evrose said:Why throw it out? Seriously, why? Do you have any idea how many bug parts there are in the food you eat everyday... besides, you're going to boil the wort later, so any bacteria should be taken care of. It's just an ant. Last night, a small bug flew in to my mouth as I was out running. I didn't die.
Are you serious? You aren't boiling the starter once there's yeast in it? Do you boil your starters after the yeast has been pitched? Do pitch your starter in the wort before the boil? Bad advice above...
Anyway OP, I'm sure you are aware of this since you posted about it in the first place, but once the starter gets exposed to outside contaminants, especially bugs, then the chance for an infection increases. This is why you would want to throw it out. You might get away with it if you use it, but you will risk ruining your batch, wasting your time, and throwing your money down the drain. If you don't have time for another starter then get some dry yeast (cheap) or buy the equivalent amount of liquid vials (expensive). I personally wouldn't risk still using it, but there's a small chance that you will be Ok since the amount of yeast can outcompete bacteria blah blah blah. My advice would be to get some new yeast.
I still don't think the starter needs to be thrown out... and believe it or not, I have an advanced degree in killing bacteria (no, seriously, I do).
+1 for throwing it out and not risking contaminating a batch.
Can you explain why contamination isn't something to be worried about?
evrose said:Yeah, I edited that part. I haven't drunk enough coffee this morning. Of course I wasn't giving the advice to boil your starter...
I still don't think the starter needs to be thrown out... and believe it or not, I have an advanced degree in killing bacteria (no, seriously, I do).
....ooooooh!
Pink Panther Porter!
What a story!
MUST NAME THE BEER ACCORDINGLY.
Red Ant Ale.
Black Ant Porter
whatever. An ant is not going to infect it assuming it made some alcohol.
The bigger concern, is that if an ant got in, did anything else? Must not have been sealed tight.
Here's a tidbit from an article I found on "The Straight Dope" website:
Im sure it would be fine to use but Id still throw it out on the general principal of "I don't knowingly serve food with bugs in it."
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