Hot Process- Holding water back for after cook

[Tara08]

Hi!
Is it ok to reserve water (take from what would be combined with lye, is that called a water discount??) and add it after the cook to help with fluidity of HP soap? How much is recommended? One article I read gave an example of holding back 4oz of 12 total oz of water. So like a 1/3 of the water was held back?

Thanks!!
Tara

 

[DeeAnna]

I don't make much HP soap, but yes, I know you can reserve some of the water to add later.

Two things to keep in mind though -- you HAVE to dissolve the NaOH in no less than an equal weight of water. You cannot use less because the NaOH won't dissolve properly.

The other thing is the reserved liquid has to be warmed. The soap batter will harden up when you add cool liquids and you don't want that.

SMF member Dawni is the queen of HP. She doesn't post here much anymore, but I recommend reading her posts on this topic. She's very good at what she does.

 

[Tara08]

I don't make much HP soap, but yes, I know you can reserve some of the water to add later.

Two things to keep in mind though -- you HAVE to dissolve the NaOH in no less than an equal weight of water. You cannot use less because the NaOH won't dissolve properly.

The other thing is the reserved liquid has to be warmed. The soap batter will harden up when you add cool liquids and you don't want that.

SMF member Dawni is the queen of HP. She doesn't post here much anymore, but I recommend reading her posts on this topic. She's very good at what she does.

Thanks!!

 

[lsg]

I don't hold back any water when I hot process. IMO, holding back water would impede the cooking process. To get a smooth pour at the end of the cook, dissolve about 2 TBPS powdered milk in a little water. Mix until smooth and add this to the HP soap. You would be surprised how this helps smooth out the HP soap.

 

[Tara08]

S

I don't hold back any water when I hot process. IMO, holding back water would impede the cooking process. To get a smooth pour at the end of the cook, dissolve about 2 TBPS powdered milk in a little water. Mix until smooth and add this to the HP soap. You would be surprised how this helps smooth out the HP soap.

So the water you mix with the milk powder, it's additional water? No reserved from the amount in your calculated recipe?

 

[lsg]

S

So the water you mix with the milk powder, it's additional water? No reserved from the amount in your calculated recipe?

No, it is a little additional water. I have also heard of people who use yogurt.
https://www.cuttothetrace.com/2017/...The mysterious fluid HP is,you try to mold it!

 

[Tara08]

No, it is a little additional water. I have also heard of people who use yogurt.
https://www.cuttothetrace.com/2017/10/fluid-hot-process-for-beginners/#:~:text=The mysterious fluid HP is,you try to mold it

 

[Tara08]

I tried yogurt the last couple times, but I didn't see much difference from when I use coconut milk powder mixed with a little water.