2-3 teaspoons of essential oil per pound of soap. However, it's important to note that this may vary depending on the specific essential oil you're using, so be sure to check the maximum usage rate for the oil you're using.

When creating an essential oil blend, a good guideline to follow is:

30% of a blend should be Top Notes

60% of a blend should be Middle Notes

10% of a blend should be Base Notes

Top notes are lighter and tend to be those you smell first in a blend, such as citrus scents. Middle notes are a little heavier and can be floral, woody, spicy, or citrus. Base notes are much heavier and tend to be woody or spicy, but can include floral notes as well.

You can also try combining at least 3 essential oils, as combinations of 3 or more essential oils tend to do better in soap than single fragrances. For example, if you want a lemon scent, try using lemongrass and may chang, which are longer-lasting middle notes with a citrus scent.

Finally, when adding essential oils to your soap, always measure by weight, not volume. This will ensure that you're adding the correct amount to your soap recipe.

Frequently asked questions