Out of Lard, one case
Lard substitutes for soap making
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Palm oil
Same amount as the lard
The best lard substitutes for soap making are palm oil, tallow, and coconut oil. Use 1:1 ratio and adjust lye calculations accordingly. Palm oil provides the most similar properties to lard, while coconut oil creates excellent lather.
- Best for —
- hard, long-lasting bars
One casethe full lard card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of lard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm oilhard, long-lasting bars | Same amount |
| 2 | Beef tallowwhen you want animal fat | Same amount |
| 3 | Coconut oilvegan soap making | Same amount |
| 4 | Shea buttermoisturizing soap | Same amount |
| 5 | Cocoa buttermoisturizing soap | Same amount |
Palm oil
neutral taste · hard and long-lasting
Palm oil is the closest substitute to lard for soap making. It creates hard, long-lasting bars with excellent lathering properties. It has a similar fatty acid profile to lard and works well in most soap recipes.
- Best for
- hard, long-lasting bars, when you want similar properties to lard, traditional soap making, when you want consistent results, beginner soap makers
Palm oil creates very hard bars with excellent lathering properties. It has a similar fatty acid profile to lard and works well in most soap recipes. Choose sustainably sourced palm oil.
Beef tallow
neutral taste · hard and long-lasting
Beef tallow is another animal fat that works similarly to lard in soap making. It creates hard, long-lasting bars with good lathering properties. It has a slightly different fatty acid profile but works well in most recipes.
- Best for
- when you want animal fat, traditional soap making, when lard isn't available, hard bars, long-lasting soap
Beef tallow has a slightly different fatty acid profile than lard but similar soap-making properties. It's less common in stores but works well for traditional soap making.
Coconut oil
neutral taste · hard with excellent lather
Coconut oil works well as a lard substitute in soap making, especially for vegan versions. It creates excellent lather and works well in combination with other oils. It's solid at room temperature like lard.
- Best for
- vegan soap making, when you want excellent lather, plant-based soap, when you want solid fat, combination with other oils
Coconut oil creates excellent lather and works well in combination with other oils. It's solid at room temperature like lard and works well in most soap recipes.
Shea butter
neutral taste · soft and creamy
Shea butter works well as a lard substitute in soap making, especially for moisturizing bars. It creates soft, creamy lather and adds moisturizing properties to the soap. It's solid at room temperature.
- Best for
- moisturizing soap, when you want creamy lather, luxury soap making, when you want solid fat, combination with other oils
Shea butter creates soft, creamy lather and adds moisturizing properties. It's solid at room temperature and works well in combination with other oils for balanced soap.
Cocoa butter
subtle chocolate
Cocoa butter works well as a lard substitute in soap making, especially for moisturizing bars. It creates hard, long-lasting bars with good lathering properties and adds a subtle chocolate scent.
- Best for
- moisturizing soap, when you want hard bars, luxury soap making, when you want solid fat, combination with other oils
- Texture
- hard and long-lasting
Cocoa butter creates hard, long-lasting bars with good lathering properties. It adds a subtle chocolate scent and works well in combination with other oils for balanced soap.
How it behaves in this recipe
Lard is used in soap making because it creates hard, long-lasting bars with good lathering properties. The best substitutes work because they either provide similar fatty acid profiles and soap-making properties, or can be used in the same way to achieve comparable hardness and lathering.
Tips for substituting lard
7 tips- Always recalculate lye amounts when substituting fats in soap making
- Use a soap calculator to determine the correct lye amount for your chosen fat
- Consider the fatty acid profile of your chosen fat for best results
- For hard bars, use fats with high stearic acid content
- For good lather, use fats with high lauric acid content
- For moisturizing properties, use fats with high oleic acid content
- Test your soap recipe with small batches before making large quantities
Notes on lard
- Use a combination of different fats for optimal soap properties
- Try using beef tallow for traditional soap making
- Consider using sustainably sourced palm oil for hard bars
- Use the fraisage technique to create extra flaky layers with any fat substitute
Questions
5 questionsWhat's the best lard substitute for soap making?
Palm oil is the best lard substitute for soap making because it creates hard, long-lasting bars with excellent lathering properties. It has a similar fatty acid profile to lard and works well in most soap recipes.
Can I use coconut oil instead of lard in soap making?
Yes, coconut oil works well as a lard substitute in soap making. It creates excellent lather and works well in combination with other oils. Always recalculate your lye amount when substituting fats.
Why is lard good for soap making?
Lard is good for soap making because it creates hard, long-lasting bars with good lathering properties. It has a balanced fatty acid profile that works well in most soap recipes.
Can I use vegetable oil instead of lard?
Yes, but choose oils with high stearic acid content for hard bars. Palm oil, coconut oil, and shea butter work well. Always recalculate your lye amount when substituting fats.
How do I calculate lye for different fats?
Use a soap calculator to determine the correct lye amount for your chosen fat. Each fat has a different saponification value, so you must recalculate when substituting fats in soap making.