Beer Forum

Of course my first post had to be an "oh shit" question.

While making my first starter, I realized halfway through boiling it that I didn't sanitize it. Should I start over or will it be alright?

buttkraken wrote:Of course my first post had to be an "oh shit" question.

While making my first starter, I realized halfway through boiling it that I didn't sanitize it. Should I start over or will it be alright?

15 minutes of boiling the DME does sanitize it - the ehlremeyer was clean when you started?

Just cover with foil (I leave the foil on loosely for the last minute to sanitize it as well) and let it cool down to yeast pitching temperatures.

Ice bath is quickest way to cool down - one tray of ice and about 30 minutes soaking in the ice water bath in the sink is usually enough for me.

Thanks, you're awesome

bcmaui wrote:

buttkraken wrote:
Ice bath is quickest way to cool down - one tray of ice and about 30 minutes soaking in the ice water bath in the sink is usually enough for me.

+ 1, if you can rest the Erlenmeyer on some sort of rack to allow cool water underneath it you can even be chilled to pitching temps in about 15 minutes.
Picked that idea up from Doc.

Fritz Eye wrote:

bcmaui wrote:

buttkraken wrote:
Ice bath is quickest way to cool down - one tray of ice and about 30 minutes soaking in the ice water bath in the sink is usually enough for me.

+ 1, if you can rest the Erlenmeyer on some sort of rack to allow cool water underneath it you can even be chilled to pitching temps in about 15 minutes.
Picked that idea up from Doc.

I do the same (also picked that up from Doc) - I use one of the wife's wire baking racks with legs on it. I never have wanted to stick a thermometer in the starter wort to check the temp. It might be ready in 15, I just wait 30. I have typically 2 to 2-1/2 liters in a 5000ml flask - so there is a lot of surface area on the bottom to cool - so you are right - the rack really helps to add contact area for cooling.

Fritz Eye wrote:

bcmaui wrote:

buttkraken wrote:
Ice bath is quickest way to cool down - one tray of ice and about 30 minutes soaking in the ice water bath in the sink is usually enough for me.

+ 1, if you can rest the Erlenmeyer on some sort of rack to allow cool water underneath it you can even be chilled to pitching temps in about 15 minutes.
Picked that idea up from Doc.

Cool trick.

i essentially achieve this by placing my 5 L flask in a 5 gallon bucket with enough water so that it starts to float thereby exposing the bottom of the flask to the cool water. the 5L flask is big enough so it won't topple over, i suppose it may not be as stable with a smaller flask.

buttkraken wrote:Of course my first post had to be an "oh shit" question.

With a forum name like "ButtKracken", what else is appropriate?

Welcome to the BN,