Whats the risk with taking my lid off?

[hockeystud47]

How much is at risk when I take my lid off my primary bucket to check my gravity? I am going to by a baster so I can test the level to see when its ready, because my air thing stopped bubbling after 6 days. It can't be done right? What about taking my lid off to take a sample or taste?

 

[scottedk]

You risk outside contaminants getting into your brew but other than that there isn't much to worry about. Make sure you clean and sanitize everything that comes in contact with the wort and try not to leave the lid off for extended periods of time.

Other than that, you should be good to go.


As for your question about fermentation being done, it is possible that it is done after 6 days. However, I believe most people here would agree that leaving it in the fermenter for 2-3 weeks regardless of whether or not the fermentation is "officially" done is the best thing to do.

 

[Rivenin]

no harm in taking the top off. just make sure and pop it back on when you're done

Although, if it has only been in the primary 6 days, i wouldn't touch it for another week or two.

 

[GulfCoastGirl]

How much is at risk when I take my lid off my primary bucket to check my gravity? I am going to by a baster so I can test the level to see when its ready, because my air thing stopped bubbling after 6 days. It can't be done right? What about taking my lid off to take a sample or taste?

I don't think the risk is so much removing the lid as it would be putting a baster in there that you forgot to sanitize

Sanitize your baster and also put some sanitizer in a spray bottle. Get in, get your sample, spray the inside lid with sanitizer from the spray bottle and get out. You should be just fine.

 

[homebrewdad]

How much is at risk when I take my lid off my primary bucket to check my gravity? I am going to by a baster so I can test the level to see when its ready, because my air thing stopped bubbling after 6 days. It can't be done right? What about taking my lid off to take a sample or taste?

Fermentation can certainly be done by 6 days. Were I you, I'd leave it until the 2-3 week mark; this gives your yeast a chance to clea up after themselves, and will give you better beer.

If your sanitation is good, there won't be much in the way of risk, but you need to minimize how many times you open it.

 

[spokaniac]

wouldn't hurt to sanitize your hands and arms too, in case you drop the baster or something else and reach in for it. That early you should still have enough fermentation going to keep a good CO2 blanket over the beer as long as you don't disturb it too much.

 

[user 103393]

Out of curiosity wouldn't the risk, in general, be very minimal? CO2 is heavier than air, and therefore once the lid came off oxygen would not be able to displace the CO2 unless you helped it. The largest risk seems like it would be from something heavier than air (a spider, perhaps) falling in.

I'm not saying you should leave the lid off for hours, but is it really that big of an issue to open up the lid?

 

[gmcastil]

How much is at risk when I take my lid off my primary bucket to check my gravity? I am going to by a baster so I can test the level to see when its ready, because my air thing stopped bubbling after 6 days. It can't be done right? What about taking my lid off to take a sample or taste?

Your biggest risk to taking the top of your fermenter off is seeing the ugly picture of fermentation, freaking out, and thinking you have an infection.

 

[cullen]

I'm not saying you should leave the lid off for hours, but is it really that big of an issue to open up the lid?

It's not a big issue to open up the lid occasionally. Don't let anything unsanitized fall in, don't cough into it, don't get it wet, and don't feed it after midnight - and everything will be fine.

 

[user 103393]

Your biggest risk to taking the top of your fermenter off is seeing the ugly picture of fermentation, freaking out, and thinking you have an infection.

I just assume if it didn't try to bite me it's not infected. Makes a lot easier.

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Your biggest risk to taking the top of your fermenter off is seeing the ugly picture of fermentation, freaking out, and thinking you have an infection.

I remember doing that. Stupid kit instructions telling me to transfer to secondary...