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MacGruber · 05-01-2012, 11:38 AM

Hi everyone. I washed a lot of yeast this weekend and I was wondering what the shelf life is if it's stored in a mason jar? I plan on using some of the washed yeast to make a starter on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. I know it will be fine by then, but I have a lot (2 mason jars full). how long does it keep?

phenry · 05-01-2012, 11:50 AM

I've waited as long as 8 months between washing and making a starter.

**CastleHollow** · 05-01-2012, 12:09 PM

If you followed a clean technique and keep them stored in the fridge, the yeast will go to sleep and last a long time. I have mason jars that are a year old, just step them up in a starter and you should be fine.

**Brew-boy** · 05-01-2012, 06:28 PM

You mean rinsed yeast, washed is where you add acid to lower the PH. Anyways I would not keep it past 3-4 months but that is just me and what I have learned by doing it. Your mileage may vary.

**daksin** · 05-01-2012, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brew-boy

You mean rinsed yeast, washed is where you add acid to lower the PH. Anyways I would not keep it past 3-4 months but that is just me and what I have learned by doing it. Your mileage may vary.

Washed is a pretty common term for cleaning up yeast out of a primary fermenter by simply rinsing with sterile water a few times and storing. In homebrewing, at least, I'd say they're interchangeable. Acid washes are pretty uncommon outside of professionals circles, and even a lot of pros don't do it.

Anyway, to answer OP's question, as long as everything was nice and sterile when you were washing your yeast, it should keep for months in the fridge.