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How to make bacon soap, from actual bacon! By Tim King

I wanted to see if it was possible to make soap from bacon fat. The bonus challenge: to make the soap look like bacon.

Prepare the Bacon Soap 1. Melt the bacon fat on the stove (Figure A, following page). Go slowly and don’t allow it to boil or sizzle. Skim off any particles or debris that float to the surface of the melted bacon fat.

Photograph by Tim King

2. Filter the melted bacon fat by pouring it through cloth or paper towels into a large, clean metal can (Figure B).

3. Still warm, your bacon fat should now look uniform, clear, and junk-free. Measure your bacon fat, then calculate the proper amount of lye — 1 part lye to 7½ parts bacon fat.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS

Bacon fat
100% lye (sodium hydroxide)
Purified water and ice
Liquid smoke flavoring (optional) for fragrance
Red food coloring (optional)
Stove
Pyrex baking pan
Chemical/solvent/heat-resistant plastic bowl
Measuring cup
Cotton cloth or paper towels
Wooden or stainless steel spoon
Metal can
Kitchen thermometer

Use the following volume ratio:

7½ parts bacon fat 1 part crystalline lye 2 parts water

Make: 139