• dumples@piefed.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    13 hours ago

    I’ve always wanted to try to make soup. I do lots of crafting including lotions and salves. Is it easy? Is it fun?

    • TheArtfulLlama@lemmy.zipOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      13 hours ago

      Fun, yes! Easy can depend on lots of factors. Soap making, at least cold process soap (which is what I do) is just as much a science as it is an art. You work with lye which is caustic and can be very dangerous if handled recklessly. Adding the lye to the water (never the other way around or it’ll quite literally explode) causes it to heat up to nearly 200F (close to 100C) so that’s something to be cautious about, as well as the soap batter (created by blending the lye water with oils) can irritate and even burn the skin.

      I see it like cooking. You can make your own recipes, but like baking the measurements must be precise. As long as you take proper safety precautions it can be very easy and fun! If working with lye is a little too intimidating, melt and pour soap may be more your thing. Hope that helps!

      • tal@lemmy.today
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        11 hours ago

        You work with lye

        Oh, so this is like, real soap. Not the synthetic detergent bars that we typically call soap.