I suggest you mix your lye and let it set for approximately 45 minutes or until it has gone thru its reaction phase and cools down. Otherwise, you may burn the skin on the olives resulting a peeling of the skin. Additionally, I use only one mix of lye, however, I let it set on the olives until it reaches the pit, never do I have to use another mix. Depending on how ""ripe"" the green olives are makes a difference on how long you must lye them. To tell if they are ready to pick they will turn from a solid green to a ""harvest green"" somewhat with a yellow or harvest tinge to them. I usually have to lye my olives for 19 to 22 hours.

I would recommend that you watch your olives close since if you allow them to become too soft they will rot real fast. So when they tell you about the 3rd use of the lye I would question that fact very close other wise I have used this recipe for many years myself with great luck. Good luck on your olive curing. Rick