starter vessels

[Merleti]

Are there any limits on starter vessels? I'm noticing if a standard flask is used the more you fill the smaller the surface area for oxygen. Not to mention the small opening at the top(ok biggest contamination spot) to allow oxygen in.

 

[flars]

Anything that gets the job done, is the way to go.

 

[Merleti]

as a newbie what is the way to go? What gets the job done the best?

 

[kadozen]

I use a ball jar. Boil to sanitize and I put a sanitized sandwich bag over the top to keep crud out

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[Merleti]

kadozen is this similar to a mason jar and if so how well does it work on a stir plate?

 

[flars]

The Erlenmeyer flask has been popular for making starters. The wort can be cooked on a gas stove, but not an electric range. The flask with the hot wort can usually be put in cold water to cool. If the flask has a flat bottom a stir plate can be used to aerate the wort for fermenting out the starter.

Using a stir plate will complete the fermentation faster than the intermittent shaking method.

Flasks large enough can be expensive though. There is no rule that the starter wort must be boiled in the same container that the wort is fermented in.

I boil my starter worts in a kettle and cool in the kettle. I have used one gallon to two gallon pickle jars to ferment the wort in. The jars don't have flat bottom so the stir bar can easily be thrown using a stir plate.

My latest container for use on the stir plate is a 1.1 gallon plastic Rubbermaid container.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/new-yeast-starter-container-61619.html

Anything that does the job is right. The object is to propagate yeast cells.

This is a good calculator for making the right size starter and other info on yeast.
http://www.brewersfriend.com/yeast-pitch-rate-and-starter-calculator/

 

[ericbw]

kadozen is this similar to a mason jar and if so how well does it work on a stir plate?

A ball jar is the same as a mason jar. Canning jars, different brands. I can't get the stir bar to work on it.

I have used a 1 liter soda bottle and shaken it periodically.

 

[Merleti]

Ok I get it.

 

[RCCOLA]

I picked up one of these 1 gal glass cracker jars at WM for $5. I looked at several and picked the one with the flattest bottom. It sits on my stirplate and doesn't throw the stirbar. Cover the top with foil.

 

[flars]

I picked up one of these 1 gal glass cracker jars at WM for $5. I looked at several and picked the one with the flattest bottom. It sits on my stirplate and doesn't throw the stirbar. Cover the top with foil.

That is a great jar for harvesting yeast also. The sharp neck will give great separation of yeast from the trub when you decant the yeast.

 

[RCCOLA]

That is a great jar for harvesting yeast also. The sharp neck will give great separation of yeast from the trub when you decant the yeast.

I hadn't thought of that but it does pour less yeast out than my 1 gal tea jar that had too high of an arch in the bottom. It was a high wire act balancing the stirbar in it.

 

[motleybrew]

I use my coffee pot. Just make sure to clean it well before use.

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[mtnagel]

I use my coffee pot. Just make sure to clean it well before use.

I can honestly say I never thought of that.

As has been said, basically whatever you can clean and sanitize and cover with foil. And if you have a stir plate, you need a flat bottom, which can be tricky to find. That's why most people use erlenmeyer flasks with stir plates. I did need to make a bigger starter and I bought was flars recommended. It worked great and was way cheaper than an equivalent glass erlenmeyer. I do think you have to be a little more careful with plastic so you don't scratch it up, which can then harbor bacteria, but it should be fine if you are careful.