Yeast is expensive and it's a damn shame to dump money down the drain.
So, here is a link on a simple way to wash your yeast;
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Washing_yeast
Recycle Damn It!
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 - 1:01pm
#1
Yeast Washing Link
Jim,
I think the shelf life is longer than we are lead to believe, however I think that as time passes the yeast will mutate and also any possible infection causing yeast/bugs in there will have more time to gain hold.
I don't know what the maximum shelf-life of slurry is but I just pitched an 6 week old slurry and it went fine.
I understand it needs to be used fresh and I know about the Mr Malty calculator. However it only has options for making a starter from a smack pack or directly pitching your slurry into your wort. However, I have heard even with a slurry it is best to wake the yeast back up in a start. So if I went this route is there any way I can figure out how much slurry to put into a starter so I am pitching the correct amount?
Bill,
Are you still planning on hosting a yeast washing workshop?
Also I saved some slurry from my yeast cake last night. If I wanted to then reuse that yeast how do I go about determining the amount of slurry to add to my starter?