So I just got my first stir plate and I am ready to make my first starter with it. I see a lot of people say you should not leave your starter on the plate for more than 12 hours. Like everything in this world I am sure there is some leeway here. Say something comes up and its on there for 14 or 15 hours I am sure there is no harm done. What are your experiences with this and how long is to long?
Can't say as I've ever seen that advice. I can't see what harm would be done by leaving the yeast on a stir plate longer than 12 hours. All you're doing is oxidizing the starter wort a bit more and keeping the yeast in suspension. I've left my larger starters on a plate for 48 hours, maybe even slightly more, and have never noticed a bit of a problem. I cold crash and decant before pitching, so perhaps that plays a role.
Let it rip for a week or more, if you were sanitary and have an airlock on it, you're good to go. I usually do 2-3 days to make sure I have a very healthy yeast starter, pitch the entire thing into the wort, no decanting here, no problems.
I've generally shot for about 18 hrs, mainly because I tend to make it the evening before brewday. I haven't cold crashed and decanted because the starters have all been small. Never had a problem before and usually a lag phase of 4-5 hrs.
A lot of starters won't even be ready in 12 hours. I routinely let mine go for 24 hours, then cold crash.
Thanks for the input! I am going to be using foam stoppers rather than an air lock any advice on this? I am sure with the semi breathable nature of the foam I wouldn't want to go 2 or 3 days.
I wouldn't bother with foam stoppers, which don't hurt anything, but are basically designed to separate you from your money. I use lightly crimped aluminum foil. Airlocks are counterproductive for starters.
I use foam, gone for weeks+ , planned on brewing, something came up and I couldn't get around to it, no problems. Foil works too.
