Re: Shea or Mango Butter gritty

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/27/2007 7:36:17 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

Nikki@... writes:

Hi All,

Some of my body butter batches end up gritty and I don't know why.

I read somewhere years ago to melt Shea butter at 175 degrees for at

least 20 minutes to prevent crystallization. I usually combine Shea

butter with mango butter and cocoa butter for my body butters. I've

noticed the mango butter I get is somewhat " beady " . In other words,

it's not a creamy consistency like the Shea or hard like the cocoa.

I've ordered from two different companies and so I am assuming that is

the consistency of mango butter. I use to think it was the Shea butter

that made my body butter come out gritty because I used to use

unrefined Shea, but one day when I didn't have mango butter the three

batches came out flawlessly. Any ideas or advise would be appreciated.

nikki

Hi Nikki,

Some refined butters do get gritty when they are melted completely over

the heat. I learned from a long time soaper to melt my butters over low heat

and the ones that tend to get grainy, you have to remove them from the heat

when they are about 2/3 melted and let them melt the rest of the way on their

own. I don't know why this works but it does. I hope this helps you.

Sally

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

I used to make a whipped shea and mango butter. It is my understanding

that part of the crystallization process has to do with sitting

still--that is, if you can keep the stuff moving while it cools, it

thwarts the crystallization.

Therefore, I recommend what worked well for me: melt the whole damn

thing, whip it in the mixer until it is emulsified, and then put it in

the freezer for 7-10 minutes at a time, and repeat the whipping. Put

the beater in the freezer as well.

When it begins to whip up light and fluffy, only put it in the freezer

for 3-5 minutes at a time. When it is airy and light, you are done.

This process has always worked well for me--no grains.

Amy

Author , _Making Soap In Your Own Kitchen_,

a beginner's guide to soapmaking.

www.soapcrone.com/ebook.php

[Guest guest]

I also learned that if you melt it, then to prevent grittyness, cool

it very fast, perhaps a freezer. sometimes shea butter is like that

too, i heat it up; really hot, mix whatever i have to in it, then put

the product in the freezer. it comes out smooth. of course it dethaws

and it is applyable.

>

>

> In a message dated 5/27/2007 7:36:17 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

> Nikki@... writes:

>

> Hi All,

> Some of my body butter batches end up gritty and I don't know why.

> I read somewhere years ago to melt Shea butter at 175 degrees for

at

> least 20 minutes to prevent crystallization. I usually combine

Shea

> butter with mango butter and cocoa butter for my body butters.

I've

> noticed the mango butter I get is somewhat " beady " . In other

words,

> it's not a creamy consistency like the Shea or hard like the

cocoa.

> I've ordered from two different companies and so I am assuming that

is

> the consistency of mango butter. I use to think it was the Shea

butter

> that made my body butter come out gritty because I used to use

> unrefined Shea, but one day when I didn't have mango butter the

three

> batches came out flawlessly. Any ideas or advise would be

appreciated.

>

> nikki

>

>

> Hi Nikki,

> Some refined butters do get gritty when they are melted

completely over

> the heat. I learned from a long time soaper to melt my butters over

low heat

> and the ones that tend to get grainy, you have to remove them from

the heat

> when they are about 2/3 melted and let them melt the rest of the

way on their

> own. I don't know why this works but it does. I hope this helps

you.

>

> Sally

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Me, I don't mind the grittiness. Once I warm it up by rubbing it in my hands the

grittiness disappears. Of course, I'm only making this stuff for myself and

friends and not selling it.

Dee Dee

Buttafly Jonez <dredjewelz@...> wrote: I

also learned that if you melt it, then to prevent grittyness, cool

it very fast, perhaps a freezer. sometimes shea butter is like that

too, i heat it up; really hot, mix whatever i have to in it, then put

the product in the freezer. it comes out smooth. of course it dethaws

and it is applyable.

>

>

> In a message dated 5/27/2007 7:36:17 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

> Nikki@... writes:

>

> Hi All,

> Some of my body butter batches end up gritty and I don't know why.

> I read somewhere years ago to melt Shea butter at 175 degrees for

at

> least 20 minutes to prevent crystallization. I usually combine

Shea

> butter with mango butter and cocoa butter for my body butters.

I've

> noticed the mango butter I get is somewhat " beady " . In other

words,

> it's not a creamy consistency like the Shea or hard like the

cocoa.

> I've ordered from two different companies and so I am assuming that

is

> the consistency of mango butter. I use to think it was the Shea

butter

> that made my body butter come out gritty because I used to use

> unrefined Shea, but one day when I didn't have mango butter the

three

> batches came out flawlessly. Any ideas or advise would be

appreciated.

>

> nikki

>

>

> Hi Nikki,

> Some refined butters do get gritty when they are melted

completely over

> the heat. I learned from a long time soaper to melt my butters over

low heat

> and the ones that tend to get grainy, you have to remove them from

the heat

> when they are about 2/3 melted and let them melt the rest of the

way on their

> own. I don't know why this works but it does. I hope this helps

you.

>

> Sally

>

>

>

> ************************************** See what's free at

http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I put my SB in the fridge to cool that way. It you leave it in the

freezer too long, it will get freezer burn. not attractive for

customers.

trudie

> >

> >

> > In a message dated 5/27/2007 7:36:17 P.M. Central Daylight

Time,

> > Nikki@ writes:

> >

> > Hi All,

> > Some of my body butter batches end up gritty and I don't know

why.

> > I read somewhere years ago to melt Shea butter at 175 degrees

for

> at

> > least 20 minutes to prevent crystallization. I usually combine

> Shea

> > butter with mango butter and cocoa butter for my body

butters.

> I've

> > noticed the mango butter I get is somewhat " beady " . In other

> words,

> > it's not a creamy consistency like the Shea or hard like the

> cocoa.

> > I've ordered from two different companies and so I am assuming

that

> is

> > the consistency of mango butter. I use to think it was the Shea

> butter

> > that made my body butter come out gritty because I used to use

> > unrefined Shea, but one day when I didn't have mango butter the

> three

> > batches came out flawlessly. Any ideas or advise would be

> appreciated.

> >

> > nikki

> >

> >

> > Hi Nikki,

> > Some refined butters do get gritty when they are melted

> completely over

> > the heat. I learned from a long time soaper to melt my butters

over

> low heat

> > and the ones that tend to get grainy, you have to remove them

from

> the heat

> > when they are about 2/3 melted and let them melt the rest of the

> way on their

> > own. I don't know why this works but it does. I hope this helps

> you.

> >

> > Sally

> >

> >

> >

> > ************************************** See what's free at

> http://www.aol.com.

> >

> >

> >