bottle sanitizing / general question

[Blaxd046]

ive heard you can sanitize your bottles by putting them in the over at 350 for an hour, is this true, and does it sufficiently sanitize the bottles? i like this idea over using any chemicals to sanitize.

Also i am fermenting my first batch in a glass carboy, are there any ways or signs to tell of infection ?

Thanks

 

[Absolut_Ninja]

Yes. Check this out for oven temps though.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter2-2-3.html

I have not tried it, just use the dishwasher on high heat w/o detergent.

 

[Hammy71]

I've heard of people baking their bottles. I've also heard it makes the glass brittle over time. Why are you so opposed to a chemical such as Star-San? It works by making the ph a level that bacteria can't handle...but perfectly safe for you. I use one of these....

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/BOTTLE_SANITIZER_P152C47.cfm

Two pumps and put the bottle on a bottle tree and your done..... No worries about bottles falling over in the oven or becoming brittle. I've heard of people using their dishwasher as well...seams like more of a PITA to me.

I use glass carboys exclusively. I've never had an infection so I can't help you there. Maybe its that darn ole Star-San that's been my savior?

 

[marubozo]

High heat at certain lengths of time can certainly do the job, but it also will take a little more care on your part. Once they cool down they are able to become contaminated again at any time before bottling and capping. So make sure you're either covering the opening of the bottles with some sanitized foil or something or just be sure you're not leaving the bottles just sitting out for too long waiting to be filled.

This is where a no-rinse sanitizer like starsan has an advantage, because as long as the surface is still wet it's sanitized. This way you can almost eliminate any possibility for contamination.

 

[pkeeler]

I bake my bottles. Put foil over the top, put them in the oven (on their side works), and bake at 350 for an hour. Turn the oven off and let them cool down with the door closed. Best to bake at night, then take them out in the morning.

With the foil on, this method has one advantage over all other methods. The bottles are sterilized (not just sanitized) until the foil is removed.

 

[Palefire]

I've been baking bottles for close to 20 batches now, and haven't had a problem yet. I love it - I basically rinse bottles out well when I drink them, then put them aside. When I have about 50 or so empties (my oven can fit 54), I rinse them again, put a square of foil over each, then bake them at 350 for an hour or so. Let them cool in the oven and put them in milk crates (with the foil still on). They last for months, so I almost always have a few cases ready to go when bottling time hits.

Bottling day is easier and quicker for me when I don't have to add sanitizing bottles to the procedure.