Sterilizing vials

[Cumminstech]

I am about to do my first home brew and had a plan to sterilize vials. Wanted to run it by you guys to make sure that my plan sounds ok.

I was thinking that I would run my vials in a dishwasher first, and then rinse the vials and rubber stoppers in isopropyl alcohol. Put them upside down on paper towel to dry and once they are dry, cover the tops of the vials with aluminum foil and put them in the oven at 200 degrees for 1 hour.

I didn’t want to go too hot in the oven because I was told it could burn the vials and darken them, especially if there’s any residual moisture on them.

The oven will be thoroughly cleaned prior to baking the vials.

once the vials are full and crimped, I have been looking into a second bake for insurance? With the flip off tops being plastic, would they not just melt?

thanks guys!

 

[Cumminstech]

Might make that 250 degrees for 2 hours in the oven?

 

[Duke Nukem]

I bake the vials at around 375f for an hour, no discoloration issues. I don't see the need to bake the vials again after filled and crimped, just asking for trouble imo.

 

[Hollow123]

This is what I do buddy, dead easy. Never had a problem

- Stainless Bowl of soap and water - wash the vials and stoppers
- Stainless Bowl of IPA - Soak vials and stoppers (Normally around 45mins or so)
- Stainless Bowl of Distilled water - Rinse vials and transfer to baking tray

I normally bake the vials first and then the stoppers after.

Baking Tray - Layer of tin foil on the bottom, stand the vials upright as normal, Layer of tin foil over the top.

Bake for around an hour at 375

Then i do the stoppers,

Stainless bowl of Distilled Water - Rinse Stoppers and transfer to baking tray.

Baking Tray - Wrap the stoppers in a tin foil pouch, not too tight but not open too.

Normally around 300, I normally do them for around 45mins or so, what i do is bring them out, open the tin foil and check there is no moisture on them, if there is slight droplets of distilled water i just wrap the tinfoil back up and chuck them back in for another 15mins or so. So while the stoppers are baking I just leave the glass vials on the side still covered.

Dead easy.

EDIT: Just to add i don't dry my vials at all once they come out the distilled water, I literally just hold them upside down and shake them about a little to get most of the water off.

EDIT2: Just to add as well, I do all my glass wear as above pretty much and I use a separate oven for this, so i have a 30L mini oven that i bought purposely for home brewing, will attach a piccy of something similar i use for you.

 

[Navysquid]

Stupid question but would assume a pressure cooker like a instapot that can produce steam and heat may not work? Would the pressure break the vials?