This how-to soap making tutorial outlines my steps for making crock pot soap with the assumption that you are somewhat familiar with the soap-making process.
Start with a good recipe. I prefer recipes that have a higher amount of liquid oil to solids. One of my favorite recipes is very simple: 60% Olive Oil, 20% Palm Kernel Oil, 20% Palm Oil. Run it through a lye calculator to determine the amount of lye and [distilled] water needed. I don't discount my water when making hot process. (One of my favorite recipes is at the end of these instructions.)
I use a 6 1/2 quart crock pot. A 4 pound batch of soaps fits perfectly. It fills the crock pot about half full - giving room in the case of it bubbling up, but not too little an amount that it could burn.
First, measure water and set aside.
Then measure the lye into a separate container. Slowly pour the lye into the pitcher of cold water. Stir until dissolved. Set aside in a safe place.
At this point, my crock pot is on low.
I recommend using a good rubber spatula to scrape the bowl - no sense leaving any good oils behind.
Next, I measure my olive oil - and/or any other liquid oils I happen to be using - and pour this into the crock pot.
Get out your handy-dandy stick blender and using low speed, slowly pour the lye mixture into the melted oils. Gently move the stick blender around, up, down, around, ensuring a nice even blend. If you don't have a stick blender, a stainless steel wire whisk works great too - just requires a little more arm power.
Now, I ready my mold, measure out any fragrance oils or essential oils and any additives I plan to use.
After about 15 or 20 minutes, I take the lid off and, using a potato masher, mash the soap around. It has a look of a Vaseline texture; glossy, slick. It will have a waxy feel if you rub a piece of it between gloved fingers.
It is done! At this point, it's really soap. It only needs to be put into your mold. I do this in large spoonfuls, pounding my mold on the counter every few scoops to ensure it packs into the mold tightly. Once I have it all in the mold, I put a baggie on my hand and flatten the top - making sure to "squish" it into the corners really well.
Now is a good time to wash all the dishes. And you don't even need to add any soap! You should see some lovely lather from the soap you've just made.
I let this sit over-night. The next morning, I un-mold and slice into soap bars to air out for a week or so. Once each bar has had time to harden, I bevel each one and it's ready for use, or sale.
My favorite crock pot soap recipe:
Rosemary Mint Handmade Soap
4 pounds
- 38 ounces olive oil (59.38%)
- 14.4 ounces palm kernel oil (22.5%)
- 11.6 ounces palm oil (18.13%)
- 8.7 ounces sodium hydroxide (5% discount)
- 17.5 ounces distilled water
- 3 ounces rosemary mint blend essential oils
- 2 teabags of Organic Peppermint tea
Disclaimer: Sodium Hydroxide is highly caustic and should be handled carefully and knowledgeably. It is the soapmakers responsibility to research safety procedures for soapmaking.
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