Yeast and Zip Lock baggies

Ingredients
21

This sounds like one of the easiest methods I’ve heard of to save and reuse yeast.  I’m definitely going to give it a shot!  Thanks for the tip, Crispy!

22

Sure beats having a glass jar “puff up” on you. I may have to retire my jars.

23

Great idea.
Also when pitching it would make it very clean.
Thank you

24

I try to use the yeast within a month. I have, on occassion, dumped it into a flask and stired it with some fresh DME and water to get it going, but only rarely.

Just two weeks ago I used a baggie of 1056 that was from July (Late October when used, so 14-15 weeks, and it did fine. Slower than usual signs of activity (a little at 36 hours, good robust krausen at 4 days). However, I have also thrown out baggies as they got older and just said hell with it, I am going to get some fresh.

25

Cool! I have thought about doing this, but wasn’t sure how clean the bags were. I may just take some sterile bags we have here at work that we no longer use!  ;D

26

I just did the ziplock baggie thing for the first time a few days ago with some Wyeast 1214.  I’m planning on saving some 1272 using this method next week.

27

I decided to do an experiment:

I swabbed the inside of three one gallon ziplock bags and plated on blood agar. Incubating at 30-35. I let you know what, if anything shows up in a few days.

Not doubting that they are sanitary. I just was curious.

28

Thank you for doing that

29

thanks roff

merely posting to get a notification  ::slight_smile:

30

I feel used… :cry:

31

Wow, another idea that is just too simple for me to figure out. I tend to over think! Thanks…

32

I looked at the plates today and…no growth. Three days is usually plenty of time for most organisms. I’ll hold on to the plates to see if anything shows up. The bags sampled were “Ziploc” one gallon. I’d say they’re pretty clean, and I’ll be using this method in the future.

33

Great info!  Thanks, Travis!
Gail

34

Thanks for the experiment!  Now, at the very least, we know Crispy can tell when a beer isn’t infected!  :wink:

35

Thank you roffenburger.

36

No problem!!

37

Ironically enough, I just finished sterilizing my new mason jars as part of my next homebrew foray into yeast repitching when I stumbled across this thread.The Ziploc technique sounds pretty flawless. Has anyone used the technique to rinse yeast? Maybe dumping the trub out of the sanitized and cut corner of the bag and then diverting the flow of clean yeast into a new sterile Ziploc? I’m actually planning on harvesting today or tomorrow so all of your experienced input is welcome!
Thanks-
Greg

38

…could see ziplock baggies being handy in a pinch.

I like to use sanitized 1 liter seltzer bottles for harvesting yeast slurries…I get to drink the contents plus they are easy to sanitize, label and reuse.  It’s also nice to know that when I retire them, I can just pitch them in the recycling.

39

When using this method, are you taking out of the refrigerator to let them warm up and if so, how long before?  I have to bottle an Amber Ale this weekend and use then pitch that yeast on a winter warmer, but I was hoping not to do them in the same day.  Bottle on Friday, store yeast in ziplock in fridge, then pitch into new beer on Sunday.  Would I need a min-starter to wake them up?

40

I always prefer to take the yeast right out of the fridge and pitch when it’s still cold.  I’ve seen enough evidence that it’s a better way to do it that I’m convinced…not to mention that I’ve had great success doing that.