Flask for yeast starter

[hefehawk]

Hich flask should i buy? I would like one that i could boil with over electric heat, if that exists.

 

[goybar]

a 3 liter erlenmeyer flask or other that is made out of Borosilicate glass.

don't waste your money on one smaller. I have a 1 liter. I use it to re-heat coffee with, too small for anything else.

chris

 

[iaefebs]

Use a pot you have that is larger than your starter. If I make a 2 liter starter I'll use a 4 quart pot. No boil overs or concerns of an electric stove like you have using a "flask". Once you are ready to cool, transfer to the appropriate flask of your choice or flat bottom jar.

 

[kh54s10]

I have a 2 liter flask that I found online. I can't remember where. It was described as being more heavy duty that most. It seems robust, but I have been boiling in my SS cookware then transferring to the flask lately. I just has seemed easier.

I used mine on my glass cooktop with no problems. What I have read is using electric coil ranges where the glass sits on the metal and is hot directly on the metal and cool in between that causes the problems. Also don't go from hot to cold too quickly.

IMO anything less than 2 liters is useless!

 

[Golddiggie]

I would go with either a 2L or 3L flask (3L being better since you can make larger starters that way). Do yourself a favor too, build/buy a stirplate if you haven't already. You can make smaller starters to get your target yeast cell count that way.

As for using on an electric range. As far as I know, that doesn't exist. They all say to use with gas, NOT electric for heating. You can use a pot large enough to contain the starter volume, with enough headspace to factor in and avoid a boil-over. Or you can use fermcap to make sure you don't get a foam/boil over on the stove. Use an ice bath to chill it in the sink before pouring into a sanitized flask and you're golden. I do this for my starters, even though I have a gas stove.

Personally, I have a 2L, 3L and 5L flask. So I have more than enough space to make whatever size starter I need to. I've not yet used the 5L flask, but that's only because I cannot fit it into my fridge to cold crash. I've made two step starters in my 2L (1-1.5L each step) to get the cell count I would have needed a 6L starter for otherwise. It just takes two days extra (ferment on stirplate, then cold crash, decant and add new starter wort). Considering how much I save on DME and yeast packs this way, it's well worth the two extra days, IMO...

 

[goybar]

I have a glass top range and have had no issues so far.

My starters typically are 1200-1700ml. So the 3L erlenmeyer works great. Fermcap helps as well.

Chris

 

[BrewThruYou]

With an electric stove, I'd definitely get a pot and transfer to a flask. Target has 2G stainless pots. There is no chance I'd trust glass on an electric element. Personally, I think the 3L flask is the best bet...most of my starters are between 1L and 2.5L and it works perfectly. Bought mine from Williams Brewing..