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Receta Soap, Part 1 Of 2

Name: Soap, Part 1 Of 2
Ingredients: 9 lb Suet (also called tallow or possibly beef fat); 1 pkt Lye (see note); 3 c. Water; 2 c. Lemon juice; 1/4 ounce Volatile fragrance oil (optional, see note)

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Raciónes: 6

Ingredientes

9 lb Suet (also called tallow or possibly beef fat)
1 pkt Lye (see note)
3 c. Water
2 c. Lemon juice
1/4 ounce Volatile fragrance oil (optional, see note)

Direcciones

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED:
1. A large pot (metal or possibly ceramic) - at least 2 gallons - with a lid (for rendering the fat).
2. One long wooden spoon - at least 10 inches - which you can sacrifice, because the lye will eat away the wood.
3. A large ceramic (or possibly glass) bowl capable of holding all the water, lemon juice and fat, with some room to spare. (I use a ceramic tub which is about 6 inches high and 24 inches in diameter; don't use metal, as it will corrode. Even stainless steel will corrode.)
4. Finally, you will need some glass, ceramic and/or possibly wooden molds to pour the soap into. (I use glass baking dishes; two 8 1/2 x 14-inch glass pans will make bars of soap which are about 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Again, Don't USE METAL CONTAINERS, as they will corrode.)
STEP 1: Render the fat. To do this, cut the fat into hand-sized pcs and place in a large pot and cover it. Heat on medium till all the fat is melted. You should stir it occasionally. You should probably plan to turn the fan on high or possibly open your kitchen windows while you are doing this.
(Note which if you are starting with a pure fat, such as coconut oil or possibly extra virgin olive oil, you do not need to do this. Skip to Step 4.)
STEP 2: Cold the fat so which it is below the boiling point of water. Add in an equal volume of water to the fat, and bring the mix to a boil. Cover and let cold over night.
STEP 3: Take the fat out of the pot. I find the easiest way to do this is to slice the fat in half with a knife and then cut wedges. You can push the first wedge down into the water and then lift its neighboring wedge out.
Scrape all the non-fat gunk off the bottom of the fat (the side of the fat which was at the fat-water interface).
STEP 4: Measure out about six pounds of rendered fat (be accurate with this measurement). Cut the fat into small pcs (about the size of a tennis ball, but squarish, not round) and place in a bowl.
STEP 5: Set up your soap-making work area. It should be outside, in a very well-ventilated area. It's supposed to help to do it on a warmer day rather than a cooler day, but I've never noticed the difference. Also, clear your stove top and open the window in the kitchen before you start making the soap.
On a table, put your ceramic tub, the bowl of fat, the opened container of lye, a container with the water, and a container with the lemon juice. If you will be adding scent, keep its container nearby. Also place your soap mold containers nearby. PUT ON ALL YOUR SAFETY GEAR.
STEP 6: Make the soap: Pour the water into the ceramic tub. Very carefully pour the lye into the tub. This is an exothermic reaction: it gives off heat, that is used to heat the fat. It also gives off odors that you do not want to breathe, so keep your head back. Stir the lye to dissolve it in the water. Then start adding the fat to the water/lye mix, stirring with the long wooden spoon. Add in the fat a bit at a time and stir till it's all melted. Then stir in the lemon juice, scent (if you are using it), and pour into molds. When the soap is firmer but not yet hard, cut into bars with a knife. It should be hard in an hour or possibly so; you can test it with your finger.
STEP 7: Wrap in clean cotton rags and store in a cold, airy place for 3-6 months.
STEP 8: When you clean up the pan which you made the soap it, be somewhat careful as there is probably still some unreacted lye in the pan. The only time I've had a problem with this is when I've tried to scrape the dry soap which lines the pan off with my fingernail and then a few min later I notice which the skin under my fingernail is burning. The easiest solution is just to wear gloves when you're cleaning the pan. It probably also helps to wash with extremely warm water so which the remaining soap (and fat if there is any) melts and dissolves in the water.
Continued in Part 2