Quick question on avoiding gel in a loaf mold!

[Mobjack Bay]

I just finished a soap that has matcha tea and parsley as additives. I would like to avoid gel so that I have the best chance of retaining the green colors. It’s a slow to trace recipe of 42% OO, 25% CO, 15% PO and the rest as soft oils. I added 1 tsp SL ppo and worked between 95 and 100 F, my lye concentration is 33% and my calculated SF was 2%, plus a little OO that went in with the dispersed additives. It’s a 2 lb recipe in a small loaf mold 2.75” wide x 3” tall x 10” long. I want to avoid gel.

I just put the soap in the refrigerator about 15 minutes ago. I have successfully avoided gel in cavity molds and a slab mold this way, but can I avoid gel in a loaf mold this way? Should I put it in the freezer? Thanks!

 

[Zany_in_CO]

From my experience, cavity molds don't gel; a slab mold in the fridge works well for preventing gel. Not sure about a loaf mold. Somewhere in between, I 'spect. It also helps to cross fingers and shake your booty at the soaping gods.

That being said, you may remember that gelled soap intensifies the color whereas ungelled does not.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

From my experience, a slab mold in the fridge works well for preventing gel. It also helps to cross fingers and do a little jig for the soaping gods.

That being said, you may remember that gelled soap intensifies the color whereas ungelled does not.

I’m worried about the heat being more concentrated because this is a loaf mold (less surface area to volume of soap) and because it’s a silicone liner, rather than the parchment paper I use in the slab mold. I’m fine with the trade off of intensity of color for longevity of color for this particular soap. I made a hemp and matcha tea soap last weekend in the loaf mold and it went totally brown. It’s the same tea that has given me a lovely bright tea green in individual molds.

I put the loaf in the freezer after finding this post. Another thing they’re discussing in that thread is using 40% lye concentration to help with avoiding gel. If you are a non-geller, I would love to know if you’re using 40% lye and if it helps when working with small loaf molds. Or, if you have any other tips to share I would be most appreciative.

 

[Relle]

I non gel, that's all I do. Mine goes in the frig , (no need for the freezer) overnight, then comes out the following day. I use the default on soapcalc for lye, I don't change anything. I don't agree with the intensity of the colour changing with non gel, my soap comes out very vibrant, no issues there. I usually only use a loaf mould, mine is wood, I haven't used silicon, that might hold the heat longer ( just guessing, I haven't a clue). Anyway that's what I do.
Here's a link to one of my soaps for colour purposes. Scroll down

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/surprise-cut-pics-added.72284/

 

[cmzaha]

When I did not gel I would put my 6lb loaf mold (HDPE) in the freezer for 2-3 hrs then transferred to the fridge. That was when I was making a lot less soap than I do now. I do agree with Relle that I do not find that gelling creates more vibrant colors. I always felt I got truer color with non-gelling, but I can unmold my gelled soaps within a few hrs.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I non gel, that's all I do. Mine goes in the frig , (no need for the freezer) overnight, then comes out the following day. I use the default on soapcalc for lye, I don't change anything. I don't agree with the intensity of the colour changing with non gel, my soap comes out very vibrant, no issues there. I usually only use a loaf mould, mine is wood, I haven't used silicon, that might hold the heat longer ( just guessing, I haven't a clue). Anyway that's what I do.
Here's a link to one of my soaps for colour purposes. Scroll down

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/surprise-cut-pics-added.72284/

Yes, on jellyfish! Thank you for the tips Relle!

When I did not gel I would put my 6lb loaf mold (HDPE) in the freezer for 2-3 hrs then transferred to the fridge. That was when I was making a lot less soap than I do now. I do agree with Relle that I do not find that gelling creates more vibrant colors. I always felt I got truer color with non-gelling, but I can unmold my gelled soaps within a few hrs.

Thanks Cmzaha! I am going to take my soap out of the freezer now .

 

[Zany_in_CO]

I made a hemp and matcha tea soap last weekend in the loaf mold and it went totally brown. It’s the same tea that has given me a lovely bright tea green in individual molds.

Interesting. I like the way you think and I look forward to reading how this turns out.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

After the first nongelled batch and then a few more batches I agree about the colors being just as bright in non-gelled soaps.