My regular recipe has 50% lard but I have used 75%, 80% and 100%. Lard is my absolute favorite soaping oil, it has a lower conditioning number but in this case, the numbers lie.
regular sunflower should be kept at 15% or less or it could contribute to DOS. High oleic sunflower on the other hand, is more stable.
I made an 80% lard batch once and OMG let me tell you... It is fabulous. I used 15 CO/5 castor as my remainder. It lathers like a jacuzzi full of Mr. Bubble, creamy like a tub of cool whip, harder than... no, I'm not answering that.
But it's lovely. You should try it.
Ah! Then let me recommend FannieAndFlo on etsy. I've ordered from them many times. Grass fed tallow that's as white and pure as the driven snow and completely odorless. They're main focus is lard and tallow for eating, but happily also sell to soapers.
They also have for sale (but unlisted) the less "beautiful" lard and tallow. Still grass fed tallow and family farm sourced lard, no bht, no citric acid, no hydrogenation but sometimes the color is more yellow and but less expensive. Message them - they'll gladly help you out! I love them!
Ah! Then let me recommend FannieAndFlo on etsy. I've ordered from them many times. Grass fed tallow that's as white and pure as the driven snow and completely odorless. They're main focus is lard and tallow for eating, but happily also sell to soapers.
They also have for sale (but unlisted) the less "beautiful" lard and tallow. Still grass fed tallow and family farm sourced lard, no bht, no citric acid, no hydrogenation but sometimes the color is more yellow and but less expensive. Message them - they'll gladly help you out! I love them!
How does beef tallow compare to lard in soap making?
Going to check out Etsy now... Thanks lenarenee!
Are you in the US? Want me to send you a couple bars?
Lard is more conditioning and does make a hard bar, but tallow soap seems harder to me than lard - or less soluble. It's a nice white, crisp bar that's even less inclined to get too soft when used multiple times a day - like with hand washing. Olive oil soaps get gummy and jelly, lard far less so, but tallow just stays crisp and hard. Calling it less conditioning is not exactly correct because it still makes a gentle soap. Personally, I think it allows whatever butter or specialty oil you add really shine through.
Tallow has a small amount of lauric and myrisitc acid (the bubbly acids of coconut oil) so I actually reduce the amount of coconut oil by 2% when I use it.
100% tallow soap lather is nothing to write home about - a few large bubbles but then a thin, shiny, somewhat creamy lather - kind of like when your homemade whipped cream deflates after 2 days in the fridge.
How does beef tallow compare to lard in soap making?
Have you tried the "Lardist?" Their prices are lower.
No I haven't - I've "watched" them a little but their supply is hit and miss. There's not much info on their operation. Fannie and Flo I trust - I looked into their claims about their source (did the farm group exist, googled them, google mapped them, etc) Plus they hard a professional kitchen....here....read this from their etsy shop:
Our production environment is free of Tobacco, Pets, Hard Liquor, Offensive Odors, Dirty Jokes and Racey Undergarments.
Please contact us with any questions (even the dumb ones), and let's establish a good clear line of communication on all custom orders as soon as possible.
We render in a Fully Inspected and Approved Commercial Kitchen, assuring product purity, cleanliness and food packaging compliance. We produce according to food safety HACCP protocol resulting in a zero-moisture / zero bacteria (shelf stable over 60°F).
Is the Tallow organic? Where does it come from?
The family farms that supply the suet we use are all are members of the "Organic Valley Farmers Co-op" and produce only Certified Organic Livestock, raised without antibiotics, synthetic hormones or pesticide exposure. They are seasonally grazed and not given feed containing genetically modified organisms (GMO). Organic Valley Co-op Farms are 3rd party "Certified Organic" and follow federal guidelines. The livestock processor we use is "Animal Welfare" Certified.
This is more than hobby for them, they love what they do.
Yes...I read all that earlier. Loved their line, "...Our production environment is free of Tobacco, Pets, Hard Liquor, Offensive Odors, Dirty Jokes and Racey Undergarments. Made me chuckle.
Yes...after looking at Lardist more closely, I had already decided that Fannie & Flo sounded much more serious about every aspect of their biz. They are definitely my first choice!!
I know! They're very humorous! Did you see their tag line? "Home for displaced and orphaned artisans"? They started rendering lard to find something productive to do...and now they makes tons of the stuff!
No, I did not see that tagline. Very cute! I feel like a displaced artisan...lived in NY for a while, stuck in GA and wanting to move to CA!!!
$2/lb sounds awesome!! I did message them earlier, asking about the lowered priced fats...but should I specifically ask for the $2/lb stuff?
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