Steam-sanitizing bottles?

[BarefootLion]

Cool... could you post pics of your rig?

Odd that this is a serious question.

I just used steam to sanitize my starter jar. I know I cleaned it well, but left it open to dry. And I was too lazy to go get my Star San, so while getting my starter to a boil I just dropped the jar in a pot of water and boiled the sucker for 15 minutes with the lid on. I actually liked having 1 less spot using chemicals in my process.

[spiderwrangler]

Odd that I asked for a pic? Why is that odd? Dude built a rig that uses steam to do large batches. Boiling your jar isn't the same as steaming it, by the way. So flufah to you, sir.

[JakeAndBake]

Sorry for the delay with pictures, fellas. I haven't busted this thing out since my last batch of oysters, and that's been a good while.


Front view, kinda gives you an idea about the size of the box, which is about 3.5x18x2. I used PVC fittings to jury-rig the steam pipe to the wallpaper steamer.


Inside the box, nothing high tech here. PVC steam spreader, a closet shelving unit I cut to fit with a Dremel, and some jars to hold it up. I was using wooden dowels, but they didn't do well in the high temps and I got some breakage, so the little nubs you see on the front of the box are all that remains. Now they basically act as corks, and whenever temps get to high I pull one out on either side and it'll keep the temps from going any higher. If I need the box to cool down quick, it's as easy as opening the box and letting steam out.

Now what I'm thinking of doing is just making a rack out of 2x1 furring strip to fit around the inside, and then use nails to put the bottles on. That way I can take out the wire shelving and just put bottles upsidedown on the rack, which would sit on the jars. Turn this sucker on for an hour or two, and I think it'll do the job just fine....

[dougriddle]

Very Cool!