(Video) - Reusing FF Culture Cups - How To

[hutch0203]

[youtube]uF2Xlz4AJPQ[/youtube]

Have to say thanks to my 10 year old for helping record. He did very well.

[Philsuma]

Excellent ! Pretty much how I do, as well.

[IDPM]

I'd never get away with putting used cups in the freezer. I know a lot of you do it and it must work well. I just stack mine out in the garage until I'm out of cups (60 or so cups in play) and then it's wash day. I'll grab the oldest half of the stack and clean thoose. When the culture is totally dry the excelsior turns into a brillo pad, a couple twists and all the crap comes out of the bottom and off the sides. Off to the sink for an easy wash. This usually gets me by for a 3-4 weeks.

I've heard of people putting cups in dishwashers. Have any of you tried it? I'm afraid they'd melt.

[pa.walt]

i usually just let my cups go dry. then pretty much pull everything out.
about the water use couldn't just put some hot water in the cup and let it sit for a bit and it would loosen up. OR just put the cups upside down and with the room temp it will slide out when it gets warm enough.
i myself would be able to do these things because i live on my own. it helps if you have an understanding significant other. that is if you have one. (understanding significant other)

[IDPM]

That video was the first time I've seen the freeze process. Read about it a lot. It does look easy but unless I can get rid of my wife it aint happening.

[hutch0203]

I tried drying mine out but it stunk up my garage to high heaven. Our deep freezer is full of stuff my fiance don't eat like pork,fish, and wild game so she does not care what I put out there. Also this way I can cycle my cups faster without having so many at a time. I have three sets of ten being cultured (each different ages) while 12 to 15 are in the freezer.

[outofreach]

I just put them in the back yard and fill the old cultures with water. About an hour later pull the elixsor ( can't spell ) out and hose out the cup. They seem to come pretty clean, then take inside and wash. I just do it weekly when I make cultures.

To make 6 cultures and wash cups takes like 15 minutes.

[Philsuma]

yeah, the freezing is not 100% nessa. I like it when I have semi-mite-y cx's and then I just pop them into the freezer to kill the mites, but yes, you can clean out the old cx's just as easily in other manners.

Point is, re-use people....it's easy to do.

[outofreach]

yeah, the freezing is not 100% nessa. I like it when I have semi-mite-y cx's and then I just pop them into the freezer to kill the mites, but yes, you can clean out the old cx's just as easily in other manners.

Point it, re-use people....it's easy to do.

So the freezing is to kill the mites, ooohh.

Am i creating a problem with my method?

I seem to have lots of lizards in the backyard, fat ones....

[Philsuma]

nah...I don't think that's a problem. I wonder how long it takes excelsior (wood shavings) to fully decompose ? Probably not too long...

[hutch0203]

I mainly freeze to make it easier to clean out the cups and it does not smell as bad. Killing anything unwanted is a bonus I guess.

[outofreach]

I mainly freeze to make it easier to clean out the cups and it does not smell as bad. Killing anything unwanted is a bonus I guess.

I think you have the better method for sure. I just don't have spare freezer but thinking about getting one now though.
I'm running out of room around here.....

[hutch0203]

I hear ya about the space. I'm lucky to have an enclosed back porch we don't use for much so it sits out there.

[RichFrye]

If you have the room, it does not really get easier than setting aside the cultures without the lids on, waiting until the culture is fully dried out (time just depends on the season and amount of RH) turn cup up side down and tap out puck. Cleaning? No.
Residual yeast (good) and mites (somewhat 'bad') will get into the cultures anyway. I've have never had what I would consider an FF mite problem, never.
It does not get greener than that.

[fishguyturnedfrog]

I've had a few old cultures sitting around a few months. They were completely dried out. I pulled the excelsior and it pulls most of the media out if there's any left. I soaked them for a couple hours and started with HOT water. I then used my dishwasher with no soap. I've got a roll around dishwasher that hooks to my kitchen sink so I used cold water and got everything looking brand new including the lids.

[ColleenT]

so no one uses bleach in the water to kill anything nasty? i was wondering if that was necessary. the lid on one of my Hydei cultures is extremely discolored/ i plan to split that culture today. i might just put a new lid on it so they can breathe, and wash the dirty lid.

[Philsuma]

There are really no 'nasties'. Heck, a few people reuse cups with little to no washing. I am more than ok with very hot water from the faucet. Power spray the cup and lid. Easy peasy.