1 gallon jug for yeast starter ok?

Would a one gallon jug work for a yeast starter? I dont think it would be a problem. lemme know

That's what I use . . . with a foam stopper, no problems.

Absolutely. I have four. they are good for small scale batches, starters, storing starsan... I just loosely crumple sanitized foil over the top when using for starters.

sure is. i also do the sanitized foil to cover my starters.

Awesome. Thanks all

Follow-up question...

What about a 1 gallon jug for only a 1000ml starter... is head-space a concern with too much oxygen? Is a sanitized foam stopper good to use? Or is foil better?

You actually want your starter oxygenated, so headspace is not a concern. Shouldn't have a problem with the jug. Not sure which stopper is better, I would think foam is fine. I always use plastic wrap, and even keep it slightly open just a tad.

M125x said:

Follow-up question...

What about a 1 gallon jug for only a 1000ml starter... is head-space a concern with too much oxygen? Is a sanitized foam stopper good to use? Or is foil better?

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Long time jug user, first time caller.

Not at all. The more oxygen the better. The only time you need to worry about headspace is when you over fill. As a rule of thumb, I try not to fill mine more than half way. If you over fill you'll risk blow off which is messy, unsanitary and wastes yeast. As for foil vs foam stopper, I guess that's personal preference. I use foil. The foam stopper will help keep insects out though, like fruit flies. I rubberband a coffee filter to my jugs and then top with foil. No right or wrong way as long as you don't use an airlock.

BBL_Brewer said:

I rubberband a coffee filter to my jugs and then top with foil. No right or wrong way as long as you don't use an airlock.

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That is a really awesome idea actually. I may try that now that spring/summer is coming and the bugs'll be back.

About the headspace thing, no worries about too much in a starter, it's good for it. But, FWIW, I have discovered the wonders of FermcapS for those times when you have a 3.5L in a gallon jug or 1.8 L in a 2L flask. Awesome stuff, great for boilovers too.

I'm a 1g jug user too for my starters, although I typically use a stopper with an airlock on it. Don't worry about the headspace at all, and the foam stopper or foil methods will both do fine.

I use a jug also AND even with the convex bottom I can still use it on my homemade stir plate!

jhoyda said:

I use a jug also AND even with the convex bottom I can still use it on my homemade stir plate!

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Thanks for this! I broke my 2L flask today but had already smacked the yeast pack so was resigned to doing my starter in my 1 gallon tea jug and just shaking it now and again, since I figured with the curved bottom the stir plate wouldn't be able to hold the bar in place. But based on your experience and after a bit of fiddling I've got a nice little vortex going, and lots more headroom to boot! Makes me think I may not bother replacing the flask -- it's nice being able to boil the wort directly in the flask, but a pain to get the DME into the flask in the first place and to avoid boil overs if I'm doing a full 2L starter. This seems like a solid (and significantly cheaper) way to go.

Absolutely. Especially considering how some of these 1 gallon jugs seem like they could break a human skull and remain intact, they're certainly quite a bit more durable than the flasks. Only problem is (God forbid) you somehow can't find the fridge space if you need to cold crash your starter for any reason.