Flask Sterilization

[Dorchid]

If you say so. Nice copy pasta, btw.

[estación seca]

I wrote that myself. It was a first draft. It's standard teaching. I was doing bacteriology research in the mid 1970s. Autoclave technology was already old then.

[Dorchid]

My point was that steam is more efficient than air at sterilizing things. You had to “correct” me by pointing out that steam is more efficient than air at sterilizing things.

[Johndeaux22]

Though a bigger pressure cooker might be preferred, smaller pressure cookers are often available for less than $50. In fact, Amazon in the US lists over a dozen models for under $40. One may consider multiple runs to sterilize what needs to be done.

[Shado]

Originally Posted by Johndeaux22

Though a bigger pressure cooker might be preferred, smaller pressure cookers are often available for less than $50. In fact, Amazon in the US lists over a dozen models for under $40. One may consider multiple runs to sterilize what needs to be done.

Yeah, might be. Here in germnay they are mostly a lil more pricey.

Also "just" buying a cheaper smaller one is as you said not that smart. I dont wanna wait 40 mins for every single flask xD

Fortunately, i could lend one from my grandma~

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Shado

Yeah, might be. Here in germnay they are mostly a lil more pricey.

Also "just" buying a cheaper smaller one is as you said not that smart. I dont wanna wait 40 mins for every single flask xD

Fortunately, i could lend one from my grandma~

It will vary with the specific flasks used, of course, but a typical household pressure cooker can hold about 5-6 flasks per layer and a couple of layers can be done, using a metal separator.

They need to be treated 15-20 minutes.

[Shado]

Originally Posted by Ray

It will vary with the specific flasks used, of course, but a typical household pressure cooker can hold about 5-6 flasks per layer and a couple of layers can be done, using a metal separator.

They need to be treated 15-20 minutes.

Well i use standard jam jars. Theres no space for more.

And yeah you are right up to 20 mins. But without cooldown and heating up to the pressure.

[Fairorchids]

When my dad did his own 'kitchen counter flasking', he baked the flasks in the oven. Separately he used a small pressure cooker to sterilize the large flask with the medium.

He then poured a small amount of medium into each flask and added a stopper. After it had cooled, he sprinkled in some seed.

Most flasks stayed clean. The few that showed contamination were saved by burning the contaminated spot with sunlight through a magnifying glass.