Food grade lye works great, but still, it's pretty expensive. I would say use this if you can get it for a price that's comparable to the lower grades. And yes, there are foods that require lye to prepare.
Is it legal to buy lye?
You Can't Make Soap Without Lye 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. If you can't find lye for soapmaking locally, do not worry there are plenty of online stores where you can get it.26 Jun 2019
Where do I find lye?
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.26 Jun 2019
How is lye sold?
Craft stores carry lye for soapmaking. There is also food-grade sodium hydroxide, sold in some specialty cooking stores. You can find sodium hydroxide online. You can purchase it at Amazon as sodium hydroxide or lye, pure lye drain opener, caustic soda, and pure or food-grade sodium hydroxide.3 Jun 2020
Key Takeaways: Caustic Soda Caustic soda is one of the common names for sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Impure caustic soda is found in drain cleaner. Because lye is used to make illegal drugs, it's harder to buy large quantities than in the past.3 Feb 2020
How much does a pound of lye cost?
Lye Prices Lye (sodium hydroxide) is sold as low as $5.99 per pound.
Where do I get lye?
Pure lye is available in some hardware stores and farm supply stores or can be ordered from some chemical suppliers or soap making suppliers. Because lye is a reactive chemical it is shipped in small quantities and often only by surface transportation.
What can be used instead of lye?
A common home alternative to lye when making pretzels or bagels is to use a baking soda solution.8 May 2014
Is lye soap still made?
There is no lye present in the finished bars of soap or shampoo. While all real soap must be made with lye, no lye remains in our finished product after saponification (described below).18 Feb 2014
How do you make lye?
To make lye in the kitchen, boil the ashes from a hardwood fire (soft woods are too resinous to mix with fat) in a little soft water, rainwater is best, for about half an hour. Allow the ashes to settle to the bottom of the pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top.29 Dec 2021
What can I substitute for lye?
Baked Baking Soda! A common home alternative to lye when making pretzels or bagels is to use a baking soda solution.8 May 2014
How is lye made naturally?
The salt is dissolved in water and electrodes introduce electricity into the mix, creating chloride, hydrogen, and lye. At least that's how it's made today. The ancient Egyptians used to create a very weak lye solution by percolating vegetable ashes in water to accomplish the same process.5 Jan 2018