Silly question on using Stir Plates

[markcurry]

I've been making starters with the "leave it on the counter, and give it a whirl by hand every time I walk by" method. Seeing the Stir Plate home builds, I'm thinking of a DIY build soon.

But - how do folks manage to fish their stir bars out of the starter before pitching onto your wort? From the what I've read accidental dumping of the stir bar is a common occurrence. I can't picture a good method that's still sanitary.

Do folks just carefully tip their starter vessel and pitch as much starter as possible, while (trying) to save the stir bar?

Silly question, I know. There must be trick I'm missing.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Use a magnet to either walk it up the sides of the container or trap it in the flask/jar/jug.

 

[sburnt]

Pouring slowly, I can pitch the entire starter but save the bar.

If it goes in... no big deal. I get it whenever I rack the beer (typically to the bottling bucket).

 

[Gnomebrewer]

Yes, just carefully pour the starter in.

Sometimes the stir-bar goes in with the starter. It doesn't matter, as it was boiled/sanitised so it can stay in the fermenter. You should have spare stir-bars (they are really cheap).

 

[BrewerBrad82]

A super magnet is the trick. Catch the stir bar with it and slide it up the side of the flask (or whatever vessel you are using) and out the top. Perfectly sanitary.

 

[raouliii]

I use a small neodymium magnet inserted into a rubber, thread cap to control the stir bar in the flask. The rubber protects the flask from damage.

I position the stir bar above the bottom while boiling to keep it from rattling and possibly damaging the flask and also use it to hold the stir bar while pouring.

 

[obie]

you don't know how many times I've bottled beers, and at the bottom of the fermenter I'd say "oh hey thats where my stir bar went!"

 

[MaxStout]

I have a small rare-earth magnet for holding the stir bar in place while pouring. But a few times, I've forgotten, and watched the thing drop into the fermenter. Keep a spare on hand.

 

[Gavin C]

A strong magnet will work nicely to remove the magnet without ever needing to touch the starter.

Walk it to the top and it leap out to the magnet.



No worries if it ends up in the beer. It's nicely sanitized in the boil.