Just wondering if using a beaker for starters has any inherent problems that I’m not considering. A 2L Bomex beaker can be purchased for less than $8. I would be using the beaker with a stir plate.
CYO
cover your orifice.
I don’t see why it would make a difference what you use so long as you can cover the top and have it work on your stir plate. I used a gallon jug and a gallon plastic pail before.
Another thought would be in handling. It’s easy to grab a flask by the neck with an over mitt. You’ll probably need two hands with a beaker. Could be awkward after boiling.
I use 1L beakers to rehydrate dry yeast.
I use erlenmyer flasks to grow up starters (from slants), but have switched to 1.5L wine jugs for the final step with starters. When starting from a smak-pack it goes straight into a wine jug.
Cheap and easy wine jugs are.
Invest in some flask tongs. They are cheap too.
I don’t boil in them but I use .5 gallon mason jars for my starters. Once I get organized I intend to run off some extra wort from each light colored mash and preasure can 1 quart per half gallon jar so it’s just a matter of pulling the jar out of the cupboard, cracking the seal, pitching the yeast and done. Drop the dome lid losely on top and I won’t even need sanitized foil. my preasure canner will handle 2 or 3 half gallons which is really all I should need from any given brew day
You’re using a stirplate with the mason jars? I thought their bottoms were concave.
You can use a double boiler for the beakers.
I use sanitized wide-mouth mason jars and just pour the boiling wort in there. Cover the top loosely with the lid and cool in water bath. Pitch yeast and cover with foil.
nope, don’t use a stir plate. I shake it up everytime I walk past and my wife has standing orders to do the same. I don’t know that I beleive that you really get much o2 into the wort with a stir plate, particularly in a flask. I am sure there is some but I feel like a good shake now and again will get the air above the wort more saturated with o2 than the constant gentle spinning of the stir plate. I have 0 science to support this however.
EDIT to be pedantic about my own post
I suspect that ‘more saturated’ is not a valid phrase in the same way ‘more unique’ is not valid. I appologize.
Also, in reference to the SWMBO thread, Let me change ‘Standing Order’ to ‘Standing Request’ 
Recently on Brewstrong they said they got more ppm O2 from flooding the headspace and using a mixstir than using an oxygen stone.