Adding Milk — Cold Process Soap Making

8 to 8.5 oz. of goat's milk is substituted for every 6 oz. of water. Buttermilk can be used in place of any milk or water.

from Laticia M.

My experience with making goat milk soap by mixing the milk with the lye is the manner of too much trouble. I mix my milk at light trace and it makes a nice light to white creamy bar. Why would you want to add milk and allow the lye to burn all its wonderful qualities. That is my opinion and many do it by mixing it with the lye and make lovely bars. I just find mixing it at trace is much easier and less effort.

from Paula S.

The reason for using a partially "slushy" goat's milk is because your soap tends to heat up when you add the milk. This prevents it from going through the yucky, orange, stinky stage. It will keep it creamy and white. I don't add eo's to my goat's milk because I like the smell of the milk and honey after it's cured. Yes, I add a little honey.

from Teri F.

When I use milk in my recipes, I usually use a little more than half the quantity of liquid required as milk. I add mine straight from the fridge into my "a little too warm" (maybe by 5°) lye solution immediately before I mix it with the oils. That way I don't worry about the milk turning dark on me. The soap comes out a creamy color. (I don't insulate) I'm not sure this is kosher, but it works out for me.

from Julie O.

I use the evaporated goats milk (cold) in my soaps, I do not mix with water but do add it at trace, the color is a light tan. Never had a problem and is well liked by everyone that uses it.

from Lisa B.

I add my gm slightly warmed (at least room temp) to the oils plus lye/water mixture at very light trace. I never mess with the frozen, slushy stuff as I add my lye to water, and add the balance of the liquid (milk) component later...

from Sher R.

This is just my 2 cents on milk soap, but mine do 100% better in individual molds than in a large slab mold. Every time I made it in my soap box or another box for a 6 lb. batch, it has gotten really dark (hot) in the middle and the middle pieces never were as light and pretty as the outer pieces. I am convinced it's the heat, so I have started:

1. Stirring by hand to get the temp down
2. Using 90° instead of 110° for my mixing temp
3. Using individual molds or small molds
4. Add milk at trace

Use concentrated goats's milk, and subtract the amount of liquid by that number of ounces. For instance, if your recipe calls for 24 oz. water and a can of GM is 14 oz., just mix your lye in 10 oz. of water and add 14 oz. gm at trace. This reconstitutes your milk back to whole milk as it mixes with the water, so it results in a 100% milk soap product. I make a lot like this and it is much easier than adding lye to milk. Also makes beautiful soap, very creamy and light tan. I am still looking for a white milk soap, but with GM I don't know if that's possible. Definitely with coconut milk.

from Bonnie L.

More tips for adding milk