Pressure cooker for sterilizing vials

[Bootybeaver]

Read allot about people using pressure cookers for an autoclave. I was curious if anyone had any experience with this, and if they knew approx what size pressure cooker you would need to autoclave 50 vials at a time?

much appreciated!

 

[FR0Z3N_B0MB3RRR]

I would bake for 15 min at 120 C in the oven

 

[Bootybeaver]

I would bake for 15 min at 120 C in the oven

Well ya I know that, i know how to brew bro, that’s why I was very specific with my question. If I wanted general brewing information I could have read any number of threads. I appreciate the response man, but, I want to be more thorough with my sterilization moving forward as I’m not just brewing for myself anymore... I’m not ok taking risks with other people’s health for any reason, even if I’ve never Personally had a problem using ovens in the past. I have a standard batch size and I want to be able to get all my vials done in one round so to be efficient with my time. That’s the premise of my question.

 

[FR0Z3N_B0MB3RRR]

We re on the same boat man..

anyway.. Utah university.. sounds trustworthy

Sterilizing Liquids <— this involved liquid filled vials but it wont change setup

 

[Bootybeaver]

I would bake for 15 min at 120 C in the oven

Additionally, most of the information I have read suggest more heat and longer time periods than that.... don’t know exactly what the temperature floor threshold is for sterilizing, but I air on the side of caution personally. Rather too hot and too long than too short and not enough.

We re on the same boat man..

anyway.. Utah university.. sounds trustworthy

Sterilizing Liquids <— this involved liquid filled vials but it wont change setup

thanks man. I’ll check it out.

 

[Clamslaps]

Additionally, most of the information I have read suggest more heat and longer time periods than that.... don’t know exactly what the temperature floor threshold is for sterilizing, but I air on the side of caution personally. Rather too hot and too long than too short and not enough.

thanks man. I’ll check it out.

The only difference between a real autoclave and a pressure cooker (well the main difference), is pressure. Most pressure cooker won't get to the needed 15psi. You can get pretty much, basically sterile with less, but you need to leave it in there mych longer to penetrate many strains of staph.

I have had success autoclaving at 12psi for 1 hour.

If you want to test the efficiency of your pressure cooker, make an agar solution with glucose and sheep's blood, pressure cook then place in a cool dark place for 2 weeks. If it was sealed properly so no contaminants could enter it will appear exactly the same as when you cooked it, if there's contaminants they will show.

 

[Bootybeaver]

The only difference between a real autoclave and a pressure cooker (well the main difference), is pressure. Most pressure cooker won't get to the needed 15psi. You can get pretty much, basically sterile with less, but you need to leave it in there mych longer to penetrate many strains of staph.

I have had success autoclaving at 12psi for 1 hour.

If you want to test the efficiency of your pressure cooker, make an agar solution with glucose and sheep's blood, pressure cook then place in a cool dark place for 2 weeks. If it was sealed properly so no contaminants could enter it will appear exactly the same as when you cooked it, if there's contaminants they will show.

Ok so, you may know the answer to the original Question I asked. What size autoclave or pressure cooker, assuming it gets to 15psi which some do, how many quarts would I need for 50 vials?

 

[Clamslaps]

Ok so, you may know the answer to the original Question I asked. What size autoclave or pressure cooker, assuming it gets to 15psi which some do, how many quarts would I need for 50 vials?

That's a tough one, I just use my instapot for when I used to grow mushrooms. When I've used an actual autoclave it's been the shelf kind and those are the size of the fridge.

You can always put a shit load of empty vials in covered with aluminum foil, then do a whole flask of oil, then in a clean environment wearing an n95 fill them individually. I've had success doing that with agar and had zero contam.

 

[Bootybeaver]

That's a tough one, I just use my instapot for when I used to grow mushrooms. When I've used an actual autoclave it's been the shelf kind and those are the size of the fridge.

You can always put a shit load of empty vials in covered with aluminum foil, then do a whole flask of oil, then in a clean environment wearing an n95 fill them individually. I've had success doing that with agar and had zero contam.

Where you have access to that kind of autoclave. That would be tha shit.

So my question is how many quarts is your insta and how many vials can you fit in there. And can you elaborate a little on the last paragraph. Cover each with foil just like I do when I use the oven, Then just pile em into the cooker with a flask of oil? Why put a flask of oil in there? I’m just trying to sterilize my vials before I fill them cuz I am brewing for a few people right now and I want to sterilize them more effectively, more efficiently, and faster than using an oven since it’s not just my ass on the line anymore (pun intended). I let my finished and capped vials sit for a couple weeks as is recommended by a couple people here to let the BA do its job before I or anyone else starts pinning it. Are you talking about putting just the carrier oil in prior to brewing it, or the finished oil? I don’t think certain things can be put in the cooker without degrading the hormone, such as tren.

 

[Clamslaps]

Where you have access to that kind of autoclave. That would be tha shit.

So my question is how many quarts is your insta and how many vials can you fit in there. And can you elaborate a little on the last paragraph. Cover each with foil just like I do when I use the oven, Then just pile em into the cooker with a flask of oil? Why put a flask of oil in there? I’m just trying to sterilize my vials before I fill them cuz I am brewing for a few people right now and I want to sterilize them more effectively, more efficiently, and faster than using an oven since it’s not just my ass on the line anymore (pun intended). I let my finished and capped vials sit for a couple weeks as is recommended by a couple people here to let the BA do its job before I or anyone else starts pinning it. Are you talking about putting just the carrier oil in prior to brewing it, or the finished oil? I don’t think certain things can be put in the cooker without degrading the hormone, such as tren.

My wife's school had one I used to sneak into :/

If you're just cleaning glassware, you could probably fit 40 vials in an instapot.

 

[Bootybeaver]

Ok. They come in a few different sizes, but I think but the biggest is a 10 quart, so if I go with that size Pressure cooker it will be at least big enough I think.

do I need to keep them seperated? Or can I just pile em in? I can’t seem to find any clear info on how to doing it properly.

 

[Clamslaps]

Ok. They come in a few different sizes, but I think but the biggest is a 10 quart, so if I go with that size Pressure cooker it will be at least big enough I think.

do I need to keep them seperated? Or can I just pile em in? I can’t seem to find any clear info on how to doing it properly.

As long as they are raised a couple inches from the bottom you can just pile 'em in, the heat will kill any germs, the pressure will penetrate the especially nasty germs. As long as there is consistent pressure for a long enough period of time, no matter how you orient it everything will end up medically sterile.

 

[Bootybeaver]

Ok cool bro. Thank you!

 

[Clamslaps]

Ok cool bro. Thank you!

Remember too that drying and depressurizing is necessary. After the cooker is done, let it sit for about 30 minutes.

 

[Clamslaps]

Ok cool bro. Thank you!

BTW down the road, look into getting a a vacuum pump and large media membrane filter disks. You can make a gallon or two at a time without ruining your wrists.

 

[Bootybeaver]

Remember too that drying and depressurizing is necessary. After the cooker is done, let it sit for about 30 minutes.

thanks man. Yeah I was reading up on that aspect. Good looking out.

BTW down the road, look into getting a a vacuum pump and large media membrane filter disks. You can make a gallon or two at a time without ruining your wrists.

Right now I use disposable bottle tops 500ml since my batches aren’t more than that, but I also use a hand vacuum pump cuz I’m worried using an electric pump will be too much pressure on the plastic. 500ml doesn’t take too much time but it’s still super Tedious and annoying. But large media membrane filter disks, solid suggestion....

 

[Clamslaps]

thanks man. Yeah I was reading up on that aspect. Good looking out.

Good vaccuum pump will have a regulator, you can run it at 20-30psi.

Right now I use disposable bottle tops 500ml since my batches aren’t more than that, but I also use a hand vacuum pump cuz I’m worried using an electric pump will be too much pressure on the plastic. 500ml doesn’t take too much time but it’s still super Tedious and annoying. But large media membrane filter disks, solid suggestion....

 

[master.on]

Remember too that drying and depressurizing is necessary. After the cooker is done, let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Soak the vials in 70% alcohol and they will quickly dry.
The alcohol provides some additional sterilization too.

 

[Bootybeaver]

Soak the vials in 70% alcohol and they will quickly dry.
The alcohol provides some additional sterilization too.

Yup I would hope so.... if you read to the original question in the thread, it pertains specifically to trying to figure out a size of pressure cooker to accommodate my needs. I have a bit of experience in brewing, I’m not gonna just come on hear and ask someone to hold my hand and walk me through the brewing process without a strong understand of the techniques and standard procedures. But I do appreciate the fact you spent time contributing to my knowledge. The current conversation is about other changes I can make to my setup to become more efficient..... thank you for the input.

 

[Clamslaps]

Soak the vials in 70% alcohol and they will quickly dry.
The alcohol provides some additional sterilization too.

Hoo boy... I wouldn't recommend this as anything put through an autoclave is considered medically sterile and proper lab practice would never place it in a solvent or solution to further sterilize. If the pressure cooker isn't killing everything, no point in using a pressure cooker.