This video shows you how to properly sanitize your homebrew (and winemaking) equipment using Star San and other sanitizer products. Don't fear the foam! www.northernbre...
"Don't fear the foam" is helpful. For my first batch, I was concerned that any trace amounts of sanitizer would kill the yeast, so I gave all of the supplies a long drip-dry time. This meant sanitizing a separate drying rack, plus a longer overall amount of time spent cleaning the supplies. I know now that it wasn't necessary to go through all that trouble.
hi SANITIZING HOMEBREW EQUIPMENT Home brewing can be very differcult without the right advice but i think you have done a good job with SANITIZING HOMEBREW EQUIPMENT keep up the good work. thanks Home Brewing Tips
That is most likely harmless, but you may also want to look into replacing your tubing IF it is older. Another good way to make sure and keep your homebrew as clean as possible.
Don't fear the foam! Another helpful hint I learned over the years. Put your water in the bucket first and THEN add the StarSan and stir. This will keep it from becoming overly foamy in the bucket.
hi, I use starsan and find it effective, I tend to rinse after using though. I know thats contrary to directions but i just thought to myself that if this stuff kills all sorts of microbes then maybe i dont want to be drinking it too?
Picky Editorial ? I noticed reference was made to Star San as a "cleaning solution". This could be misleading to newbies as preliminary gross cleaning was not mentioned herein. The conclusion could be made that this product does both
I'm confused, Star San says that if any amount at all is ingested to call a poison control center immediately, but when you leave a lot of bubbles you are leaving alot of star san, which says DO NOT INGEST
vcartgames that is most likely referring to ingestion of the Star San at 100% concentration right out of the bottle. Properly diluted to safe levels are no threat to your health.
Yeah the amount they leave in worries me. I let mine drain as much as possible and attempt to swirl all the foam out. Ill even waste a little beer to rinse the starsan foam out of bottles or the bottiling bucket or fermentor
So after sanitizing whit Star San i dont need to flush it whit fresh watter,coz alot of the products for sanitizing asking for good flush after using it :/
I watched a video that said if using well water to use 1 oz. to 3 gallons of water. Also, if there are minerals in the water the mixture will be cloudy ( as in your video ) and not to use it because it has been compromised and to dump it and make another batch. Please comment.
We are not aware of the need to make any adjustments based on your water source. Hard water can turn Star San Cloudy but it effective as long as the pH is below 3.5"
+Russ Pennington some sanitizes do require rinsing, but not star san. It scared me at first too, but I've left the foam in the carboy many many times and I've experienced no ill effects.
+Russ Pennington I came here for this very reason, the supplemental spray bottle. For how long do you keep it in the sprayer? Just for brew day? Or, do you keep it in the bottle for multiple brew days? Do you use a glass sprayer bottle, or standard off-the-shelf plastic sprayer? Does the Star San (an acid) interact with the plastic over time (affecting taste)? Thanks.
+realtoast I've kept an off the shelf plastic spray bottle for a couple months now. I haven't noticed any difference. The bottle seems fine. Feels and acts the same (still has a foam). I spray my utensils and such. Haven't had any contaminations so far. .
the guys at my local home brewing store told me that if I use distilled water with my star san that it will last much longer than with tap water. if you use tap water it lasts for a few weeks but with distilled water it can last a few months.
Kevin SulaeArts It's best to sanitize your carboy with StarSan just before you pour in your wash or mash . . . . . sanitizing and then using it a week later only allows time for dust and other contaminates to get into your vessel. Sanitize for 3-5 minutes. . . . pour it out . . . . wash goes directly in . . . .There will be foam, but it won't hurt anything . . .. keep brewing!!!
As long as the PH is 3 or below. A good PH meter is a must for keeping this mixed up for any length of time. I mix up 5 gallons at a time and use a spray bottle most of the time, and it was still good after a month mixed.
What concerns me about StarSan, is that the starsan factsheet - www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/StarSanTech-HB2.pdf states quite clearly that "For all applications, allow to air dry, however surfaces must remain wet for at least one minute." It also tells you that it's harmful if swallowed. Therefore, if, as you suggest in the video, you don't let your equipment dry before adding your beer, then you're putting yourself at risk.
Note: I am a totally newbie to brewing. When I cleaned my carboy with Starsan, I had a lot of bubles in the bottle that I could not get rid of. How did you get rid of the bubles? Will the bubles hurt my beer?
okpapereat Unless you rinse A LOT . . . . there may be some bleach left behind . . . . for the money and time . . . . use StarSan . . . . no rinse and ready to use carboy.
+mehmet olcay No, it doesn't. It has dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, which is something entirely different. Most laundry detergents have the same stuff in them. look and see.
Thank you for emphasizing "drain sanitizer solution and do not rinse" as this was my big question.
Thank you for making this comment so I didn't have to watch the video as this was my big question
Why waist all that Star San making gallons of solution? Just use .5 tsp and fill a spray bottle! Spray all of your equipment down and you're done.
"Don't fear the foam" is helpful. For my first batch, I was concerned that any trace amounts of sanitizer would kill the yeast, so I gave all of the supplies a long drip-dry time. This meant sanitizing a separate drying rack, plus a longer overall amount of time spent cleaning the supplies. I know now that it wasn't necessary to go through all that trouble.
hi SANITIZING HOMEBREW EQUIPMENT Home brewing can be very differcult without the right advice but i think you have done a good job with SANITIZING HOMEBREW EQUIPMENT keep up the good work.
thanks
Home Brewing Tips
Dont fear the foam perfectly answers my question! Thank you
That is most likely harmless, but you may also want to look into replacing your tubing IF it is older. Another good way to make sure and keep your homebrew as clean as possible.
A very needed, and note, very under watched, video.
Wow, best I've seen on Starsan foam
Don't fear the foam! Another helpful hint I learned over the years. Put your water in the bucket first and THEN add the StarSan and stir. This will keep it from becoming overly foamy in the bucket.
hi, I use starsan and find it effective, I tend to rinse after using though. I know thats contrary to directions but i just thought to myself that if this stuff kills all sorts of microbes then maybe i dont want to be drinking it too?
thanks for the idea
Picky Editorial ?
I noticed reference was made to Star San as a "cleaning solution". This could be misleading to newbies as preliminary gross cleaning was not mentioned herein. The conclusion could be made that this product does both
Microbes be like, "Pour a little out for a homie."
LULZ. RIP, bugs.
hey - thanks, great video
I'm confused, Star San says that if any amount at all is ingested to call a poison control center immediately, but when you leave a lot of bubbles you are leaving alot of star san, which says DO NOT INGEST
vcartgames that is most likely referring to ingestion of the Star San at 100% concentration right out of the bottle. Properly diluted to safe levels are no threat to your health.
Yeah the amount they leave in worries me. I let mine drain as much as possible and attempt to swirl all the foam out. Ill even waste a little beer to rinse the starsan foam out of bottles or the bottiling bucket or fermentor
My no-rinse sanitizer says not to use it in soft metal or plastic, but is that assuming at full strength?
Why use Starsan instead of sodium metabisulifte etc?
So after sanitizing whit Star San i dont need to flush it whit fresh watter,coz alot of the products for sanitizing asking for good flush after using it :/
StarSan specifically does NOT need to be rinsed. Just make sure the liquid solution is poured out, but the foam itself is nothing to worry about.
We use sanitizers in the restaurant how come there isn’t a sanitizer on the shelf for home use
All those bubbles in the carboy were made of the starsan sanitizer?
Yes, you won't always have that much foam but it's nothing to worry about.
Phosphoric acid is ok (cola), but to have some surfactants and benzensulfonic acid in a final product looks relatively strange.
Just bought Star San and it has lots of caution about contact. How is it safe if it requires caution?
When diluted properly, it's doesn't effect the flavor of the beer or harm you.
does powder form cleaner have an expiry date? my jar doesnt say anything about expiry.
would there be directions for people who use 1 gallon demijohns?
+Marauder623 1/4 ounce makes 1 1/4 gallons. pretty close.
How do you sanitize the bottling bucket and the valve simultaneously
Star san is a great product
Indeed. Don't fear the foam!
Does star San need to be mixed with hot water? Or is room temperature fine?
I watched a video that said if using well water to use 1 oz. to 3 gallons of water. Also, if there are minerals in the water the mixture will be cloudy ( as in your video ) and not to use it because it has been compromised and to dump it and make another batch. Please comment.
We are not aware of the need to make any adjustments based on your water source. Hard water can turn Star San Cloudy but it effective as long as the pH is below 3.5"
so is star san all you need or do you need to use a cleanser first then star san for the beer?
quick and easy, thanks.
Is the starsan also good for stainless steel instruments?
100% Be sure to dilute to the manufacturer's specs on the packaging.
Just seems so scary not to rinse. I guess you sold me on it though.
+Russ Pennington some sanitizes do require rinsing, but not star san. It scared me at first too, but I've left the foam in the carboy many many times and I've experienced no ill effects.
Well, I have done it (not rinsed) since with no ill effect. Also pulled a spray bottle full to keep on hand. Great stuff.
+Russ Pennington I came here for this very reason, the supplemental spray bottle. For how long do you keep it in the sprayer? Just for brew day? Or, do you keep it in the bottle for multiple brew days? Do you use a glass sprayer bottle, or standard off-the-shelf plastic sprayer? Does the Star San (an acid) interact with the plastic over time (affecting taste)? Thanks.
+realtoast I've kept an off the shelf plastic spray bottle for a couple months now. I haven't noticed any difference. The bottle seems fine. Feels and acts the same (still has a foam). I spray my utensils and such. Haven't had any contaminations so far. .
Thanks. I'm going to do the same.
Really great info. Thanks for the video!
How long does the sanitizer stay effective. Can you keep it for a week and it still be strong enough to work?
PuddleCleaner it depends. But we're able to test it's viability with ph strips or a meter. if it's still under 3ph then it's still good
the guys at my local home brewing store told me that if I use distilled water with my star san that it will last much longer than with tap water. if you use tap water it lasts for a few weeks but with distilled water it can last a few months.
With Star San, we mix 1oz in 5 gallons, soak for 2 minutes, let drip dry and don't rinse?
dont need to let it drip dry its best to use it straight away.. so pour ya wort in the fermenter and go from there.
Kevin SulaeArts It's best to sanitize your carboy with StarSan just before you pour in your wash or mash . . . . . sanitizing and then using it a week later only allows time for dust and other contaminates to get into your vessel. Sanitize for 3-5 minutes. . . . pour it out . . . . wash goes directly in . . . .There will be foam, but it won't hurt anything . . .. keep brewing!!!
For how long you can keep the star san that was mixed with water?
As long as the PH is 3 or below. A good PH meter is a must for keeping this mixed up for any length of time. I mix up 5 gallons at a time and use a spray bottle most of the time, and it was still good after a month mixed.
I use lots of boilng water
Do u know anything about if u get cloudy water when u put star san in because I've heard its not good.
+Patrick appleyard mine is always cloudy, especially when it is agitated during mixing.
What concerns me about StarSan, is that the starsan factsheet - www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/StarSanTech-HB2.pdf states quite clearly that "For all applications, allow to air dry, however surfaces must remain wet for at least one minute." It also tells you that it's harmful if swallowed. Therefore, if, as you suggest in the video, you don't let your equipment dry before adding your beer, then you're putting yourself at risk.
Note: I am a totally newbie to brewing.
When I cleaned my carboy with Starsan, I had a lot of bubles in the bottle that I could not get rid of. How did you get rid of the bubles? Will the bubles hurt my beer?
That's why they state "don't fear the foam." Drain what liquid you can without rinsing, then it's good to go.
Niel Johnson
Thanks Niel. I just tasted my first homebrew beer ever. It was amazing. I just can't go back to Coors Light anymore.
Great Video!!! What's the name of the baster like device you used to draw a sample of the beer.
+paladin906 A theif
+paladin906 a wine thief.
I sometimes feel I can tell when a commercial brewery uses a lot of foaming sanitiser just by the texture of the head.
It should be fine still.
can bleach or hyrdogen peroxide work? or iodine tablets
okpapereat Unless you rinse A LOT . . . . there may be some bleach left behind . . . . for the money and time . . . . use StarSan . . . . no rinse and ready to use carboy.
My only problem with Star San is that it imparts an acid taste to my wine which upsets my stomach.
Sorry to hear that. In that case do you then rinse the foam?
V
Be very careful using Star San in the kitchen, it can ruin countertops.
Hiding this comment from my wife after learning the hard way 😂
Don't fear the foam!
STAR SUN HAS GOT BENZENE WHİCH İS VERY POWERFUL CARCİNOGEN
+mehmet olcay No, it doesn't. It has dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, which is something entirely different. Most laundry detergents have the same stuff in them. look and see.
Christopher Haist
You say me that star sun does not contain benzene or any carcinogen chemical
is this true ?
That is not what I said. I said it does not contain benzene, it contains benzensulfonic acid.
Christopher Haist
OKAY.. I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU SAİD
Christopher Haist
SECOND QUESTİON :
CAN WE USE THE BLEACH INSTEAD OF STAR SUN ?