Splitting a smack pack

[photobru]

I've been trying to save on yeast so I'm thinking about splitting my next wyeast smack pack into several test tubes and then using the rest make a starter for my next beer.

So my question is should I break the nutrient pack before splitting it into the tubes or no?

Or would I be better off making a starter first and splitting that?

 

[Hello]

I would pitch the whole pack and learn to wash your yeast.

 

[Quaker]

Smack it. Make a starter. Use what you need and either build up again to save some or split if your first starter was big enough to do so.

 

[philjohnwilliams]

I'd be more inclined to make a starter first and split that, the larger volume of yeast after making a starter should make it easier to divide into several smaller containers. However, this being HBT, I'm sure you will get a dozen different answers, all of which will be right.

 

[photobru]

OK, I'll try doing the starter first then. Thanks. I'm thinking this will keep the yeast fresher than just rinsing the yeast cake each time, especially with high gravity beers, and hopefully I can get more uses from each pack.

 

[flars]

Pitch rate/starter calculator, with over build, for saving yeast.
http://www.homebrewdad.com/yeast_calculator.php

 

[photobru]

That viability calculator is great, haven't seen one of those before. Thanks for the link.

 

[alby44]

Depending on the size of your starter build it up higher than what your batch calls for...with both volume and DME.

If you're doing a 1L, go 1.5 or 2L, then before crashing pour that remainder off into a mason jar. I've done this w/a few batches for good yeast with pretty good success.