Do I have to sanitize my brew kettle?

kryznic · 03-09-2010, 06:25 PM

It's a stainless steel pot. I don't have anything to sanitize it other than bleach which I know you cannot use. I will be using bleach on my plastic stuff though.

Will the boil work for sanitizing it? Or should I get something to sanitize it? I have never used it or any of my new equipment yet. Hope to brew my first batch some night this week.

Thanks,

-Chris

**azscoob** · 03-09-2010, 06:31 PM

the boil will take care of any sanitizing duties required on the brew kettle, as for using bleach on your other equipment make sure to rinse the heck out of everything, you dont want that stuff in your beer. I use star san for all my sanitizing needs, its is a no-rinse sanitizer, never had an issue while using it.

kjjohns5 · 03-09-2010, 06:36 PM

Just boil. It'll kill all contaminates. Everything else though, that doesn't touch the boil, I sanitize in star san.

wyzazz · 03-09-2010, 07:05 PM

You technically are sanitizing it by boiling for 60 or so minutes, that only takes 20mins at 170F if I remember correctly. You however do need to clean it (I use OxiClean Free) before use, to get all the gunk out of it.

And save yourself some time, and pick up some StarSan. It's pretty cheap and works very well!

**gunner65** · 03-09-2010, 07:38 PM

I did my first brew a month ago with only bleach and water everything turned out great. As others said you do have to rinse the bleach. Papasian recommends bleach in "The art of Homebrew". Nothing wrong with it but I have since moved to oxyclean free for cleaning and Starsan for saintizing.

**ShortSnoutBrewing** · 03-09-2010, 07:45 PM

I'll agree with those saying bleach is ok, you just need to do a little more work. Personally I only use it for items that have touched sour beers. A nice bleach bomb both for those guys!

PanzerBanana · 03-09-2010, 10:08 PM

I use a weak bleach solution for larger sanitizing tasks. I'm cheap, so I save my sanitizers for soaking and sanitizing all my tools on brew day, and my bottles for bottling day.

gtpro · 03-09-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyzazz

You technically are sanitizing it by boiling for 60 or so minutes, that only takes 20mins at 170F if I remember correctly. You however do need to clean it (I use OxiClean Free) before use, to get all the gunk out of it.

Careful with the oxiclean in the brew kettle, its not recommended for use on metal.

Mikethepoolguy · 03-09-2010, 10:39 PM

Yeah, an amazing, incredible amount of over-thinking going on here. Wash your brew kettle in Dawn,Joy, Palmolive, like you do every thing else in the kitchen. Hey, I'm all about drinking but sometimes it just requires thinking. IF YOU USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE, like if you rack into it then bottle, SANITIZE it. Otherwise just wash the damn thing and ignore the paranoia.

kryznic · 03-10-2010, 01:32 AM

So if I use bleach on everything else do I have to rinse with BOILED water or tap water? Won't tap water defeat the sanitization the bleach is doing?

Also can I use Oxi Clean on my plastic stuff? I looked for unscented dish wash stuff but I don't think they make it any more, I checked like 5 stores.

I am just so confused with cleaning and sanitizing, I've read the John Palmer book as well as some literature my local brew shop gave me and a small booklet that came with my brew kit and they mention so many different things.

The other thing is, I don't want to spend a fortune on sanitizers either.

At least I have my kettle issue out of the way now

Thanks for all the replies!