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I’m sharing my hot process tallow and coconut oil soap recipe!
Soapmaking is an ancient craft that has been practiced for centuries. While commercial soaps might be more convenient, there is a growing interest in homemade soap for its benefits.
Not only is it healthier, but it’s also a fun family project and a good chemistry lesson for any family.
Let’s explore the art of hot process soap making and provide a step-by-step recipe for creating a beautiful crockpot hot process tallow soap.
Crockpot Hot Process Tallow Soap Recipe
Hot Process Soap Making:
Hot process soap making is a method that involves cooking the soap mixture to accelerate the saponification process.
Unlike cold-process soap making, which requires a curing period, hot-process soap is ready to use almost immediately after it’s made.
This makes it an ideal choice for my family since we never want to wait to use the soap!
A Caution About Soapmaking
Making soap involves a lot of chemistry and measurements matter…a lot!
Do not change the measurements without using a soap calculator.
You must measure exactly using a kitchen scale. The recipe won’t turn out if the ratios are off or worse, the soap could burn someone’s skin if there is lye left over.
Use a soap calculator to find out how much of each oil to use. The calculator also lets you choose the hardness of the bar and the amount of lather.
USE CAUTION when handling the lye. You NEED gloves and safety glasses. You also need heatproof glass such as a strong mason jar for the lye water mixture.
Lye should never be handled by children or teens, only by adults. If you want a safer diy soap-making recipe please use melt-and-pour soap instead.
Crockpot Hot Process Tallow Soap Recipe:
Now, let’s get down to the specifics and walk through the steps of making a crockpot hot process tallow soap. Here’s the recipe in the picture.
Ingredients:
- Water: 12.6 oz
- Lye: 4.48 oz
- Tallow: 11.2 oz
- Coconut Oil: 9.6 oz
- Olive Oil: 9.6 oz
- Jojoba Oil: 1.6 oz
Equipment:
- Crockpot
- Heat-resistant containers for measuring and mixing
- Stick blender
- Thermometer
- Soap molds
Instructions:
Ensure you are working in a well-ventilated area and wear protective gear, including gloves and safety goggles.
Measure the water and lye separately in heat-resistant containers. Slowly add the lye to the water while stirring carefully. Never add water to lye, make sure it’s lye added to the water.
Be cautious, as this mixture will release fumes and heat. It heats up fast!
In the meantime, combine tallow, coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil in the crockpot. Set it to low heat and let the fats melt together.
Once the oils are melted, slowly add the lye-water mixture to the crockpot. Use a stick blender to blend the mixture until it reaches trace, which means it thickens and leaves a trace when dripped on the surface. About the consistency of pudding.
Cover the crockpot and let the soap cook on low heat for about 1 hour, stir once in the beginning, and then let it rise.
It is done when the whole pot full has turned over into the middle and looks like petroleum jelly.
Turn off the crockpot and quickly add any fragrance or essential oil. I prefer to keep mine unscented.
Pour the soap mixture into silicon soap molds and smooth the top of the soap with a spatula or spoon if you want. I love the rough look of the soap personally.
Let the soap cool and harden in the molds for approximately 24 hours.
Once fully cooled and hardened, remove the soap from the molds and let it cure for a few weeks in a well-ventilated area. During this time, excess moisture will evaporate, resulting in a harder and longer-lasting bar.
We always use a bar immediately on cutting day but in general, the soap is better the longer it sits.
I’ve got some awesome Soap Making Books if you are interested and wanted to be creative.
What are the Benefits of Homemade Soap?
Natural Ingredients:
One of the most significant advantages of making soap at home is the ability to control the ingredients. Commercial soaps often contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that can be harsh on the skin.
Homemade soap allows you to use natural ingredients, such as essential oils, beef tallow, coconut oil, and herbs. There are no hidden ingredients or chemicals.
Customization:
Homemade soap offers endless possibilities for customization. You can tailor your soap recipe to suit your specific skin type and preferences.
Whether you have dry, oily, or sensitive skin, you can experiment with different oils and additives to create a personalized soap that addresses your unique needs.
Skin Benefits:
Many people who struggle with skin issues like eczema prefer to use homemade tallow soap.
For instance, tallow, coconut oil, olive oil, and jojoba oil used in our recipe all contribute to a moisturizing, nourishing, and cleansing soap.
These natural ingredients can help improve skin hydration, soothe irritations, and promote a healthy complexion.
Educational:
Homemade soap involves a lot of chemistry and a good education in various oils and their benefits. My kids have enjoyed the entire process of soap making and saponification. It’s a great family project and a good homemaking skill to have in general.
Hot process soap making offers a quick and fun way to create your own personalized soap. By venturing into homemade soap production, you not only gain control over the ingredients but also reap the benefits of using natural and skin-loving products.
