Yeast Starter Wort Evaporation

[bmwwd6]

I made my first yeast starter tonight. According to Mr Malty it was to be 2 L. So I measured out 2 L of water in my flask and poured it into a pot. Brought the water to a boil and added 200 grams of DME (1g/10mL). I brought it back to a boil and boiled the wort for 15 minutes. After cooling down the wort and pouring it back into the flask, I realized I only had a little under 1600 mL of wort! I had figured there may be an evaporation of 100 mL or so but I feel like this is way too much. Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone else ran into this issue?

 

[tally350z]

Don't have to boil the water first. I just add the DME to the water and then bring to a boil 10-15min boil and then cool. Depends on your pot your using, I usually start with 300ml more than I need and it tends to come out just right.

 

[duboman]

The proper way to measure is to place the DME in the flask and then add water to the mark, agitate to dissolve the DME and then bring to boil

If you weigh out the DME it is more precise than volume and its always a 10:1ratio so 100grams DME to 1L and so on.

If you follow this practice and boil for 10 minutes you should hit a starter gravity of 1.040 every time

 

[bmwwd6]

So if I start with 2300 ml of water for a 2000 ml starter, do I add 200 grams of DME or 230?

 

[duboman]

So if I start with 2300 ml of water for a 2000 ml starter, do I add 200 grams of DME or 230?

2300ml is 2.3L so you use 230 grams of DME in the flask and then fill to the 2300ml mark

 

[Nubster]

How about just topping off with enough sterile water to bring the volume to the desired level? Seems like the easiest way to do it.

 

[Golddiggie]

Just offset for your actual loss during the boil. Just like you do for brewing.

I boil for 5-10 minutes, after adding the DME to the hot water. I also add the DME just before the water gets to a boil, removing it from the heat source first. Once the DME is mixed in, I put it back on the fire and get it to boil. I then chill the starter wort down and add it to my flask before pitching the yeast in.

BTW, I would add the DME to match your post-boil volume. NOT the pre-boil volume.