Avoid Grainy Body Butters – How To Gently Melt Mango and Shea Butter
Gently melting your butter will help to keep the grainy feel that often pops up when using mango or shea butter.
I used our heat register – we have a wood stove so it throws a fair amount of heat and is just about right in terms of a gentle heat. I use a baking cooling wrack as a little bit of a buffer. If you have electric or oil heat I don’t know if you will be able to try this – it will depend on how much heat comes through and the size/style/location of your registers.
If you don’t, you can use another method as your heat source – a double boiler using hot tap water works well – you can also set a smaller container (I like to use pyrex to reduce the chance of breakage) inside of a crockpot – you can add some water to make a double boiler type system.
You can even use solar in the summer time. I utilize our car – there are many ways that you can capture a gentle heat source that won’t cause your shea or mango butter to melt completely or too quickly. I don’t recommend direct heat – it is harsh, can heat too quickly and it can be a fire hazard as well if the oils overheat or spill – oils and butters are extremely flammable.
Here are a few pictures so that you can see what to expect and how it works.
Bakers cooling wrack that I use to soften the heat from the register.
Nothing fancy - a large stainless steel mixing bowl so that there is more surface area and a lid from a pot.
Mango Butter first 'mash', semi solid at room temperature (a warm room, approximately 68 degrees or so.
Starting to soften on the bottom of bowl.
Mango Butter taking on a bit of a sheen as it starts to melt.
Very small lumps left, try to squish them with the fork as you stir to smooth them out as best you can.
A little smoother - now you can add your goodies.
Gently melting your mango or shea butter is my favourite way to deal with preventing grainy butter. If you haven’t tried it, give it a whirl and see how it works for you.
Want to try it out? Here’s a fantastic Quick and Easy Mango Body Butter Recipe.
