how to melt palm oil in 50# bucket

[sewforpeace]

Hi,
I received my order from Columbus Oils this week. Instead of getting the homogenized palm that I ordered I got the 50#pail. It needs to be melted and stirred before using. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get that much oil in that bucket melted and stirred? Help! Please.

 

[lsg]

If it is warm where you live, set it in your car out in the sun. It is still cold here, but we have baseboard heaters. I just got a 3 gallon bucket of palm oil that I am going to set by my baseboad heater.

 

[newbie]

Oh god, I just went through this exact same thing. 50# pail of palm from columbus.

With a smaller pail, I had used my utility sink in the laundry room filled with hot water, but the heat sink of a 50# pail would mean more frequent changes of water, I figured. If you have a fairly big utility sink and you'll be home, you could certainly try that.

I put mine in the bathtub with the hottest water from the faucet and I also ran my space heater in the bathroom with the door closed so it would stay really warm. I did have to occasionally change the water. It took forever to melt and it was only after an overnight that I had enough to pour off into another 35 # pail so I could work with them both. Once they were melted, it then took forever for them to completely cool down and I stirred all dang day without them starting to solidify. I ended up putting them in the garage to cool down more quickly and stirred them as often as I could before I had to go to sleep. Royal pain.

I LOVE the idea of the car in the sun, but it's currently too cold for such a thing where I am, most unfortunately. If you can wait, it would sure be easier than the hot water method.

may patience be with you

 

[sewforpeace]

I already had the gallon containers from Columbus that were placed in hot water on the stove...took a long time to get it all melted. Years ago (10 or so) I ordered a drum of Palm from Columbus Foods and never melted the contents before using it. This was news to me that Palm needed to be melted before using.

 

[lsg]

I opened my pail and could see that it looks like it had separated. It was too hard for me to stir, so I guess I will be melting and stirring tomorrow.

 

[newbie]

It seems to be universally recommended. If you got it during the cooler months and it seems never to have separated, maybe you don't need to do this. I had the 35# pail of palm from BB that I never melted and stirred and it worked great until I got close to the bottom. Then it had streaks of stearic acid, which caused aesthetic problems with the soaps, so I now melt and stir.

 

[Deda]

You ordered the No Stir in a box and they sent you a bucket?

I'd give them a call, I've never had an order messed up, but they've always had fabulous customer service and I'm sure they'd do what ever they could to make it right.