Freezing wort starter storage ?

I am looking to make up some 1 qt. wort for starters & plan on freezing them , what containers do people use to freeze & store wort in ? I have heard of using freezer bags but am curious to other options . :fro:

The past two batches I have frozen in the gallon freezer bags, as they only hold a liter of liquid or so. This is a great idea if you do all grain already, just rinse your grains one more time and you will get some low grav wort, free starter wort!

It takes a while to freeze, much longer than water though, so just be patient but it works great.

I assume there are no issues doing this?? All of the important enzymes are still going to remain and give the yeast enough food to munch on??

How do you defrost it? Leave on the counter or stick in the microwave?

I have read you need to add glycerine to the yeast if you are going to freeze

I think he was just refer to freezing wort... Not yeast starters themselves, no?

postalbunny said:

I think he was just refer to freezing wort... Not yeast starters themselves, no?

Click to expand...

That's what I understood. Just the starter wort.

postalbunny said:

I think he was just refer to freezing wort... Not yeast starters themselves, no?

Click to expand...

Right just the wort to be used for starters.

Yeah freezing the wort is ok but the yeast will explode unless you treat it with glycerin, just make some slants if you want to keep it long term.

As far as thawing out the frozen wort, just put the bag in the sink. They take longer to freeze due to lower freezing point, and thaw faster. What Ive found is that when you start to thaw it, the sugar melts fast and the water stays frozen longer, usually with the break material.

What I do is take the ice chunks out of the thawed malt sugar, and just dillute to the appropriate grav. for your starter application. Way cheaper than DME (considering it's mostly free if you have a decent gravity beer 1.060 or higher worth of grains, there is usually enough sugar to give it one more good rinsing.) You don't have to worry about tannin extraction or other fears for extended sparging. I have also just poured cool water over the grains, to rinse them more. One extra gallon is all you are looking to get.

sorry if i'm rambling here, but I just really believe in this, mostly because I'm cheap and it is stupid easy.

ACESFULL said:

Right just the wort to be used for starters.

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Yes , just the wort for starters , I was looking to see if anyone came up with a vessel to freeze the wort in besides freezer bags.

I vote for ziplock bags.

Bags are probably going to be the best use of space... They will conform to their container and you can pull air out of them.

Any jar or Tupperware you use will just waste space.

Plastic milk jugs. Just don't fill them clear full.

I just froze 6 half liter Dr Pepper bottles and 2 two liter bottles. I give them a little squeeze before putting the lid on to allow for expanding.

I use 500ml decorative mason jars. Use the ones that do not have the shoulders since the shoulders prevent the liquid from expanding.
Also, Do not fill past the bottom thread, this allows the liquid to expand and not break the glass.
http://www.bernardin.ca/pages/product_page/47.php?pid=39

Please refer to bernardins FAQ located here for a discussion regarding freezing liquid in mason jars:
http://www.bernardin.ca/pages/faq/33.php#46

I found the 500ml containers too small and am now trying out the 1.9L containers.
I am freezing 1.2L of 1.050 wort and then when I go to use it just dilute to 1.5 L before boiling. (so i get 1.5L of 1.040) I have standardized all my stepups to 1.5L