You Need The Right Tools To Make Homemade Soap

“Come and start to make homemade soap. Use the tools you have at home. Pick up one of our recipes and any extra ingredients you need from us. Its easy.” Such was the sales pitch from the shop person. While her statements might be true for some people it would not be true for a great many others. The cook would have to have up to date gadgets in the kitchen. In order to make good soap reliably two important tools are needed: a thermometer and scales that will measure by the gram or by 0.05 of an ounce.

The thermometer is needed because the temperatures are important to make homemade soap successfully. If the temperatures are too low then your mixture can come to a false trace where it looks as though it is ready to pour into the mould but it is only the solid fats and oils setting again. Other problems when stirring with too high or too low temperatures is that your soap can go grainy. Lye or oils that are at too high a temperature sometimes cause the mix to develop chunks that can’t be stirred out. Those who are very experienced in making soap indicate there is no remedy other than tossing the mixture away. So it is important you get a cooking thermometer that measures in the 60 to 140 degree Fahrenheit (100 – 200 degree Celcius) range. Some cooking thermometers only give higher ranges so check that you buy a thermometer that gives the lower ranges as well.

The second very important tool needed is an accurate set of scales that measure to very close tolerances. If you make homemade soap in small quantities (anything under 3 poiunds or 1.5 kg of oil) you need to have scales that will measure accurately to the gram or to 0.05 of the ounce as the lye quantity is very important. If your scales are not accurate enough you can end up with too much lye and it will leave you with little stings and a slimy bar if you persist in using the soap. If you have proportionately too much fat compared to lye you have a different problem. Under some conditions this soap can develop a bad smell or grow some mold on it. As a result it worth investing in the tools so you can follow the recipe exactly and get great results every time you make homemade soap.