Sterilizing Vials

[kmh1234]

Can someone please step by step explain how to sterilize vials/stoppers with a pressure cooker and/or a oven?

 

[boxer15]

If your pressure cooker can't reach 121 C @ 15psi then your not really sterilizing since some spores and bacteria can survive lower temps. I would just purchase sterilized vials for peace of mind. Last thing you want is to get an abscess or infection

 

[KW199]

Sterilization Techniques
Sterilization refers to any process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents present in a specified region, such as a surface, a volume of fluid, medication or compound.

Steam (autoclave/pressure cooker)
Using steam is a more effective way of sterilizing your vials as steam transfers heat at a much more efficient rate. Typically an autoclave is preferred, as it has an automatic dry cycle. I use a pressure cooker, and for those of you skeptical, here's a study. And another study.

1. Get your pressure cooker/autoclave. If using a pressure cooker, use at least 15psi.
2. Place empty vials AND rubber stoppers into device. Glass media bottles will also need sterilized. (we cannot dry heat sterilize the rubber stoppers because well... 400* of oven heat)
3. One cycle of an autoclave, 20 minutes once the pressure cooker reaches 15psi.
4. I find there is some condensation on the vials when I pull them from my pressure cooker, I just nuke them in the microwave for a few minutes to get rid of this. (It's sterile water at that point). If you want, you can bake them in the oven at 400* until the condensation is gone. (I have moved from the microwave to baking them, microwave still works fine though)

Dry Heat

1. Collect the vials and the receiver bottle (if using the glass one recommended. If you use the plastic one included with some filters it is already sterile) you plan to fill, then grab some more. Sometimes something gets in the vial, you didnt rinse all the alcohol off, etc. Errors happen.
2. Place the vials in a bath of your isopropyl alcohol. If you want to be thorough, get a small brush and go to town.
3. Transfer one vial at a time to a bath of distilled water, make sure to thoroughly rinse off all alcohol. If there is still alcohol on the vial when we put it into the oven there will be a film on the vial.
4. Preheat your oven to 350-400*F while you finish preparing the vials.
5. Get a small, flat baking pan and line the bottom with aluminum foil.
6. Place the vials, opening up, onto your foil.
7. Cover the vials with another piece of tin foil. Do not connect the sides, any evaporating water will need somewhere to go.
8. Set a timer for 30 minutes using 400, 45 minutes for 350. I would not recommend over 400. I have had a vial or two break at 400, I can only assume that more will break at higher temps.
9. During this time, continue the rest of your brewing process.