When's best to sterilize?

[bigdave]

Im about to start my first brew and although Im aware I need to sterilize my shiny new equipment I dont really know when to do it? Do I sterilize everything before I even touch the kit or sterilize as I go? eg; wait till its time to siphon before sterilizing the piping and barrel etc...

[trucker5774]

Any new kit, give it a really good clean. Sanitise as you need stuff the later the better so as not to expose the equipment after treatment

[Hoodlum]

although you will tend to find that you will get yourself into a routine - | tend to mix up a gallon of sterilising solution, throw everything I will need to use into it, and use it to sterilise the utensils prior to starting the session.

What goes in?

Spoons,
Fiahtank heaters,
Lids,
can openers,
Thermometers,
Hydrometer - although make sure the cleaning solution isn't so hot as to crack it.

Anything that will touch your beer should get a good sterilising. Don't forget to rinse well either.

[trucker5774]

I should have mentioned the above.................I leave everything in soak between brews...........the point I was wanting you to get is not to sanitise then leave things lying around

[bigdave]

Thanks for the replies. So if I buy a bucket, make up some steriliser chuck everything in and just leave it there till its needed?

[trucker5774]

Be sure to rinse well if that is what the sanitiser instruction state. Many of us use a 1% soulution of cheap thin bleach (not the thick scented type)

[Hoodlum]

not indefinitely. Make it up before a session - i'm not sure of the science but i think in simple terms the older the solution the less effective it becomes, and it will eat your utensils if you leave them in it over an extended time.

Told you it wasn't that scientific!

[trucker5774]

As stated you will find what suits you. A soak the night before will be plenty and a good rinse on brew day.................enjoy

[bigdave]

I think what I will try is to sterilise everything and leave it all submerged in a bucket of water till I need it. It'll only be in there until the time I need that particular item then once used I'll simply wash and pack away until the next brew. Does that sound like a good plan?

[trucker5774]

Sounds good Dave. My brews are pretty close together so I have things in rotation. Don't worry too much about the technialities...............it's harder to make bad beer than drinkable beer

[dedken]

Interesting.... When i did my first brew my advisor told me not to worry about sterilising new equipment since nothing biologically dodgy has touched it yet. I followed his advice and everything went perfectly ending up with a Wherry which after 7 weeks tastes really really great. Also until recently I didn't bother to sterilise my glass bottles when reusing them, just gave them a damn good rinsing straight after initial use (nothing untoward has ever happened). You can also use your fermentation vessel for mass sterilising bottles as i now do - getting a bottle drainer is helpful if you do that though

additional advice: If you want to have a look in your fv don't pull the lid completely off because the layer of CO2 will escape and that is what is protecting the fermenting wort from any nasties in the atmosphere!