Softening Un-refined Shea Butter for Portability

Hello! It's understandable that a large block of un-refined shea butter can be inconvenient for carrying around. Melting it down to repack into a smaller container is a practical solution.

Regarding your questions about heating:

• Melting Method: Yes, you can gently heat the un-refined shea butter using a microwave or double boiler (placing the container in a pot of hot water on a stove). The goal is to melt it just until it becomes liquid, not to boil or overheat it.
• Vitamin and Nutrient Loss: Shea butter contains beneficial fatty acids and some vitamins. While prolonged exposure to high heat can potentially degrade some heat-sensitive compounds, a quick melt at a moderate temperature (around 60-70°C, as often used in cosmetic formulations) for the purpose of repacking is unlikely to cause significant loss of its key beneficial properties. The majority of shea butter's benefits come from its fatty acid profile and unsaponifiable matter, which are relatively stable.
• Un-refined Shea Butter: Yes, un-refined shea butter can be melted and repacked using this method. The process is similar to handling refined shea butter or other solid butters.

Recommendation:

To minimize any potential degradation, use the lowest heat setting possible and melt the shea butter just until it's liquid enough to pour. A double boiler method often provides more controlled, gentle heating than a microwave. Once melted, pour it into your portable container and let it cool and solidify at room temperature.

This process should allow you to conveniently carry your shea butter without significantly compromising its quality.