Storing empty kegs

[antvq]

I did a search and found a ton of threads on storing full kegs but nothing on the correct storage of empty kegs.

What I've been doing is when the keg is empty I clean it with PBW and the Mark II keg washer (http://www.morebeer.com/products/mark-ii-keg-carboy-washer.html).

I then sanitize with StarSan, and hit the keg with around 30 pounds of CO2 and leave it in the basement until needed.

Using this method I shouldn't have to re-wash and sanitize the keg before using it again right?

Anything else I should be doing?

 

[obie]

once cleaned with pbw I just leave them uncapped to dry and sit them upside down. when I put them back in use thats when I sanitize

 

[sikkingj]

I do the same, it makes it easy on kegging day to have the receiving keg already sanitized.

 

[solbes]

I soak Oxy for a day. Rinse well with hit water and drain/dry prior to storage.

A pint or two of star san rolled around on kegging day and then drained prior to fill.

 

[iijakii]

Do you guys leave them with much star san in there, or just sanitize, drain and seal er up?

 

[day_trippr]

There's so much said about "Star San breaks down into yeast food".
I'm not sure it makes sense to sanitize before storing...

Cheers!

 

[iijakii]

Yeah, I'll probably just store pressurized and sanitize with a spray bottle before use. Good 'nuff for me.

 

[govner1]

The only potential problem w/ storing them fully pressurized is that you can damage the poppet springs.
I clean w/ B-Brite, rinse & sanitize w/ StarSan. I also make sure to rinse & flush the dip tube. I then use just a quick burst of CO2 to lightly seal.
Ready for use.

 

[SeeMont]

I have been cleaning and then storing them with Star San blasted with about 20 psi of CO2. I run Star San through both tubs. When I am ready to use the keg, I dump the Star San and use. I haven't had a problem yet but I a open to new ideas.

 

[bbohanon]

I have been cleaning and then storing them with Star San blasted with about 20 psi of CO2. I run Star San through both tubs. When I am ready to use the keg, I dump the Star San and use. I haven't had a problem yet but I a open to new ideas.

This is what I do as well but with a twist...I am usually cleaning multiple kegs so once the kegs are cleaned out, I fill one up with about 1/3 star san solution, pressurize with co2, shake well let it sit for 5min, shake again and use a jumper line to push the star San into the next keg, rinse and repeat the shaking process. Once the last keg had been through the star San treatment, I use a picnic tap and/or hook it up to the kegerator lines to run some star San through those as well and empty the star San solution into a bucket for later use.

I store the emptied, sanitized kegs under pressure in a climate controlled building and they stay clean and ready until the next fill.
Sanitizes the kegs and dip tubes, jumper line and picnic taps/kegerator lines all in one shot which is nice.

 

[gnef]

I personally don't like to store my empty kegs with liquid in them. I don't have anything scientific to back it up, it is really just a personal preference.

What I do, is when I clean out a keg, I put it upside down to dry, and after a couple days, and flipping it around to find where the water has pooled, it is completely dry. Once it is dry, I pressurize and store on a baker's rack. I always pressurize so that when I go to fill the keg, I know immediately that something is wrong if it has no pressure. I have over 90 kegs at this point, so I can't keep track of individual kegs, and I just take care of things as they come up, so having a check like this helps me to make sure I don't rack into a problematic keg that I will later have to replace a seal or poppet on.

 

[mash-mongrel]

Why are people not rinsing Star San off equipment before use?

Star San technical data sheet states rinsing out/off equipment before use.

Star San is a sanitizer, do people not use sterilizers first before using equipment?

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I rinse the schmuz out with tap water then put the lid back on.

 

[Bellybuster]

guess I'm the only lazy one... Once my keg kicks, I leave it until I need it. Clean, sanitize, fill.

 

[Jaybird]

I do a full clean and sanitize myself after its empty Let dry and then seal them up. Hit em with Co2 and label well with my tags. Day of filling I simply remove tag. Relieve the pressure, Run a little Star San in it through the In, Out and the Relief valve and fill it up with beer. Been doing it that way for 15 years. I feel the Co2 keeps it totally fresh.

Cheers
Jay

 

[doug293cz]

guess I'm the only lazy one... Once my keg kicks, I leave it until I need it. Clean, sanitize, fill.

No, you're not.

Brew on

 

[day_trippr]

Why are people not rinsing Star San off equipment before use?

Star San technical data sheet states rinsing out/off equipment before use.

Star San is a sanitizer, do people not use sterilizers first before using equipment?

Five Star touts Star San as a no-rinse sanitizer, but the data sheet does include post-use rinsing, so there's definitely a conflict there.
That said, I've never rinsed after applying or soaking something in Star San.

I doubt there's a home brewer anywhere on this particular planet that is using a true sterilization process in their brewing.
It's not practical, and it's not required...

Cheers!

 

[JonW]

I did a search and found a ton of threads on storing full kegs but nothing on the correct storage of empty kegs.

What I've been doing is when the keg is empty I clean it with PBW and the Mark II keg washer .

I then sanitize with StarSan, and hit the keg with around 30 pounds of CO2 and leave it in the basement until needed.

Using this method I shouldn't have to re-wash and sanitize the keg before using it again right?

Anything else I should be doing?

I use the exact same process. When getting ready to use the clean keg, I just shake it a bit to re-coat everything inside with StarSan, then open and dump, then fill with beer.

Been doing this for years and never had an infected keg this way.