Dumb Question #1

[GRHunter]

What exactly is a stir plates used for? Give me an example of the steps involved in using one.

 

[Displaced MassHole]

http://brewiki.org/StirPlate


That should answer some questions for ya.

 

[Stuntman]

When you make a yeast starter instead of a sanitized bottle or such, you put in a flask. The Stir Plate is what rotates the stir bar that is inside said flask. So instead of shaking your bottle several times a day, the stir plate does the stirring for you, making a bigger yeast culture. I think I paid about 25 bucks for mine, another twenty for the flask.


Here is the one I got, 38 plus 25 for the two liter flask.

http://cgi.ebay.com/StirStarter-Yea...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5d0fe934

 

[Whut]

And here's a link to a video on how to use a stir plate to make a Yeast Starter by fellow HBT member BillyBroas.

 

[GRHunter]

When you make a yeast starter instead of a sanitized bottle or such, you put in a flask. The Stir Plate is what rotates the stir bar that is inside said flask. So instead of shaking your bottle several times a day, the stir plate does the stirring for you, making a bigger yeast culture. I think I paid about 25 bucks for mine, another twenty for the flask.


Here is the one I got, 38 plus 25 for the two liter flask.

http://cgi.ebay.com/StirStarter-Yea...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5d0fe934

When do you do this? For dry yeast I normally re-hydrate about an hour before pitching. For liquid yeast I just toss it in. How would I change my process if I used a stir plate?

 

[Yooper]

When do you do this? For dry yeast I normally re-hydrate about an hour before pitching. For liquid yeast I just toss it in. How would I change my process if I used a stir plate?

Well, for dry yeast you probably won't make a starter so that wouldn't change.

You should always make a starter with liquid yeast, so instead of making a starter by boiling it in a pan, and then cooling it and adding it to a sanitized jug and then shaking it several times a day- you'd just boil it up in the flask, along with the stir bar, cool, and place on the stir plate. Here's some great info on yeast pitching rates and the hows and whys: http://www.mrmalty.com/pitching.php

 

[GRHunter]

And here's a link to a video on how to use a stir plate to make a Yeast Starter by fellow HBT member BillyBroas.

Perfect! That was exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

 

[Whut]

Perfect! That was exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

You're welcome and whoops, I had it in my head that Billy used a stir plate but he doesn't. But he does explain how it would be used.

 

[johnmcc]

Great video thanks, that answers questions i had myself.