Starters

[Chrisbrewbeers]

Is it true I can't boil a starter directly on a metal coil type stove? I have some fermcap and it would save me trouble so I want to but I'm hesitant. I have heard that you can and that you can't from different sources. In a flask I mean.

 

[giraffe]

Its a risk of cracking. The heating element isnt as diffuse, and can theoretically break the glass. That said, I did it many a time without incident at one apartment. Wear gloves.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I see, did you carefully use the least amount of heat possible?

 

[giraffe]

I see, did you carefully use the least amount of heat possible?

Not really.

But, if you want to be careful, put it in a boiling water bath, or something.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

Also now that I think about it, an induction stove or single plate thing you can get would be fine for flask right?

 

[giraffe]

Also now that I think about it, an induction stove or single plate thing you can get would be fine for flask right?

Yeppers.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

Thanks giraffe

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I just found a Coleman bottle top propane stove on Amazon for $23.88 with prime shipping that looks like it would work too.

 

[TheMadKing]

Direct flame is best for borosilicate glass, if you're going to do it on a coil stove go with the 'in a pot of boiling water' idea, or just boil it in a stew pot and funnel it over

 

[Esmitee]

Direct flame is best for borosilicate glass, if you're going to do it on a coil stove go with the 'in a pot of boiling water' idea, or just boil it in a stew pot and funnel it over

I have a smooth top electric range. Made many starters on top of it, although, I don't start off on HIGH. I usually start on low to medium heat for a few minutes.
The stove really reacts just like a gas stove, and I don't think it can't distribute the heat under the flask any better. Maybe others might chime in on that?

 

[IslandLizard]

Boil the starter wort in a pot and after cooling (in a cold water bath) pour into your well sanitized flask. Pitch yeast.

I find boiling in a glass vessel tedious and slow.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

That is my normal method island lizard, part of the reason for this is that I'm trying not to make a 2.5 gal stars san for a starter. I recently had some in distilled water, 1 month old that got slime, infected I guess. I'm also paranoid somewhat b/c my wort chiller developed hop resin on it and 3 batches were lost by only soaking it in star San the 2 I must have boiled the chiller turned out fine. I cleaned it shiny with star san and boiled it for an IPA I just Dryhopped.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

I also considered just doing the math to make a 32 oz spray bottle of star san, then using a medicine dropper. I do like the thought of my bottling/starter pot being used just for corn sugar because it is easier to clean.

 

[IslandLizard]

That is my normal method island lizard, part of the reason for this is that I'm trying not to make a 2.5 gal stars san for a starter. I recently had some in distilled water, 1 month old that got slime, infected I guess. I'm also paranoid somewhat b/c my wort chiller developed hop resin on it and 3 batches were lost by only soaking it in star San the 2 I must have boiled the chiller turned out fine. I cleaned it shiny with star san and boiled it for an IPA I just Dryhopped.

I keep Starsan around for months in a bucket without any trouble. It and anything in it gets a bit slick after a while, but then that disappears. It cannot get infected, it kills about everything.

A gallon of Starsan stored in a milk jug can be reused over and over. A spray bottle with Starsan is great for spot sanitation, like under rims of buckets, and stoppers and lids.

How did you lose 3 batches from a wort chiller? You put it in the kettle 10 minutes before flameout to sanitize it. It should be fairly clean with no crud hanging off it, of course. A Scotchbrite pad can clean it up quickly. Don't use a wort chiller for your starter wort though. Just let the pot cool down with a lid on it in a basin with cold water or the sink. As long as no chilling water can get inside of course.

 

[Chrisbrewbeers]

No, I guess it's a little complicated but my wort chiller is about 1.5 years old and most of the time I didn't throw chiller in boil, I just star san it. It was however in there for many hop stands and resin built up on it. There is a tread on here about a spicy taste from Conan strain I started while I was figuring this out . Out of the last 5 batches one was Conan and was fine so I ruled out yeast and kept looking. I didn't record if I boiled chiller on the 2 batches that were good but I think I did. I must have... And always should. It had a thick black gunk on it and I'm sure if equipment has to be clean before sanitizer then that chiller stood no chance of being ready. I also stretched out the chiller so the connections are above wort when chilling and wrapped more plumbers tape around them.