A question about one-step

[wing_nut]

Would a couple of gallons of one-step I mixed a few days ago still be good now. It is sitting in an open bucket. Not trying to save money since this is just pennies but just wondering.

 

[Nate5700]

I think I read that it would keep for maybe a couple of weeks, but that was covered and possibly refrigerated. Myself, I would not assume it is still good. But, my LHBS sells a generic version of One-Step that costs about half the name-brand, so I don't worry too much about using it up.

 

[Shooter]

I believe One-Step is a cleaner similar to Oxiclean. I think Oxiclean stops working after about 24 hours.

 

[BillyBroas]

I'd trust it for cleaning but not for sanitizing. In fact there are a bunch of reservations about using it for sanitizing at all, so I never use it for that purpose.

 

[Nate5700]

Just Googling and asking at my LHBS I believe it actually is a sanitizer. I used it for my 2nd batch which I haven't tried yet, so I can't speak from personal experience yet, but I've read in more than one place that it produces hydrogen peroxide in solution with water, and peroxide is definitely an anti-bacterial agent, that's why it's used on minor wounds.

 

[BillyBroas]

Just Googling and asking at my LHBS I believe it actually is a sanitizer. I used it for my 2nd batch which I haven't tried yet, so I can't speak from personal experience yet, but I've read in more than one place that it produces hydrogen peroxide in solution with water, and peroxide is definitely an anti-bacterial agent, that's why it's used on minor wounds.

The debate is endless. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. My thing is - if there is a question about it, why risk it when there are sure things like Star-San and Iodophor?

If you have One-Step I'd say finish the pack and then get a more trusted sanitizer. Homebrew is too important to risk it.

 

[wing_nut]

Homebrew is too important to risk it.

Brother I here you on that.
As far as the endless debates... I don;t know what they are in home brewing yet. But every hobby has them. In my other hobby, detailed scale modeling of WWII tanks and aircraft, someone ill ask the questions., "What's the correct dunkelgelb (dark yellow) for a German tank. Page after page of responses.

I don't have beer pictures... yet but if you follow this link you can at least see pic of the other hobby.

 

[Malticulous]

I believe one step is only good as a cleaner/sanitizer for a few hours.

 

[Revvy]

One step is not something I would trust to work for more than a few hours. Actually in terms of use as a sanitizer I wouldn't trust it at all. Like others have said it skirts a greay area between cleanser and sanitizer, and quite frankly skirting is not good enough for me.

Read this for extensive info on onestap. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/sanitizer-question-54932/

 

[alexdagrate]

NOT a sanitizer. I've had some VERY bad experiences with onestep, never with Star*San.

Use onestep or oxiclean to clean, use star san to sanitize.

 

[jollytim]

If you put some on your fingers and it feels slippery, it would still have some sanitizing properties... but if you are really wanting to be sure, and still save some pennies, then use a capful of plain bleach, in a gallon of water. Soak 30 minutes, then rinse.

Sanitation is not an area where I would try to save a couple pennies. Losing a batch would negate any savings. Using the bleach is a tried and true method though.

 

[wing_nut]

I am pretty much done with using one step as a sanitizer. I heard that is no longer on the approved sanitizer list. While I know the gov tends to go overboard with the CYA stuff, they do know something some of the time. I think so anyway.

 

[Revvy]

I am pretty much done with using one step as a sanitizer. I heard that is no longer on the approved sanitizer list. While I know the gov tends to go overboard with the CYA stuff, they do know something some of the time. I think so anyway.

It hasn't been on the approved sanitizer list for as long as I have been brewing.

 

[jollytim]

...a government approved sanitizer list? He he.

I use what works for me.... if the government approves of that every once in a while, I guess that's a good thing.