Shelf life of mixed star san

[Jason1983]

I was wondering how long you can use a mixture of star San before replacing it. A brew friend of mine told me I could make a few gallons in a sealed pail and use and recycle the star San for a few months. I have done so since I started brewing (6 months ago) and only replaced the 3 gallons once and have had no problems with sanitation. I was just wondering how long the sanitizer will last or if I should be doing this whatsoever anyways! Thanks guys

 

[LandoLincoln]

I use distilled or RO water to make up a 5 gallon batch and it usually lasts me 3 months.

 

[flars]

The solution will be an effective sanitizer until the pH goes above 3.2, or you have gunk floating in it.

 

[Jason1983]

I use distilled or RO water to make up a 5 gallon batch and it usually lasts me 3 months.

How many batches have you cycled through in those 3 months?

 

[LandoLincoln]

How many batches have you cycled through in those 3 months?

I usually brew once or twice a month. Take periodic hydrometer readings, make some starter batches...yadda yadda.

The volume level usually gets pretty low and I see some crud sitting in the bottom of the bucket. Then I know it's time to make some new stuff. If I really wanted to maximize my use of the stuff, I'd take a pH reading and as long as it was below 3.2 I'd be good to go, but I have plenty of undiluted Star San and I have an RO system so it's pretty easy to make up a new batch.

 

[brewprint]

It lasts months and months for me. Maybe it gets some dust in there from time to time so I just change it every now and again.

I have a long tote that has a lid. It's about 8 inches deep. Makes it really easy to just throw in bucket lids and hoses.

 

[thekraken]

I was listening to, I think, Basic Brewing podcast, the other day. Someone said that once the starsan losses it's effectiveness it actually becomes a great growing media for nasties. So it goes 180* from bacteria killer to bacteria food, just an FYI.

I mix up a fresh one gallon batch each brew day, fill up a spray bottle the fresh starsan, and leave the rest in a 1 gallon bucket. I use this same batch up until bottling or until the next brew day, which ever comes first.

 

[edroberts]

I had heard that so long as it still foams up, it should be good, but that doesn't sound right.

However, based off other posts it almost sounds like you have 2 alternatives:
1. Make sure you have a pH meter to measure your StarSan pH if you are going to re-use it
2. Make a fresh batch of StarSan each time you intend to use it.

 

[dk21]

I spoke with one of Five Star's chemists at the NHC a few years ago. If you're using tap water, use the diluted solution on brew day only. Star San reacts with the minerals in the water reducing its effectiveness. If you use distilled water you won't have the same problem but as it's used it will pick up contaminants which will reduce its effectiveness. Is it possible to use tap water and re-use it? Yep, but there's no way to be sure that it will work when you need it. A 32 oz Star San bottle puts the cost at 75 cents/ounce...not enough for me to be willing to take the chance that a batch will be ruined, but you have to decide that for yourself.

 

[Jim311]

I don't know why more people don't use bleach, other than a long contact time (30 mins) but if you plan right it's great, and cheap. 15ML per gallon is considered a no-rinse solution.

 

[brewprint]

Well I'm about 6 or so batches with the same starsan brewing once a week or every other week. Transferring to secondaries and kegs, flasks, etc with no infections so far.

 

[unionrdr]

I've gotten a couple months out of a batch. I have the same 8oz bottle I bought when I did my 2nd batch. But I've since started making a new batch every month or so. Good so far.

 

[Mirilis]

i just fill a 32oz spray bottle on brew day and drizzle a little starsan in... it lasts until the beer is kegged.. then I usually dont make nother bottle till i brew again