Does lye water expire?
If your lye solution does not get very hot, it may be expired. Above, the potassium hydroxide lye solution using expired lye only reached 124 ° F. If you notice anything odd happening with your lye, don’t use it in cold process soap. Expired lye doesn’t saponify properly, meaning your soap may not reach trace.
Can you store lye water?
The right kind of plastic container is the best choice for mixing and storing lye solution. Some plastics are resistant to alkali, others are not, so it is important to KNOW, not guess, what a plastic container is made of.
Do you refrigerate lye water?
Given that lye is toxic, keeping it in either the refrigerator or pantry is risky. If you drink it by accident, the possible consequences range from an upset stomach to needing immediate surgery to save your life, depending on the concentration.
Can you premix lye water?
Use the diluted lye solution as you would a freshly made pitcher of lye-water to make your soap. You can mix the pre-made solution and store it for later use. Just store it safely.
How long does lye stay active?
Sodium hydroxide solutions (often a 50 percent solution mixed with distilled water) experience chemical degradation much more quickly than dried forms. The shelf life of a sodium hydroxide solution is roughly 30 days when properly stored in a dark, cool place.
What is a good substitute for lye water?
baking soda
It can be replaced by a homemade version made from two extremely common ingredients – baking soda and water. There are two approaches to making alkaline solution at home: one that uses baking soda and one that uses baked baking soda. However, baked baking soda is recommended for both mooncake and ramen making.
Does lye eat plastic?
Sodium hydroxide (lye) reacts with aluminum. Stick with stainless steel, heavy duty plastic and glass.
How do you preserve lye?
Always store your lye in an air tight sealed container that is properly labeled. I prefer plastic but you can use stainless steel. Never use tin, zinc or aluminum. Lye reacts with these metals so they are not safe to use.
How do you make lye water?
It’s very easy, and inexpensive, to prepare a homemade version as a substitute. You only need two ingredients for homemade lye water: Baked baking soda and water. Mix them at a 1:4 ratio. Then you’re ready to use it!
How do you test lye water?
Use a pH meter to see if the pH is at 13. Place a small potato in the lye water. If it sinks, the lye isn’t strong enough. If it floats, the lye is ready.
What is lye water used for in cooking?
Uses. Lye water is an ingredient used in Asian and African cooking for cooking meat, rice or noodles and vegetables like corn, beans, maize or okra to soften or add flavour or keep vegetables colour. Lye water can also be used in soap making and as a cleaning agent.
How much Lye do I put in 38% water?
OK, now you have your amount of lye. In this example it’s 2.06 oz. Now multiply this amount by whatever ratio of water-to-lye. For example, if you want to use 2:1 water:lye ratio, than your amount of water will be 4.12 oz (2.06 oz of lye x 2). When you use 38% water in your normal calculations, you are computing your water as percentage of oils.
What is the unit of measurement for lye?
The unit of weight can be ounces or grams or whatever, but you must use just one unit of weight. Example: The lye concentration is 30%. What is the water:lye ratio? Example: The water:lye ratio is 1.5, meaning 1.5 parts water to 1 part lye.
Where can I buy liquid lye in China?
Lye water is commonly available at Chinese/Asian stores. You should be able to find it online as well (e.g. Amazon). It usually comes in glass bottles. Apart from Lye water or Kansui, the label may show other words like potassium carbonate solution, 枧水, 雪碱水, etc.
How much Lye do I use for swirls?
I simply use a lye calc to get the correct amount of lye to use. My standard water used is equal to 2 times the lye. So if a recipe calls for 12 oz lye, I will use 24 oz water. This is even true for advanced swirling recipes. You hear a lot “use full water for fancy swirls so that you have time to play”.