Pressure cooker size for mason jars

[BrianL]

I've been keeping an eye on craigslist for a pressure cooker for starter wort. Anyone know what size you need to fit at least a couple mason jars?

[Bugeater]

I use a 21 quart size. It will fit 7 quart jars at a time. A smaller one will obviously fit fewer jars but if you need to run several batches through there, you will save a hell of a lot of time using a bigger cooker. It takes 3 batches to process 5 gallons of starter wort. Milling grain, batch sparging and canning this size batch will take a good 5-6 hours due to the necessary cool down time between batches, pretty much a full brew day only devoted to starters.

Wayne

[jwatkins56550]

I agree, 21 quart is what I have too.

Big enough to sterilize a 2000mL flask too.

[Bokonon]

I have an older 16 quart model that also fits 7 quart jars. I think it is the newer 21 quart models are just taller which lets you stack more smaller size jars in.

I used to be a big proponent of canning starter wort but I've given up on it except for the really small quantities (pint or less). I came to this revelation after using basically a full canner load for one lager starter.

[BrianL]

Cool, haven't come across anything that big yet. Bugeater, why not just use DME? Probably cheaper to use grain, but that's a lot of time!

[PSUHomebrewer]

You can use the 2nd runnings from a batch of grain for the starters. That way you don't actualy have to buy any extra grain or dme.

[Bokonon]

You can use the 2nd rubbings from a batch of grain for the starters.

I know wort is sticky but that might be the extreme

[PSUHomebrewer]

I guess the iPhone's dictionary has a problem with runnings. I think my iPhone may have a dirty dictionary instead of the proper one.