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Oddball · 08-30-2011, 03:58 AM

I use Starsan as my sanitizer and was wondering how long a batch will last or if there is a way to know when the batch isn't good anymore to should stop using it?

Germelli1 · 08-30-2011, 04:20 AM

The only sure fire way to know if it is still an effective sanatizer is to test it with a pH meter. Some people (like myself) use it until it is cloudy, but I also only mix batches I will save with distilled water. I just pour it back into the jugs the distilled water came in for storage.

I have had starsan turn cloudy in minutes using tap water, so I know cloudiness doesn't automatically mean it is ineffective, but it is a good enough indicator for me when I use distilled water to mix it up

Oddball · 08-30-2011, 04:44 AM

Thanks, I'll pick up some ph strips....

govain · 08-30-2011, 04:45 AM

It'll keep a good long while and is effective as long as it's above a certain acidity. I keep 5 gallons of solution in a 6 gallon fermenting bucket (had to go buy one as I ferment in carboys). The last batch I made I've had for at least 3, maybe 6 months and it shows no signs of needing to be tossed. I test pH each time I use it and last time the test strip showed between 4 and 2 for the pH.

I've seen other brewers do this, and I've confirmed it with Five Star (the company that makes Star San) also.

I love using the 6 gallon bucket because I can just dip my equipment into the bucket for a quick soak and then use it right away. For carboys, I dump the solution into the carboy, let it set for a couple minutes, and then just dump it back in. For my kegs, I dump about 3 gallons in the keg, seal it and let it set for a couple minutes. Then I flip it upside down, and let it set for a couple more minutes.

boydak · 08-30-2011, 01:12 PM

I assume you put a lid on your bucket?

govain · 08-30-2011, 01:24 PM

Oh of course. Sorry I thought it was implied. Gotta keep crap and small children from falling in the bucket.

**unionrdr** · 08-30-2011, 01:44 PM

I have a $5 homer cheapo orange bucket I use for things like that. It's also great for soaking the labels/gunk off 12-13 bottles at a time. I soak'em overnight,or from early morning to evening in the bucket with enough PBW to cover them by 2" or so. Then a Dobie & bottle brush makes real quick work out of cleaning them. The labels float off,& the glue is dissolved or very soft & easy to remove with the dobie.

AR-Josh · 08-30-2011, 02:10 PM

I keep my 5 gallon batches of Starsan for about one beer cycle. From brew day to the keg I'll keep the same batch of Starsan. That is usually around a month to a month and a half. After that I throw it out. A batch of starsan is cheap compared to losing a batch of beer so if I even find myself wondering about the starsan I'll make a new batch.

**unionrdr** · 08-30-2011, 02:17 PM

^^^That's what I've found myself doing the last couple of batches. Just better to play it safe,since it's getting a little cloudy at that point.

**enkamania** · 09-01-2011, 01:12 AM

I do the same as AR-Josh, mix at batch on brew day and throw it out after kegging