can lard with preservatives be used for soap ?

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I would like to know if it's all right to use lard with preservatives added for soap-making or if there is a brand of lard that doesn't contain preservatives.

Loretta

-- Loretta Bauer (quilter104@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001

Answers

dont know about store bought,, maybe a health food store, or its easy to make your own. You dont HAVE to use lard, can use most any fat or oil, but ti shuldnt hurt the soap at all

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 30, 2001.

Yes you can, but it won't be a "all natural" soap. I would list it in the ingredients, just in case someone may be allergic. Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), October 30, 2001.

I have used storebought lard. I don't like it as well..sort of makes soap a little slimey..but it does work. I like beef fat best of all, and do make some with all vegetable ingredients too..shortening, coconut and olive oil.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), October 30, 2001.

Fer Gods Sake, original soap was nothing more than water,,Red devil Lye and bacon grease. And before the Lye invention, theu had soap back hundreds of years. I wonder at this keyboard intervention that will not allow me to backup and correct my spellings. Can you say censor? Lye was made by pouring water down a burned bark. It wasnt brain science. Years later, they added perfume to the soap. Dont worry and fret, the Ages come to bring you knowledge and comfort, though it might not be the Instant MacDonald, to which, you take for granted. The Ages are strong, once one learns to work around the Censorship. Good Tidings.

-- My Story (andIam@sticking.com), October 30, 2001.

Yes, "commercial" lard will work. I participate in a festival in Attica, IN and buy manteca/lard by the BLOCK of 50# - I go through about two blocks every year. It has BHA and BHT in it for preservatives. When you add your lye mixture the mixture will turn pink/rose when you are stirring it. Don't Panic. By the time it traces it is back to normal color. I agree. Soap is caustic, water, and fat. Don't worry too much about the preservatives. Ya can't get around them easily. Even butcher places add the BHA and BHT to retard rancidness. If ya wanna butcher your own then you can render out and skirt the preservatives issue. I taught a "class" how to make soap. One of the participants went and sent to OREGON (we are in Indiana) for coconut oil, olive oil, and palm oil to make her soap. She also rendered her own tallow. Now, this person only made soap ONCE. Decided it was too expensive and time consuming. Didn't even save some for herself. Ya gotta realize that coconut oil, olive oil, and palm oil are all available LOCALLY! And pretty cheaply too. She spend LOTS of money sending across the states for her ingredients - not to mention shipping... I shook my head. Please don't get caught up in wanting to send off for ingredients. Use the lard. You'll be fine. Add a little Vitamin E (go to a drug store and get their generic. DO NOT spend lots of money!) to stop the bacony smell that may develop later. Enjoy your soap and happy making!!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), October 31, 2001.


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