Adding sugar to lye solution

[NewlyCreative]

If you add sugar to an already made lye solution - does it just precipitate out as clumps of sugar?

I strained out the hard bits and goo while pouring the lye solution into my oils and plucked one big hard lump out before pouring it.

I’m hoping it was just sugar and not lye that I strained out.

I also forgot to add sodium lactate to the lye solution.

And the container I was melting my first batch of oils in liquified (sigh). Besides the mess I was trying a recipe with Kokum butter so that just added insult to injury.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Oh my, that container issue sounds messy - so sorry this happened to you. What type of container was it?

Try dissolving your sugar in double its weight of distilled water next time. For example, for 1000g fats, I use 10g sorbitol (1%) and 20g distilled water. Then I reduce my batch liquid by 20g to account for the water with the sorbitol.

 

[NewlyCreative]

@dmcgee5034 - it was a really inexpensive plastic Walmart or dollar store container that was microwave safe so I thought I could use it in a water bath. Nope.

I need to buy a large Pyrex glass measuring cup for oil melting.

Lesson learned for the sugar. It was a last minute addition and three separate websites said it was ok to add directly to lye water.

 

[dmcgee5034]

I should have also said, I add my SL to the sorbitol/DW - then I’m sure I don’t forget it

 

[NewlyCreative]

I wonder if you could dissolve the sugar directly in sodium lactate and skip the reserved water.

In positive news the soap is hardening well within 90 minutes of being pored so hopefully the sodium lactate miss will be ok!

 

[KiwiMoose]

I ran out of sodium lactate some months ago and have not missed it one little bit.

 

[dibbles]

I weigh the total amount of my batch liquid, then remove enough to dissolve the sugar I am using and warm it slightly. Once the sugar is completely dissolved I add it back into the batch water. Then I stir in the lye.

Never add undissolved sugar to already made lye solution. I did that exactly once and lesson learned. It sounds like you learned the same lesson

 

[artemis]

I just dissolve my sugar in my distilled water before adding the NaOH. No need for extra steps to dissolve sugar.

 

[Catscankim]

I just dissolve my sugar in my distilled water before adding the NaOH. No need for extra steps to dissolve sugar.

That's exactly how I do it.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

I ran out of sodium lactate some months ago and have not missed it one little bit.

I don't use sugar/sorbitol/sodium lactate in any of my soap batches. Totally unnecessary. IMO.

 

[melinda48]

If you add sugar to an already made lye solution - does it just precipitate out as clumps of sugar?

I strained out the hard bits and goo while pouring the lye solution into my oils and plucked one big hard lump out before pouring it.

I’m hoping it was just sugar and not lye that I strained out.

I also forgot to add sodium lactate to the lye solution.

And the container I was melting my first batch of oils in liquified (sigh). Besides the mess I was trying a recipe with Kokum butter so that just added insult to injury.

I add the sugar to my oils.

 

[dibbles]

I just dissolve my sugar in my distilled water before adding the NaOH. No need for extra steps to dissolve sugar.

I use frozen water or aloe juice, so I melt/warm some of it to dissolve my sugar. It’s still faster than waiting for lye solution to cool. I don’t masterbatch.

 

[linne1gi]

I add the sugar to my oils.

Sugar is water soluble, how does adding sugar to the oils do anything?

 

[Shelley D]

Sugar is water soluble, how does adding sugar to the oils do anything?

Just a guess, but adding it to warm oils causes it to melt and blend in?

 

[linne1gi]

Sugar doesn’t melt in oil, only in water.

 

[lsg]

You can also make a simple syrup and keep it in the refrigerator until needed.

 

[linne1gi]

You can also make a simple syrup and keep it in the refrigerator until needed.

Great idea. I use this for hot processed soap after the cook.

 

[MomInWA]

Great idea. I use this for hot processed soap after the cook.

And for Sweet Tea! (haha)

 

[Shelley D]

Sugar doesn’t melt in oil, only in water.

And yet it dissolves into hot butter when butter when cooking or baking and will dissolve into egg whites when whipped into merengue (hence the instruction to whip until sugar dissolves) so it's not gritty

 

[AliOop]

Sugar doesn’t melt in oil, only in water.

I think you meant to say that sugar doesn't dissolve in oil (only water). But it will melt (become liquid) when heated.