Beef Tallow Soap
Recipe Instructions
Steps:
- Prepare your workspace:
- Wear gloves, safety goggles, and long sleeves to protect yourself from lye splashes.
- Work in a well-ventilated area.
- Have all ingredients measured and ready.
- Create the Lye Solution:
- Carefully add the sodium hydroxide (lye) to the distilled water. Always add lye to water, never the other way around, to avoid a dangerous reaction.
- Stir until the lye is completely dissolved. The solution will heat up and become cloudy before clearing. Let it cool down to about 37-43°C.
- Melt the Fats and Oils:
- In a stainless steel or heat-resistant container, melt the beef tallow and coconut oil together over low heat until fully liquid.
- Remove from heat and add the castor oil. Stir to combine.
- Let the oil mixture cool down to about 37-43°
- Combine Lye Solution with Oils:
- When both the lye solution and the oils are within the same temperature range, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils.
- Use a stick blender to mix until you reach a light trace (the mixture thickens slightly and leaves a trail when drizzled on top).
- Add Honey and Calamine Powder:
- Add the honey and stir well with the stick blender until fully incorporated.
- Sift the calamine powder to avoid clumps and add it to the mixture. Blend until evenly distributed and you reach a medium trace.
- Pour into Mold:
- Pour the soap batter into a mould, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Tap the mould gently on the counter to release any air bubbles.
- Insulate and Cure:
- Cover the mould with a lid or plastic wrap and insulate with towels to keep the heat in and promote the gel phase (optional, but it helps the soap harden faster and ensures even saponification).
- Let the soap sit in the mould for 24-48 hours.
- Once hardened, remove from the mould and cut into bars.
- Cure the soap in a well-ventilated area for 4-6 weeks, turning occasionally, to allow excess water to evaporate and the soap to fully harden.
Final Notes:
- Always use a reliable lye calculator to verify the exact amount of lye needed for the oils you are using, as variations in oil types and qualities can affect the amount required.
- Ensure all utensils and containers are made of lye-safe materials such as stainless steel, high-density plastic, or silicone.
- Label and date your soap, and keep detailed notes of your recipe and process for future reference.
Enjoy your homemade soap with the nourishing benefits of tallow, the moisturizing properties of castor and coconut oil, the soothing touch of calamine powder, and the humectant quality of honey!
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Soap Properties
Highlighted gray ranges represent recommended ranges for each property.
100
80
60
40
20
0
INS: 160.1 (ideal)
iodine: 44.84 (ideal)
Calculated Values for Oils and Preferences
| Superfat % | 5% |
| Saturated | 313.72 Gram(s) |
| Mono-Unsaturated | 255.46 Gram(s) |
| Poly-Unsaturated | 22.34 Gram(s) |
| Saturated:Unsaturated Ratio | 46.96:53.04 |
| Lye concentration | 100% |
| Weight Unit | Gram(s) |
| Soap type | solid |
Fatty Acid Profile
| Oleic | 26.69% |
| Linoleic | 2.64% |
| Linolenic | 0.97% |
| Ricinoleic | 14.52% |
| Lauric | 9.10% |
| Myristic | 6.39% |
| Palmitic | 19.94% |
| Stearic | 15.17% |
Recommended Additive Amounts
Swipe on table to see all values
For Advanced Soapmakers
| Sodium Lactate (60%)
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| Recommended Essential/Fragrance Oil | 27.13 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Ascorbic Acid
| 6.20 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Extra Lye to Neutralize Ascorbic Acid for A.A. | NaOH: 1.25 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Lactic Acid
| 4.65 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Extra Lye to Neutralize Lactic Acid for L.A. | NaOH: 2.75 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Tetrasodium EDTA
| 4.71 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Sodium Citrate
| 8.06 - 24.18 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Potassium Citrate
| 9.92 - 29.76 Gram(s) | ||||||
| Rosemary Oleoresin (ROE)
| 0.25 - 0.31 Gram(s) | ||||||
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Citric Acid Powder (anhydrous) |
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Extra Lye to Neutralize Citric Acid Powder for C.A. |
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