Is This Safe - Boiling Water And Plastic?

[LanceDeepwood]

Hi.

After an off batch, I've decided to go all out on the sterilizing. Always seemed daft to me to make everything sterile and then top up with 20 litres or so of unsterile cold water. SO, I've gone through the tedious process of boiling 25 litres of water (took a while), which I intend to let cool over night and then add to my brew in place of the cold tap water.

My question is this; is it safe for this amount of boiling water to be stored in a plastic bucket or could some nasty chemicals potentially mix with my water? It's a homebrew bucket that I have previously used in fermentation. Pretty standard, came with a Woodforde's Wherry starter kit. I figured it would be okay, as I'm usually required to add 2 litres or so of boiling water anyway, but I just wanted to ask to make sure before I add it to my brew and potentially poison myself :-p (but hopefully not!!!).

P.S. does anyone else do this sterilizing all the cold water thing?

 

[phettebs]

I rarely need to use cold water to top up, but when I do, I just take it straight from the tap. I know that's blasphemy to some but I haven't had any problems.

For what it's worth, when I make mead, I just use water straight from the tap. I don't boil or even heat it. No problems but I suppose there is some risk.

 

[alawlor66430]

I've always just used it straight from the tap!!

 

[lukehgriffiths]

Fermenting buckets with kettle elements are the entry level boiler so don't worry that is why theyre called food grade as they don't degrade easily... just avoid the plastic veg oil bottle type demijohn they'll melt out of shape. Not sure on the economics but I used Asda cheapo bottled water rather than boiling loads and waiting an age.... Once power costs considered it might cost similar.

 

[LanceDeepwood]

Fermenting buckets with kettle elements are the entry level boiler so don't worry that is why theyre called food grade as they don't degrade easily... just avoid the plastic veg oil bottle type demijohn they'll melt out of shape. Not sure on the economics but I used Asda cheapo bottled water rather than boiling loads and waiting an age.... Once power costs considered it might cost similar.

Thanks for the advice, but just to clarify, my fermenting bucket doesn't have a built in kettle element, it's just a plain old plastic fermenting bucket that I've filled with boiling water from the kettle. But I'm pretty sure it's 'food grade', so I'm guessing it'll be fine.

 

[alawlor66430]

Aye it'll be fine I think what he was meaning was the ones they fit with elements are the same as the ones without, obviously the other ones are minus the element, but otherwise the same bucket.

 

[lukehgriffiths]

Aye it'll be fine I think what he was meaning was the ones they fit with elements are the same as the ones without, obviously the other ones are minus the element, but otherwise the same bucket.

Yep so obviously nowt to worry about with pouring boiling water in... speaking of pouring in I feel thirsty :drink:

 

[rpt]

I'm not sure that being food grade plastic is enough, since you will be heating it. For example, the plastic containers that take away food comes in are only suitable for reheating food not for cooking it, because the latter gets it much hotter and chemicals can leach from the plastic.

 

[alawlor66430]

I'm not sure that being food grade plastic is enough, since you will be heating it. For example, the plastic containers that take away food comes in are only suitable for reheating food not for cooking it, because the latter gets it much hotter and chemicals can leach from the plastic.

i think he said its a proper fv though, so they're good to go with boiling water.