Until the middle of the 1800s, most housewives made the soap needed for the year in an open cast iron kettle in the back yard. Only three ingredients were required; lard or pork fat, lye and water. Most housewives had to make their own lye before they began the soap making process. The process of making lye soap in a kettle was an inexact science that could take hours to complete.
Instructions
1. Position the tripod over the fire pit or other area where you can safely build a sustainable fire. Build the fire.
2. Hang the cast iron kettle from the tripod. Place the lard in the kettle and stir until completely melted.
3. Slowly add the lye and the water to the melted lard. Stir to distribute throughout the lard.
4. Boil for two hours, stirring the mixture every fifteen to twenty minutes. Add 1 gallon of water and stir.
5. Continue to stir the mixture every 15 to 20 minutes until the wooden paddle stands up straight on its own in the thickened mixture.
6. Prepare the soapboxes by greasing the inside with lard or vegetable oil.
7. Ladle the soap into the prepared boxes. Allow the soap to harden. This process can take anywhere from 1 week to a month.
8. Cut the soap into bars. Wrap the individual bars in paper and store.
Tags: cast iron, cast iron kettle, iron kettle, mixture every, soap into
