Baking bottles

[snakesandstuff]

I was reading back in another post about baking bottles to sterilize them, and reading about the problem of the bottles cooling and sucking in microbes etc as they cooled......

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter2-2-3.html has info on sanitizing using an oven. It has a table listing temperatures and times required to sterilize. Also, Palmer mentions covering the bottles with aluminum foil. Makes sense, as this will sterilize the bottles, and the air inside will still be sterile. Of course when you break the seal and start to bottle you'll introduce microbes etc, but this is going to happen regardless how you sanitize your bottles (well, within reason anyway).

[chris1kanobi]

A guy in our brewclub does this and is very happy with the results. I have used the dishwasher before and it works well. Those bottles are just so hot coming out of there, be careful. Starsan rules.

[sullydavid]

This is the only way I have ever steralized bottles. I also do the foil trick if I have some extras or if I steralize on a different day than brewing.


My oven fits exactly a case per shelf (stacked in two rows). On the top shelf I can add one more row and get 9 more bottles for a total of 57 if I had a slightly larger than average batch.

I had heard that the heat makes the bottles weaker, but I am yet to lose one from that.

[Fast_Eddy]

Can I sterilize my plastic buckets this way?? J/K

I've never thought of using the oven for some reason...alternatives are always good.

[sullydavid]

As funny as the bucket question sounds, my dumb ass did have a problem once putting a half dozen EZ-Cap bottles in there that had plastic stoppers.....oops. Chaulk one up for the dummy.

[bierboy]

The problem with using heat to sanitize your bottles is that they will become weaker and weaker each time you do it due to the heat stressing the glass. Down the road, it creates the possibility of bottle bombs, especially if you have a beer that is overcarbonated.

Personally, I prefer iodophor. It is fairly quick and easy. I can get 2 cases sanitized and ready for use in less than 45 min, less if I use 2 pickle buckets instead of one.

[evilredlight]

well I baked my bottles
seemed like a great idea
and it worked iguess none broke in the oven at least
well today was bottling day and I lost 5 FULL bottles to the capper
they just broke off right at the tip

I used two types of bottles, pint bottles i bought from the LHBS
and salvaged bottles from schneider weisse, and I only lost the new ones. I guess they could be a cheaper make?

now I am worried about losing more as bottle bombs
and more when I use the opener.

I don't care about losing the bottles they are $0.50 each
but that precious liquid!!!!!!!!!!

well live and learn

[b3s]

i've done that without baking the bottles...one batch i lost six to the evil capper!

[BigRed]

The only way I sanitize my bottles is with an oven.

I use a little trick to sanitize them faster - leave enough water in the bottom so that when the bottle is horizontal it wont spill out - then bake. The water will boil and the steam it produces will help kill any nasties. I have used this twice and have not had one problem out of it.

[evilredlight]

big red
how long do you bake, and how hot?

[danno]

it's been awhile since I've bottled, but I've used the oven technique successfully too. I jam my oven full of bottles, (2 cases fits on one shelf, barely...) turn it on to 300º for about an hour. I usually do this either the night before I bottle, or early in the morning the day I bottle.

Another trick that I'm not sure I've seen mentioned, the best place to actually bottle is on the door of your dishwasher, then there's zero cleanup, just shut the door....

[BigRed]

Originally posted by evilredlight
big red
how long do you bake, and how hot?

Usually, at 350 F for about 15-20 mins, depending on what kind of rush Im in

[b3s]

when i've baked bottles, i've always laid them on their sides so they don't fall over. 300F for 45 minutes, and i usually leave them in the oven to cool until i use them.