Star San. To rinse or not to rinse. What's your practice.

[Gameface]

I belatedly realized that One-Step is technically not listed as a sanitizer, but I've used it for 4 batches and not had any issues. Perhaps I've been lucky, but from reading the manufacturer's site, it sounds like it can be used as a "pseudo sanitizer" (my phrasing) but they didn't want to have to go through the steps to get it officially listed as a sanitizer. I now have PBW and Star-San, so that shouldn't be a potential issue any longer.

Since copywright has first-hand experience with the process and says he's waited weeks and months between uses, perhaps the sealing of the vessels helps in some manner in reducing/eliminating slime? I'm curious if anyone else has tried to before and can provide additional first-hand experience.

Fact is that if your equipment is clean you'll probably rarely have an infection even without using sanitizer.

The problem with "one-step" is that in the past they have marketed themselves as a one-step cleaner and sanitizer. That's simply misleading because cleaning and sanitizing should always be too separate steps. One-step does kill microbes but since it needs to be rinsed the possibility of reintroducing microbes is there. With star san you know that if the item you're using is wet with star san that it is sanitized.

Why take anyone else's word for it? Mix up a little star san in a jar, cap it and let it sit for a couple weeks. Open it up, take whiff and feel the inside where the star san was.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I belatedly realized that One-Step is technically not listed as a sanitizer, but I've used it for 4 batches and not had any issues. Perhaps I've been lucky, but from reading the manufacturer's site, it sounds like it can be used as a "pseudo sanitizer" (my phrasing) but they didn't want to have to go through the steps to get it officially listed as a sanitizer. I now have PBW and Star-San, so that shouldn't be a potential issue any longer.

Since copywright has first-hand experience with the process and says he's waited weeks and months between uses, perhaps the sealing of the vessels helps in some manner in reducing/eliminating slime? I'm curious if anyone else has tried to before and can provide additional first-hand experience.

that very well may be. but I feel cleaning kegs in a pain enough. I personally don't want to risk the slime in a keg. any tight spot can be bad enough.

 

[MichaelBrock]

Why take anyone else's word for it? Mix up a little star san in a jar, cap it and let it sit for a couple weeks. Open it up, take whiff and feel the inside where the star san was.

I mix 5 gallon batches of star-san stored in plastic buckets and have never had any slime. Even after a few months. My understanding is that this may be related to the water used. I use RO/DI water. I have never tried it with tap water.

 

[Thetonymartin]

I'm kind of surprised no-one else has picked up on the bolded section. You can't upgrade from One Step to Star San since One step is a cleaner and Star San is a sanitizer; two completely different and very important steps for brewing. You CANNOT use Star San as a cleaner, that is not what it is designed for, and so it will not get the job done adequately. So you should still use the One Step to clean everything, and continue using the Star San for sanitizing.

+25 !!
True that. Cleaners don't sanitize, and sanitizers don't clean.

 

[jzamora3]

I don't rinse. I'm about a dozen batches in and haven't noticed any off flavors from the starsan.

 

[Shuznuts]

Here a brief article on one step.

http://www.ecologiccleansers.com/one-step.php

In short, one step is marketed as a no rinse cleaner and sanitizer, but labeled as a cleaner to avoid the regulations needed to comply with this designations as set forth by the EPA. I mistakenly said FDA in my original post. I've used one step for years strictly as a no rinse sanitizer with good results. About 1 month ago I made the switch for the reasons previously outlined. I will agree. It does get slimy sitting around!


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[mdbrewer1]

I haven't rinsed with One-Step since it says on the container not to. I'm not well versed in craft beer yet,so I might not know any better, but I haven't noticed any odd flavors. My hands have always felt like they have a little coating on them after I reach into a bucket of it, but I haven't kept it around long enough to know if it leaves slime behind on my equipment.

 

[Shuznuts]

Oh shoot. I wasn't very clear. When I switched to star San, I noticed it makes slime when sitting long term. One step never did that for me.


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[kaconga]

I use distilled water with my star san and never get slimy stuff that I have noticed. I will check my bucket tonight when I get home to confirm that though.

 

[LLBeanJ]

I use tap water and it never gets slimy. I usually mix up about 4 gallons and store it in a Homer bucket for about a month or so before I replace it. However, I found out early on that if you leave PVC tubing soaking in Starsan, the tubing will get slimy and turn cloudy.

 

[riderkb]

Clear vinyl tube does get slimy in Starsan, but silicone tube does not. I switched to all silicone and store it in Starsan.
If you are worried about the foam in your beer just taste it. When the foam drains for an hour or so it has almost no liquid left in it and very little taste. It is just a bit tart.
By all means, drain all of the liquid out, but do not rinse.


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[copyright1997]

Overdue post, I had forgotten about this thread. I've never had an issue with "slime". Note that I'm using this with kegs that I store under pressure with CO2. For the glass carboys, they are also semi-sealed with saran wrap or a stopper (w/o a hole). Even if there were slime, I'm not sure it would be an issue as fermenting beer likes star san?