Order of Operations for a starter

[eadavis80]

This is probably a dumb question, but when making a starter does it matter if you cool the boiled DME in the saucepan or the flask? The reason I ask is because I would think the flask might start to float/tip in the ice batch while a little pot would not. NB suggests a flask weight to avoid the flask from tipping over, but can't I just cool the solution in the pot and then pour the cooled solution into the flask? Sorry - I'm a yeast starting virgin.

 

[Hello]

I cool in the pot because I am not sure my flask would appreciate the severe temperature swings going from boiling to an ice bath.

 

[kaconga]

The simple solution is to only fill you ice bath up to the liquid line of your starter flask. Then it won't tip over. I boil in my flask and so obviously must chill in the flask too.

 

[tally350z]

I boil in the flask. Just make sure you have the proper flask that can handle the temp swings.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Back in the day before I started canning wort, I always boiled and cooled in the saucepan.

 

[pvault98]

You can do it either way, it won't tip over unless the ice batch water line is above the flask wort line. As long as your flask is borosilicate glass (most are) then they can go from boiling to ice batch with no problem.

I prefer to boil in the flask with foil loosely on top and the stir bar inside and then toss the flask in the ice batch. The advantage is there is much less risk of any contamination. The only time the wort is exposed to air is briefly when I pitch the yeast into it and when I pitch it into the fermenter. If you boil in the flask Fermcap-S is your best friend.

 

[bruteforce]

+1 for boiling in the flask. But keep an eye on it, I had to spend a couple hours cleaning when I had a massive volcano of hot wort come out when I wasn't paying attention and it boiled over.

 

[Woodbrews]

When you guys boil in the flask, when do you add your DME? Before or after the water boils? I assume before, because adding it while boiling almost certainly will produce a volcano, not to mention the steam coming off the boiling water will make it impossible to pour the super-fine powder DME through the neck of the flask. But I'm interested to see how folks do it -- I've always boiled in a saucepan and poured it into the flask for cooling.

 

[pvault98]

I always add the DME before boiling. I either whisk it with some water in a bowl and then pour it in or I just pour it in and swirl to dissolve. I HIGHLY recommend fermcap when boiling in the flask. Even when I made a 2L starter in a 5L flask it boiled over until I started using fermcap. Last night I made a full 2L starter in the 2000mL flask with fermcap and no issues.

 

[bruteforce]

I always add the DME before boiling. I either whisk it with some water in a bowl and then pour it in or I just pour it in and swirl to dissolve. I HIGHLY recommend fermcap when boiling in the flask. Even when I made a 2L starter in a 5L flask it boiled over until I started using fermcap. Last night I made a full 2L starter in the 2000mL flask with fermcap and no issues.

Excellent info, hadn't thought about fermcap.

 

[Darwin18]

but can't I just cool the solution in the pot and then pour the cooled solution into the flask?

Absolutely. That's exactly what I do. If you're hell bent on boiling in the flask make sure that your flask can handle boiling and cooling temperature fluctuations.

 

[eadavis80]

NB video says you can't boil in the flask on an electric stove, which is what I have, so I won't be boiling in the flask. Thanks for the prompt feedback. When I make a starter with washed yeast, is a blowoff tube a certainty/must?

 

[tally350z]

I use an electric stove with no issues..Its not as good as gas but it works

 

[Komocabo]

NB video says you can't boil in the flask on an electric stove, which is what I have, so I won't be boiling in the flask. Thanks for the prompt feedback. When I make a starter with washed yeast, is a blowoff tube a certainty/must?

You do not want a blow off tube with a starter. Just a piece of sanitized foil to cover. I add a a few drops of fermcap if the starter looks like it's gonna blow out of the flask. (I check at about 5-6 hours to see how it's doing. I almost always have to do this to avoid a mess). Not sure if it's ok to add fermcap once fermentation starts in a starter, but it works for me and have had zero issues.

 

[eadavis80]

My bad - I didn't mean do I need a blowoff on the starter ITSELF if I make one with washed yeast. I meant, will a blowoff tube be necessary with the PRIMARY after I pitch washed yeast created with a starter.

 

[Komocabo]

I always use a blow off tube. Cheap insurance to avoid a mess. Regardless if from washed yeast or not.

 

[Locklearmj]

I'm just starting out, but I plan on boiling in a pot but cooling in the flask as I think the sudden heat change could eventually warp my saucepan. Just make sure the flask is borosilicate.