Silly question … maybe?

[SaisonMan]

So I made a yeast starter today. Sanitized everything, including a pair of scissors to open the WLP530. Everything went great, until my wife pointed out some rust on those old scissors. My rational side says I made a small diagonal cut with something that was sanitized and that it’s no big deal. My paranoid side says WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

Can someone talk me down from the ledge? Or is there a danger of contamination? I know there’s nothing I can do about it now but, you know, peace of mind.

 

[Franktalk]

Listen to your rational side! Rust is only rust and may not contain anything that would infect your beer. Especially since many of the things that would might not even be visible to the naked eye. If you have good sanitization practices, the chances are slim that your batch will be infected. RDWHAHB

 

[Panderson1]

I think the yeast would take off pretty fast in a starter and nothing would be able to grow/compete in that environment.

 

[kevin58]

No other group of hobbyists find more things to worry about than homebrewers.

 

[Protos]

Can someone talk me down from the ledge? Or is there a danger of contamination?

Probability of contamination depends not on the rust on the scissors but on the level of microbial insemination of the scissors, rust or not.
Rust by itself isn't a contaminant. Microbes are. If you had your rusty scissors sanitized before making the cut, you're good and have nothing to worry about.

 

[SaisonMan]

No other group of hobbyists find more things to worry about than homebrewers.

I think you might be on to something here!

 

[Dancy]

No other group of hobbyists find more things to worry about than homebrewers.

Or makes things more complicated than necessary.

 

[Panderson1]

Or makes things more complicated than necessary.

OMG yes

 

[kevin58]

I can't take credit for that quote. I believe I first heard it from either Denny or Drew listening to an Experimental Brewing podcast.

 

[SaisonMan]

I can't take credit for that quote. I believe I first heard it from either Denny or Drew listening to an Experimental Brewing podcast.

I think we're more paranoid than worried. But I can't talk right now. I'm being watched.

 

[Cider Wraith]

Funny

 

[agentbud]

Rust??? Your starter is completely ruined. Once you dump that ruined starter into your wort, let it finish fermenting, package it up and send it my way and I will "dispose" of it properly.