Plastic effect on kombucha

[Ryanfit1]

How would fermenting a batch of Kombucha in a plastic container effect the tea?

 

[snarf]

Which kind of plastic?
Some plastics are safer than others. Food grade HDPE (high-density polyethylene) should be fine, although this is up to debate...

 

[Ryanfit1]

No I had my batch in a couple of thermos type bottles for 2 days and wasn't sure if i needed to start over. I couldn't get my hands on a large glass jar quick enough.

 

[kyt]

Just a couple days? Probably fine. It takes a few days for the pH to drop enough to potentially cause problems. As long as you use a #1 PET or #2 HDPE plastic you'll be fine. I think my distilled vinegar jugs are HDPE. Cola is also very acidic and comes in plastic.

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[racin_ny]

negligible

 

[Owly055]

negligible

The concerns about brewing kombucha in plastic are overblown. Good food grade plastics have been used for many acidic foods for many years now, and are impervious to acids.

In recent years some plastics have been condemned as far as drink containers, etc.... Obviously these should be avoided for any food use.

There is a strong inclination by many to condemn all plastics as bad for you........ I'm personally not a believer! Just because I have multiple cancers, a low sperm count, and an array of auto immune diseases, and am growing breasts, and a third eye in the middle of my forehead doesn't mean that there is something in the food chain that's bad for me ;-)

I brew my kombucha in a 5 gallon brew bucket.......


H.W.

 

[kyt]

The concerns about brewing kombucha in plastic are overblown. Good food grade plastics have been used for many acidic foods for many years now, and are impervious to acids.

I would not say "impervious", the implication is more absolute than saying "resistant". Plastics like PETE and HDPE are very resistant to weak to mild acids. Very strong acids will still degrade plastics, so they are not impervious to acids.