does mixed star-san go bad?

[markiemark]

I made a batch of star-san sanitizer 12 days ago when I brewed and still have some of it in my plastic spray bottle. Is it still effective? Like, could I use it to disinfect my autosiphon for example??

Also, any ideas how to make a tiny batch of sanitizer from star san? I don't need a whole 5 gallons, just enough to clean a few things...

 

[PintOfBitter]

12 days is probably OK. if you want to keep it for a long time, use distilled water.

Do you have litmus paper on hand? if so, just check pH - that'll tell you for sure. I think it's supposed to be 3 or lower...?

 

[tasq]

Also, any ideas how to make a tiny batch of sanitizer from star san? I don't need a whole 5 gallons, just enough to clean a few things...

Sure! I do slightly less than 1/4oz per gal.

 

[ultravista]

from what I hear (and read), distilled water is the way to go. less (or zero) impurities is key to viable star-san.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

I only mix up 1-2 gallons at a time (just divide the instructions) and save til next brew day, usually a week or two. I have heard some say pitch it when it gets cloudy, but mine mixes cloudy...not sure what changes. I always keep a squirt bottle full around. 12 days is fine, sanitize away.

 

[Brewer_Bob]

If yours mixes cloudy it is due to your water. It should still work, but without ph strips you won't be able to tell when it has lost its sanitizing power.

If you use distilled water, however, you will know that as soon as it turns cloudy that means to change it.

If you want to avoid the guessing game or not mess with pH strips, use distilled

 

[LCTitan]

Normally how long can a Star-San batch last when using tap water? I don't have the test strips yet but I made a 5 gallon batch about three weeks ago hoping it would last at least a month to get me through my next brew day. The way to go from what I have read as well is to mix it with distilled water for a longer storage period. The 5 gallon batch is still very cloudy but resting peacefully in a BB 5 gallon bottle in the basement.

 

[ultravista]

Someone could always contact the manufacturer to see what they have to say regarding longevity and tap vs. distilled water dilution.

 

[knelson]

the way I see it is that StarSan is pretty cheap. Dont risk infecting a batch of beer to save the couple of dollars that it costs to mix a batch of sanitizer.

I typically mix one 5 gallon batch of starsan in my primary on brew day and use it until the beer is bottled. Then I dump it.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

the way I see it is that StarSan is pretty cheap. Dont risk infecting a batch of beer to save the couple of dollars that it costs to mix a batch of sanitizer.

I typically mix one 5 gallon batch of starsan in my primary on brew day and use it until the beer is bottled. Then I dump it.

StarSan gets really cheap once you realize that a 32 Ounce bottle could last you a lifetime.

It's all about ratios and pH.

Use conversions and your high school algebra to calculate the ratios. X over volume = mL over Ounces.

IIRC, 0.625mL is needed for 16 ounces of distilled water to achieve a pH of 3.5 or lower. You can get a mL dropper free from just about any pharmacy.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Normally how long can a Star-San batch last when using tap water? I don't have the test strips yet but I made a 5 gallon batch about three weeks ago hoping it would last at least a month to get me through my next brew day. The way to go from what I have read as well is to mix it with distilled water for a longer storage period. The 5 gallon batch is still very cloudy but resting peacefully in a BB 5 gallon bottle in the basement.

Someone could always contact the manufacturer to see what they have to say regarding longevity and tap vs. distilled water dilution.

How long it lasts will depend on what's in your tap water.

How well it sanitizes is not something that's easy to tell... You can dip your equipment in plain tap water and "think" it is fine, but obviously it is not sanitized. You can't see the "bugs" to confirm they are all dead or not.

If in doubt, mix fresh StarSan. It is not worth spending the money and several weeks to findout your beer turned to crap. Even then, you may not put 2 and 2 together to realize your StarSan was the problem.

Same thing with mixing at other than the ratio's set by the manufacturer. If you want to mix a different amount, do the math. Don't just guess how much "should do the trick".

So, let me say again... If in doubt, mix fresh StarSan.

Of course this is just my opinion.

Ed

 

[LCTitan]

I typically mix one 5 gallon batch of starsan in my primary on brew day and use it until the beer is bottled. Then I dump it.

So really the 5 gallon batch of Star-San would last you a month without problems correct?

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I typically mix one 5 gallon batch of starsan in my primary on brew day and use it until the beer is bottled. Then I dump it.

So really the 5 gallon batch of Star-San would last you a month without problems correct?

Nobody can answer that question without testing the StarSan.
If you want to risk it to save a few pennies... have at it.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I typically mix one 5 gallon batch of starsan in my primary on brew day and use it until the beer is bottled. Then I dump it.

So really the 5 gallon batch of Star-San would last you a month without problems correct?

5 Gallons mixed from 0.5 Ounce of concentrate into 5 gallons of Culligan Reverse Osmosis water has maintained clarity and pH (<3.5) for me for nearly 1.5 years used very liberally froim a spray bottle.

 

[JJL]

I've actually kept a 5 gal bucket of the stuff mixed with tap water for about 6 weeks without any reduction in sanitation. I've had it in a spray bottle for probably 6 mos without issue. The only problem I've had is accidentally leaving something soaking in star san for a week or so by accident. It doesn't ruin the item, but it tends to leave a film on it that you have to wash off.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I've actually kept a 5 gal bucket of the stuff mixed with tap water for about 6 weeks without any reduction in sanitation. I've had it in a spray bottle for probably 6 mos without issue. The only problem I've had is accidentally leaving something soaking in star san for a week or so by accident. It doesn't ruin the item, but it tends to leave a film on it that you have to wash off.

How do you know?

 

[JJL]

How do you know?

Because I have a standard procedure for sanitizing my equipment at every step in the process. I've never had an infection. I've never had off flavors that can be attributed to poor sanitation. I'm speaking from a purely functional perspective. This is what I have done, and these were the results.

Also, you will find a ton of people on here that put star san in a spray bottle and let it sit for long periods of time with no ill effects. If you want proof, then the guy above who tested the Ph should be all the proof you need.

Then again, it all depends on your individual needs. I brew beer to drink and share with my friends. The procedures I use allow me to do that effectively.

 

[osagedr]

I mix 1 and one-eighth teaspoons into a gallon of distilled water and depending on how much I'm brewing (use it for winemaking as well, but I never re-use Starsan), it can last quite awhile. Never had any cloudiness...should test the ph after three weeks or a month just to see how it's doing for interest's sake.

 

[LCTitan]

Does cloudiness of the solution really have any baring on the PH? Mine was cloudy the first day I mixed the batch.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I've actually kept a 5 gal bucket of the stuff mixed with tap water for about 6 weeks without any reduction in sanitation. I've had it in a spray bottle for probably 6 mos without issue. The only problem I've had is accidentally leaving something soaking in star san for a week or so by accident. It doesn't ruin the item, but it tends to leave a film on it that you have to wash off.

Because I have a standard procedure for sanitizing my equipment at every step in the process. I've never had an infection. I've never had off flavors that can be attributed to poor sanitation. I'm speaking from a purely functional perspective. This is what I have done, and these were the results.

Also, you will find a ton of people on here that put star san in a spray bottle and let it sit for long periods of time with no ill effects. If you want proof, then the guy above who tested the Ph should be all the proof you need.

Then again, it all depends on your individual needs. I brew beer to drink and share with my friends. The procedures I use allow me to do that effectively.

I use StarSan in a spray bottle mixed with distilled water. I check the PH occasionally.

In the post I quoted from you said you use tap water and after several weeks you "have no reduction in sanitation". So my question is how do you know if you have a "reduction" in sanitation? Just because you haven't experienced a problem, doesn't mean you haven't had a reduction in the effectiveness of your StarSan. PH is not the only factor that can reduce the effectiveness of StarSan by the way.

If you step off the curb into the street without looking and don't get hit by a car does that mean it's save to do?

You might be right, or you might just be lucky.

 

[paraordnance]

Does cloudiness of the solution really have any baring on the PH? Mine was cloudy the first day I mixed the batch.

Manufacturer says if its get cloudy its nowhere near its effectiveness. I used to mix it with tap water and it gets cloudy right away, then I tried RO water and shelf life of it improved dramatically

 

[Sacdan]

Starsan is cheap. As mentioned before, buy a 32oz bottle. I go through several of them a year. I am obcessed when it comes to sanitation. I keep a five gallon bucket full all the time. I also keep all my kegs full of it when they don't have beer in them.

 

[lknbigfish]

8oz $8 makes 40 gallons = $0.20 gallon
32oz $16 makes 160 gallons = $0.10 gallon

i make 2.5 gallons a brewday ($0.25), thats plenty for the two 15 gallon batches and then i pitch it. i spend another quarter the next brew/transfer day. i'm sure i could get by with half a gallon a brewday, but why try to save a dime?

moral of the story- buy a 32oz bottle so you can keep it fresh and never look back!