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I was down to a couple of loose chunks of Proraso Red in the bowl.
I soaked it over night in some water, microwaved it, and then whisked it from a slightly clear state to a white creamy one.
Poured it back into the bowl and let it firm up.
I figured I nailed it until I went to shave.
Had a hell of a time working up a decent lather.
I killed something that permits a foamy thick lather.
Lessen learned.
Heating shea butter or most ingredients in soaps and creams over 175 F (80 C) will kill any properties they have.
When I was about 12; I tried to make milk chocolate by melting dark chocolate and adding sugar together with some condensed milk.
Didn't work and ruined the saucepan that I was using.
When I was about 14; I watched a documentary about brandy distillers and tried to make brandy by boiling wine and letting it cool down.
Didn't work either and must have ruined a perfect bottle of wine from our cellar.
Even though it didn't upset my parents terribly then; I have taken a more cautious approach since then before I try to modify complex chemical compositions.
B.
I agree with Mark. Heat killed the lather properties.
On the rare occasion I have to nuke soap I use 5 second pulses until the soap will conform to the bowl/mug/cup. The soap itself never gets past the warm stage.
+1 on daves suggestion, you can use a double boiler and gently heat or for soft soaps just stand in a bowl of warm water for a while. Job done.
Good to know!
Sounds like a lot of work for a couple of loose chunks!
I tried microwaving soap once, failed. I tried heating a hard puck on the stove to "melt" it to pour into a nice decanter, failed. Best thing I have found is to slip the cheese grater out of the kitchen and use it...
Just hope that SWMNO doesn't catch you! :wQuote:
Originally Posted by shooter74743
One of the few benefits of being on call 5 days a week...do stuff like that and then "load the dishwasher & run it"...you get brownie points for cleaning up the kitchen & she never knows!!!! Momma didn't raise no fool!