1st starter concerns

[eadavis80]

I put 650 ml of water in my pot. I added 1/2 cup of DME. I boiled it for 15 minutes. When I transferred it to my 1L flask and added my yeast, the volume is now like 450 ml. Did I really lose 200 ml of fluid to boiling for 15 minutes? Where did all the liquid go?

 

[1van]

Totally possible. Considering surface area and extended boil time. I would boil for 10 mins, I bet that will get you closer to your desired volume, and in a narrower pot if you can. 1o mins is plenty to sanitize the wort

 

[JMSetzler]

You can always add water back after the boil... just make sure it's boiled water. This is what I used to do when I made a yeast starter. Now I know how much to expect to boil off and I just start with that much extra. It's not a big deal if the gravity of your yeast starter is a few points off one way or the other.

 

[eadavis80]

I woke up this morning to a mild amount of krausen atop the yeast starter so I assume it's fermenting now. Knowing that, should I continue to give the flask a swirl now and again to continue to add O2 or, since it appears to be fermenting, should I just let it sit and do its thing? I do NOT have a stir plate, but don't want to oxidize the starter.

 

[res291que]

Yes, you can shake or swirl your starter, no need to worry about oxidation, you are intentionally adding O2 to help boost yeast growth


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[eadavis80]

After I typed that, I figured I was okay swirling up the starter - that's just the "poor man's stir plate" in effect, I suppose