Making Natron

Today’s challenge was to make natron, so I can start doing Senut and getting to know Netjer. 

Recipe:

1:1 salt (rock/table/kosher) to sodium bicarbonate.

Mix the dry ingredients and put in a deep saucepan. Cover the mix with water to about 1/4 the way up the pan. 

Heat to a light boil, stirring constantly. Keep stirring and heating until the mixture is thick enough to spread onto a baking sheet. 

Spread the mix onto said baking sheet and bake at 100C/225F for 2-5 hours.

I used rock salt.

What they forget to tell you is how this mixture goes from “bubbling calmly away looking a lot like cloudy water” to “OMFG LUMPY SALTBLOB.” in about 3 seconds. Seriously. Was heating it for 10 mins or so, turned my back for 2 seconds and BOOM, ready to go. 

It also looks like you’ve just completely wrecked your saucepan. Fear not, gentle natron-makers, add some warm water back to your pan asap and no harm done. Providing you’ve used a non-stick pan like I did. 

Spooning the not-quite-so-globby-anymore wet natron into the tin was easier and cleaner than I thought it was going to be.

Still waiting for it to dry over 2 hours later. ;)

… at 3 hours I’ve taken it out of the oven as I need sleep. It can go back in tomorrow if needs be…

Back in today for about 2 and a half hours. FINALLY dried out! Just waiting for it to cool before I smash it back up and store it! 

Definitely in need of a mortar and pestle now. Although it looked like the natron was baked onto the tray and I was hardly going to get anything… Tip the tray upside down over a bigger tray and the salt just falls out. My 3 oz mix has 3/4 filled a 500g jar. More than enough, especially when I get said mortar and pestle and crush up the stubborn bigger chunks!