Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

I want to reuse a large number of glass bottlers.

How would you suggest I sterilize them?

It would be nice if I could rinse them a bit and then pipe steam into them for 10 minutes or so.

That way I dont have to use any chemicals that might leave residue.

It's a tight opening (about the size of a gallon milk jug's opening)

Any ideas?

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Could you dip them in boiling water?

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

When sanitizing bottles for homebrewing (which I don't do anymore, kegging now, thank gawd), I always use IODOPHOR BTF sanitizer. Just make a solution in a 5-gallon bucket, wash and then rinse the bottles in the solution for about a minute, drain and let dry. No residue - you're good to go. I've never had a contamination problem when using this stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodophor

http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingc...hor__54532.jpg

You can order this stuff online from any homebrew supplier.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Use a dishwasher

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Doesn't work to sterilize - that's why bars and restaurants have special sterilizing equipment.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

When canning, we simply submerge the glass jars in boiling water for 10 minutes.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2368771_ster...re-cooker.html

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

I can only sterilize the small bottles in the liquid bath like canning.

But most bottles are gallon size jugs

The BTF thing looks good, I will check that out. Thanks Drumblebum

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Oven works too.....

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Just get a bigger pot. When I was a kid, we boiled water in a metal garbage can for dyeing cloth and sterilizing large amounts of fabric.

Interesting issue this one... I hope we never need to learn to live without modern entrapments again.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Wouldn't a bleach/water bath take care of it?

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Have you considered inserting stimulus funds into the bottles? Anything that grows in that environment is bound to be temporary.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

When canning I usually wash thoroughly, then stick in the over at about 250-300* till needed, Usually about 10-20 mins.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

3 1/2 hours at 350 degrees will sterilize your bottles, if they're clean.

Anything less and you risk wild yeast contamination.

As I trust you are already aware, for most applications, absolute sterilization is overkill.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Do those turkey cookers get hot enough to boil water? Gallon jugs should fit in those cookers.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

fillem with H2O/bleach solution[1C to 5 gal. is my memory].

letem sit overnite then rinse w/ u'r first hotwater out of the hotwater heater the next day[as that water is sanitized from sitting hot overnite].

did this to brew; is probably overkill too though.

if u want them sterile put them in a pressure cooker; or the oven method above sounds easier.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Go to the local hospital and tell them you need access to their gamma source.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

You probably should not use heat unless the bottles were specifically made to withstand heat. Mason jars are good to go, but cheaper types of glass will sometimes break.

Chlorine bleach will leave a residue if it's strong enough to do the job. That is why a lot of people only drink bottled beer in a bar. The glasses often have enough bleach stuck to them to make a person sick. (Ask me how I know that.)

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

The best, most effective, and easiest way by far is Star San or Iodophor like Drumblebum recommended. In a pinch, your dishwasher on the highest heat setting will work just fine.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Use the bleach solution then rinse with boiled water. Farm supply stores have cheap iodine solutions if you want to get fancy.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

That is what ozone is for. Bottled water companies use it all the time.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

i used the same stuff when i used to homebrew

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

do you have a dish machine????
I think it should have sanitize option,and yes I know sanitize is not sterilize but you can run 2 cycles

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

As long as they aren't horribly dirty, you can use the heat/dry cycle of your dishwasher. I've seen that suggested for homebrewing.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Or Iodophor's acidic cousin:

Star San - Food grade Phosphoric acid.

http://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/images/StarSan.jpg


This one foams a bit so those bubbles get everywhere. It lowers the PH of the nasties environment for some serious vacuole popping action!

Duh I just saw Vaughn's post now.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

I would 2nd StarSan. This is all I use for homebrewing. I have yet to have any contamination issues. I pour it into my 5gal carboys swish it around, dump out the excess, and let them rest until they are needed.

It does not leave any taste in the bottles. If you use distilled water and seal the container, this stuff will last a while after you make a batch.

1oz will give you a 5 gal batch of sanitizer. It needs max 1 to 2 minute contact time.

I tried using Iodine, but I did not like the smell. I wouldn't use chlorine in stuff stored for long periods, I can't stand the smell.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

If you mean sterilize in the true sense of the word then a pressure cooker, if you meant sanitize as in aseptic then the chemical sanitizers above are recommended.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

I have a whole bottle of StarSan in my brewing supplies. I used it once to sanitize for brewing. I may have applied it wrong, but my batch foamed up and blew out my airlock - big mess... thankfully my primary was in the bathtub so cleaning it up was no big deal. Went back to Iodophor with satisfactory results. Lots of people swear by StarSan, so I'm not going to bash it... I'm sure my experience was due to operator error.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

What were you making, a hefe? :)

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

I've never had that happen, but I don't have many batches under my belt.

I would guess, though, that was some damn good yeast!

Do you add pure oxygen to your wort? That makes the yeasties go crazy.

I'm still using a bottle that was opened 5 yrs ago. I was hestitant, but gave it a whirl. I had no issues with contamination. :23_30_104:

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

The yeast will also go nuts over a wheat or a hefe - you gotta watch out sometimes and use a big plastic tube ending in a dish of sanitizer instead of a bubbler for the first 24-48 hours. Otherwise you get splattered shower doors like Drumblebum :)

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

nah... it was an IPA I was trying to hit out of the park - OG of 1.080. Two containers of Whitelabs 001. I didn't oxygenate, but I did aerate it pretty good before pitching.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

This is what blowoff tubes are for :) use one for the first few days on every batch just in case!

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

What size carboy or fermentation vessel were you using?

I use atleast a 6 gal glass or my 7.5 bucket.

My most vigorous ferments have always occurred with the liquid yeasts.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

6.5 gallon glass carboy, now. I was using a 6.5 gallon brew bucket at the time. The only time I've ever had this happen was when I used StarSan - usually I have plenty of headspace on a 5 gallon batch even with a very vigorous fermentation.

Wow... methinks we derailed the OP's thread! Sorry Darkside...

Perhaps this discussion could be continued, if necessary, here

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

You had to know that a "sterilize some bottles" thread would get overrun by homebrewers :)

At any rate, I do believe the best sterilization tactics have already been posted.

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?

Have them grown up near a power plant....

Re: Whats a good way to sterilize some bottles?
 

i think in a pinch an automobile dashboard - in the sun - can generate some bacteria-unfriendly temperatures.