Iodophor

[No Outlet Brewing]

Can you use iodophor in place of Starsan as your "everyday" sanitizer or is it best to use Starsan on brew day? Will the scent or taste of iodine transfer to the final product if used at recommended levels? Due to a recent infected batch I have switched to the stronger iodophor for sanitizing and just wondering if I should just switch to it for most applications where sanitizing is necessary.

 

[Sunfire96]

You can use iodophor as your regular sanitizer. It will stain plastics if left in contact for too long, however. But I've never noticed lingering flavor or aroma from it.

 

[Minbari]

I have used it for everything before as well. I am a little paranoid about rinsing more with it. But it says that you don't have to.

I think the caviet with it is that you have to make it fresh as the iodine will evaporate. Whereas starsan will keep nearly indefinitely

 

[Sunfire96]

I have used it for everything before as well. I am a little paranoid about rinsing more with it. But it says that you don't have to.

I think the caviet with it is that you have to make it fresh as the iodine will evaporate. Whereas starsan will keep nearly indefinitely

No need to rinse it, kinda defeats the point of a no rinse sanitizer. Also it will keep a pretty long time as long as it's kept out of direct light. A brown 64 oz growler is a great storage vessel for it. Also over time I've learned what color it should be and can add a few drops to get back up to strength. I definitely prefer iodophor to starsan

 

[Josh Hughes]

No flavor issues for me either and I don’t even let it dry

 

[Donoroto]

I let it drip for a while but it generally does not fully dry. But I also use starsan.

 

[Josh Hughes]

I let it drip for a while but it generally does not fully dry. But I also use starsan.

Same I use both as well.

 

[Brownyard]

If you use both, do you just use one right after the other while still wet?

 

[Josh Hughes]

If you use both, do you just use one right after the other while still wet?

Yes still wet. But I don’t always use both. But I do usually use both in my fermenter. Iodophor first then star San. In kegs I drink out of I just use star San. BUT I do use both on my fermentation kegs every time. I put them on a keg washer. Clean up the visible stuff. Run PBW for 15 minutes. Run iodophor for 15 minutes. Last star San for 15 minutes and then I close the lid.

 

[Minbari]

If you use both, do you just use one right after the other while still wet?

Yup, rinse out the iodofor with the starsan and pour in the beer to the fermentor or keg while wet

@Josh Hughes not sure why i never thought of doing that. I always clean my fermentors by hand, but I have a keg washer with a CIP ball on it.

 

[Donoroto]

If you use both, do you just use one right after the other while still wet?

I have not yet used both at the same time. Either one or the other.

 

[Nosybear]

Yup, rinse out the iodofor with the starsan and pour in the beer to the fermentor or keg while wet

@Josh Hughes not sure why i never thought of doing that. I always clean my fermentors by hand, but I have a keg washer with a CIP ball on it.

That's a bit of overkill.... Both Iodophor and StarSan are doing the same thing, just in a different way.

 

[Minbari]

That's a bit of overkill.... Both Iodophor and StarSan are doing the same thing, just in a different way.

Most of the time i just use starsan. But I will soak it in iodofor for a few hours if I suspect a yeast in it that starsan won't kill.

Overkill? Maybe.

 

[Josh Hughes]

That's a bit of overkill.... Both Iodophor and StarSan are doing the same thing, just in a different way.

I’m a paranoid germ a phobe haha. Cover all my bases

 

[Sunfire96]

I've never felt compelled to use both concurrently. I started with iodophor, at some point got some star San instead, and then switched back to iodophor immediately

 

[Brownyard]

I've never felt compelled to use both concurrently. I started with iodophor, at some point got some star San instead, and then switched back to iodophor immediately

Why did you switch back?

 

[Sunfire96]

Why did you switch back?

I feared the foam

I didn't have an infection or anything with Star San, but was used to iodophor at that point and star San looked and acted differently. Also star San doesn't work with every water type, which is not the case with iodophor. It's worth the stained plastic in my opinion

 

[Minbari]

I feared the foam

I didn't have an infection or anything with Star San, but was used to iodophor at that point and star San looked and acted differently. Also star San doesn't work with every water type, which is not the case with iodophor. It's worth the stained plastic in my opinion

if you have hard water, it will precipitate the minerals out of it. but it still works.

 

[Sunfire96]

if you have hard water, it will precipitate the minerals out of it. but it still works.

That's not what I've heard

 

[The Brew Mentor]

Star San for 30 seconds, and keep it wet. Never had an issue.
Cleaning is more important than the type of sanitizer you use though.