How Long Does Lye Water Last

To ensure the lye works properly, we recommend using it within one year of purchasing. It needs to be sealed tightly and stored in a dry place. Lye is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture.

Does lye water expire?

The shelf life of lye, sodium hydroxide, when properly stored is one year. After a year it is possible for your lye to work, but you should do a small batch to test whether the lye is still good. If it is actually expired, then it may not come to trace quickly or could separate after it is poured or set up.

Can lye water be stored?

Plastic. 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.

Does lye water need to be refrigerated?

Adding lye to water causes a exothermic reaction that causes the lye water to reach temperatures up to 200 ° F. Because the lye solution becomes so hot, it needs time to cool for soaping. If the lye solution is too cold, it can solidify the oils and butters upon contact.

Does lye water evaporate?

Caustic evaporation, where the sodium hydroxide solution is concentrated to a 50% or 70% solution, evaporates about 5 tons of water per ton of 50% caustic soda produced.

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.

Is lye water safe to eat?

Lye water (sometimes called ‘Lime Water’) is a strong (caustic) liquid that is safe to use in very small amounts in cooking, but it can be dangerous if lye water is swallowed undiluted straight from the bottle. It can cause severe corrosive burns to the throat, oesophagus and stomach with permanent damage if swallowed.

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.

Does lye eat plastic?

Sodium hydroxide (lye) reacts with aluminum. Stick with stainless steel, heavy duty plastic and glass.

Can you store lye water in glass?

The container should be a sturdy, heat-resistant plastic or glass. I don’t recommend mixing lye solution in a metal container. This is because the lye solution gets incredibly hot. It’s also because lye and some metals produce a hazardous reaction.

Can you reheat lye water?

You can safely reheat lye water when making soap, but you need to be careful. Heating it on the stove top can be dangerous and even microwaving it can cause problems. They trick is to heat it in a safe place and slowly. The best way to reheat lye solution is to use a hot water bath.

How do you dispose of lye water?

Lye is considered hazardous waste and is subject to federal, state and local disposal regulations. Do not pour lye down the drain, into a toilet, storm sewer, on the ground, or put it in your trashcan to go out with your day-to-day trash. Wear long sleeves, long pants, protective goggles and gloves when handling lye.

What is the effect of lye water in food?

Lye water is used to raise the PH of the dough (neutralize the acid in the syrup). It also helps to gain an appetizing brown colour after baking and a fluffy tender texture.

Why is lye so corrosive?

Lye is an alkaline chemical that is known for its caustic nature. Lye is sodium hydroxide. It comes in liquid form, flakes, or crystals. Sodium hydroxide comes into being when soda (sodium carbonate) and lime (calcium hydroxide) come together and cause a chemical reaction.

What happens if you boil lye and water?

Lye is extremely caustic and can do severe damage. When water and lye are mixed together this is known as a lye solution. This mixing will also cause an exothermic reaction, this means that heat is given off as a byproduct of the chemical reaction occurring. The lye mixture will become cloudy, and may give off fumes.

Is lye a bleach?

Bleach is an alkali much like lye, but its chemical formula is NaOCl, which indicates it has a chlorine atom (Cl) instead of the hydrogen atom that helps make lye. Bleach can react with fats much as lye does, splitting off fatty acids, which then react with the sodium to form salts of fatty acids — or soap.

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 in Tagalog?

Lye water (or Lihia sa tagalog) is a Food Enhancer Concentrate made from an alkaline strong liquid or a potassium carbonate solution.

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.

Is baking soda same as lye?

Originally Answered: Is baking soda same as lye? No. baking soda is sodium (hence the “soda” in the name) bicarbonate (NaHCO3), while lye (also known as “caustic soda”) is sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

Can you buy lye at the grocery store?

Lye used to be available in the supermarket but not anymore. You might be able to find it in some hardware stores often in the drain cleaning section next to the Draino. In order for that lye to be effective in soapmaking, you need to make sure that you are getting 100 percent sodium hydroxide.