Sanitising then storing

[bateleur]

I’m bottling in 10 days, and want to sanitise my bottles ahead of time. I have free time now.
I’ve chosen the ‘bake bottles in oven with foil on top’ method. I’ve heard this not only sanitises them, but it sterilises them.
After they cool down, they are good to store indefinitely while those (flimsy, sure-to-be-knocked-off) makeshift aluminium foil lids are covering the opening.
My bottles are swing-top, so my drawn out question is:
What method do I need to use to sanitise my swing-top lids so I can affix them to the bottle, close them, and ensure they will be fit for bottling without further treatment (either in 10 days or 10 months).

 

[JimRausch]

Be aware that the swing tops that look to be ceramic and therefore resistant to high temps, are NOT. They're plastic and yes they do melt. I melted one last year trying to heat it up to get a worn rubber gasket off.

 

[bateleur]

Thanks Jim - yes, the tops aren’t in the bake. Looking for an alternate method due to them not withstanding the heat.

 

[kh54s10]

If you took a piece of foil and a very tight rubber band on each bottle it MIGHT stay sanitary.

I feel that sanitizing then storing is usually just a waste of time.

Get a Vinator and Starsan. It makes sanitizing on bottling day fairly short work.

 

[JimRausch]

Thanks Jim - yes, the tops aren’t in the bake. Looking for an alternate method due to them not withstanding the heat.

Glad you're aware. Maybe bake the bottles with the foil caps as you describe, then soak or spray the tops with starsan just before reattaching.

 

[JimRausch]

I will just mention that I sanitize bottles in my dishwasher on the heated dry 'sanitize' cycle, and it works well for me.

 

[bateleur]

I will just mention that I sanitize bottles in my dishwasher on the heated dry 'sanitize' cycle, and it works well for me.

I wish I had a dishwasher with that option . Will the sanitiser keep the tops sanitised for a long duration?

 

[kh54s10]

I wish I had a dishwasher with that option . Will the sanitiser keep the tops sanitised for a long duration?

No, most sanitizers are wet contact. When they dry they are no longer sanitizing. IMO any will become less and less effective with time.

 

[day_trippr]

There's a real advantage to filling a chilled wet bottle. I would embrace that paradigm...and add some Star San...

Cheers!

 

[mongoose33]

If you took a piece of foil and a very tight rubber band on each bottle it MIGHT stay sanitary.

I feel that sanitizing then storing is usually just a waste of time.

Get a Vinator and Starsan. It makes sanitizing on bottling day fairly short work.

This ^

I clean my bottles in the dishwasher then store them upside down in a FastRack. Then when time to bottle, I spritz them w/ Star-San using the vinator.

I put the bottles in the dishwasher on the top rack and angle them to ensure they get water and detergent sprayed inside them. Of course, prior to this they are triple-rinsed

 

[bateleur]

Nice, however I’ve already started the bake off so I’m committed to the oven method this time around.
So my question has evolved to:
If I attach sanitised flip tops to sterile bottles and close it, can the interior be compromised with bacteria?

 

[bateleur]

Btw - is that an IPA glass I see?

 

[mongoose33]

Nice, however I’ve already started the bake off so I’m committed to the oven method this time around.
So my question has evolved to:
If I attach sanitised flip tops to sterile bottles and close it, can the interior be compromised with bacteria?

No. Unless they're the dreaded glass-boring bacteria that go right through the sides of the bottle.

You'll be fine doing that.

 

[bateleur]

Awesome. Thank you for your help