step starter - decant or simply add more?

[aangel]

So I have a step starter to do. Do I do the first step, then cold crash and decant the yeast, then add more? Or do I just wait till high krausen and then pour in more?

 

[Brentk14]

I crash, and build another starter.

 

[flars]

Usually best to decant since the second, and maybe third, step always requires more wort volume than the preceding.

 

[aangel]

I have a 5L erlenmeyer so volume isn't an issue, and I'm also working with 3.5g batches. Basically I build 3x needed, harvest 2 batches, and save one for later.

 

[catdaddy66]

I believe you could do either way. I always do a two step starter and rarely crash/decant. I do harvest a portion for a future brew. Crashing just adds more time to the process but is certainly another way to do it.