Another Sanitising Question...

[wbosher]

Do you guys know if I can sanitise the bottle caps in a pot of boiling water without damaging them? I'm talking PET bottles here, with plastic caps.

I'm going to individually give each bottle a quick spray with a no rinse sanitiser and leave upside down for a minute or two before filling, but I thought it would be easier to just throw all of the caps into some boiling water.

 

[glenwal]

Do you guys know if I can sanitise the bottle caps in a pot of boiling water without damaging them? I'm talking PET bottles here, with plastic caps.

I'm going to individually give each bottle a quick spray with a no rinse sanitiser and leave upside down for a minute or two before filling, but I thought it would be easier to just throw all of the caps into some boiling water.

Why not throw them into some no rinse sanitiser?

 

[wbosher]

That thought did cross my mind, then I thought "why waste sanitiser if boiling water will do the trick?"

I'd boil the bottles too, but I'm not really into modern art. :lol:

 

[JDW81]

Why not throw them into some no rinse sanitiser?

+1

Put caps in a container, cover with no rinse, fill bottle, take cap out of sanitising solution, cap bottle. Repeat.

 

[Wimmig]

Starsan to the rescue.

 

[bum]

I'd boil the bottles too, but I'm not really into modern art. :lol:

I'd hazard a guess that the thin plastic membrane in the lid would warp quicker than the bottle. Boiling the lids isn't a great idea.

 

[wbosher]

Point taken...unanimous decision, Starsan it is.

 

[glenwal]

unanimous decision

wait, what - aren't we on AHB.

I guess theres a first time for everything though.

 

[mwd]

Yes sanitiser made up to the correct dilution is cheap as chips. I use a 1litre jug and throw all my caps plastic or metal ones in and leave them for the time it takes to bottle.

 

[wbosher]

Sweet, cheers guys.

My only problem now is my first brew has been in the bottles for a week today...I'm getting really impatient. :lol:

 

[dammag]

I know I'm a bad, bad person but I start drinking my beer after 5 days in the bottle. This is after 10-14 days in the fermentor. Brewing once every 2 weeks I can't get in front unfortunately.

 

[wbosher]

Mine was in the FV for 11 days, bottles for seven. I know I shouldn't, but I'm REALLY tempted to crack one open.

 

[mwd]

If the bottles are hard then it is carbed up hard to resist. You will have drank at least half of them before they get good I know I do no self control. :chug:

 

[wbosher]

It's just one

 

[glenwal]

Mine was in the FV for 11 days, bottles for seven. I know I shouldn't, but I'm REALLY tempted to crack one open.

Do you have another batch down yet? If so, try to hold off cracking one until you bottle your next batch - that will help get you into a cycle that removes the temptation of cracking one early (since you'll be drinking the previous batch).

Of course that depends on how much you drink

 

[kymba]

It's just one

i can stop any time i want

 

[micblair]

Starsan solutions are reusable, and if something is already relatively clean (distinct from sanitary) such as PET caps, I would have no qualms reusing sanitizer solution. I recently brewed with a friend of mine who is microbiologist, they swear by 70-80% ethanol-water solutions. I use the generic sanitizing solution for large volume things i.e. kegs, cubes, fermenters etc. but for surface jobs I think ethanol-water is nice as it evaporates faster relative to a starsan solution. I'm also thinking of using EtOH/H20 mix for storing my 1 micron cartridge filter in as I'm concerned the fragrance or chemical used in the generic starsan hangs around.

 

[DL]

Starsan solutions are reusable, and if something is already relatively clean (distinct from sanitary) such as PET caps, I would have no qualms reusing sanitizer solution. I recently brewed with a friend of mine who is microbiologist, they swear by 70-80% ethanol-water solutions. I use the generic sanitizing solution for large volume things i.e. kegs, cubes, fermenters etc. but for surface jobs I think ethanol-water is nice as it evaporates faster relative to a starsan solution. I'm also thinking of using EtOH/H20 mix for storing my 1 micron cartridge filter in as I'm concerned the fragrance or chemical used in the generic starsan hangs around.

Where do you get your 70%+ ethanol/water solution? How does it work out on price compared to starsan. The fast evaporoation sounds good.

 

[Maheel]

It's just one

i can stop any time i want

I'm right to drive

 

[wbosher]

I got home from work and my wife had bought me a doz Pils, so that bottle's got a reprieve for a couple more days.

Do you have another batch down yet? If so, try to hold off cracking one until you bottle your next batch - that will help get you into a cycle that removes the temptation of cracking one early (since you'll be drinking the previous batch).

I've got one on at the moment, still got a little over a week to go - only been four days. I don't want to get stuck into the bottles, just one as a taster. My birthday is in a few more weeks, want to save them (or at least some of them) for that.