Yeast washing

[Price777]

Is yeast washing worth it or is it easy and cheap enough just to go out and buy it

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Yeast "rinsing" is very easy to do and can save you a lot of money.
2 x 2li glass jars come in very handy. Top tip...go to your local "cash and carry" and buy 2 large (2li) jars or pickles. Decant the pickles into smaller jars.
Keep the jars

 

[Flatline9]

Especially once you move onto liquid yeasts which are ~£7 on average, it's great to be able to store the yeast and use it multiple times. I frequently split my 23L batches into two fermentors so I can pitch two different yeasts and see how they turn out. Great way to learn about different strains and their flavours.

 

[DoctorMick]

Reusing yeast isn't the same as washing yeast, you don't need to wash yeast to store it and reuse it in a future brew. A lot of respected sources don't recommend washing yeast anymore, in most cases it is better to store yeast under beer.

Yeast certainly isn't cheap so finding a way to reuse it makes sense. Personally, I prefer overbuilding but top cropping or harvesting after fermentation are both techniques that work.

 

[JapanBrew]

Reusing yeast isn't the same as washing yeast, you don't need to wash yeast to store it and reuse it in a future brew. A lot of respected sources don't recommend washing yeast anymore, in most cases it is better to store yeast under beer.

Yeast certainly isn't cheap so finding a way to reuse it makes sense. Personally, I prefer overbuilding but top cropping or harvesting after fermentation are both techniques that work.

He's right. I used to wash mine but the ones I did that with had a higher percentage of short shelf life. You can decant but then I like to give it some wort to work on and store with. All those ones stay healthy for a long time.

 

[TheQuokka]

A great article on yeast propagation here, though I admit it is a little on the technical side : https://www.maltosefalcons.com/tech/yeast-propagation-and-maintenance-principles-and-practices

For simple yeast washing, with pictures: http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/55409-rinsing-yeast-in-pictures/

 

[trueblue]

Sorry to be pedantic but that is yeast rinsing. Yeast washing involves using acids and is more complicated.