{"id":3207,"date":"2010-04-12T17:46:31","date_gmt":"2010-04-12T23:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greatcakessoapworks.com\/handmade-soap-blog\/?p=3207"},"modified":"2023-09-11T08:55:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T14:55:41","slug":"shea-butter-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greatcakessoapworks.com\/handmade-soap-blog\/index.php\/shea-butter-revisited\/","title":{"rendered":"Preventing Grainy Shea Butter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just when I thought I had shea butter all figured out, I read this on a trusted supplier’s website:<\/p>\n

Please note: Recently we have become aware that other vendors are suggesting you heat shea butter to 170 degrees F for a period of 45 minutes to prevent graininess. This can be very damaging to the shea butter and will drastically reduce the shelf life as well. Worst of all, it will not work! Shea butter will become grainy, or fractionate, with the addition of heat. Body temperature alone will start this reaction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, that’s exactly what I had heard would work, and exactly what I tried in the past when making lip balm as well as whipped shea butter. And it worked! However, by doing so I “drastically reduced the shelf life.” While I did add vitamin E, which is not a preservative, but an antioxidant known to extend the shelf life of oils and butters, I was looking for a different option.<\/p>\n

Now you are wondering – if the “heat and hold method” isn’t the answer, what is? Well, let me just tell you! This particular supplier offers a nice, refined “high melt point” shea butter<\/u><\/a>. May also be available here<\/u><\/a>. It costs more than regular shea butter, but the results are worth it!<\/p>\n

The refined shea butter has no odor whatsoever. You can add scent to it without trying to mask the scent of the natural shea (which I think smells rather pleasant, but others may disagree!). An added bonus is that the texture is fluffier than unrefined shea butter when you whip it!<\/p>\n

I prefer to heat the shea butter completely until just melted in the microwave, then transfer to my KitchenAid bowl in an ice bath, using short bursts with my hand-held mixer until it is thick enough to put on the KitchenAid stand and whip it good.<\/p>\n

Here’s my pyrex cup full of unscented Whipped Shea Butter:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Refined Whipped Shea Butter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s very white and creamy like vanilla icing, only without the vanilla scent. Same color and texture – exactly. Ready to package and use!<\/p>\n

To use it in lip butter, simply melt with the rest of your ingredients, transfer to lip balm containers and allow to come to room temperature and set up. No need to put it in the refrigerator to cool quickly!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just when I thought I had shea butter all figured out, I read this on a trusted supplier’s website: Please note: Recently we have become aware that other vendors are suggesting you heat shea butter to 170 degrees F for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[139],"tags":[375,373,374],"class_list":["post-3207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-making-lotion","tag-grainy-shea-butter","tag-refined-shea-butter","tag-unrefined-shea-butter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t