Starter culture storage life

[chopsaw]

The common answer seems to be 6 months in the freezer . I thought I saw a reply in a thread where BGKYSmoker said he has used it much older than that .
I just used some T-SPX that I bought in 2016 .
Front of the package , you can see a manufacture date and best before date .
Says storage - 17 degrees . My freezer is at -3 . Maybe I've been lucky ?

 

[SmokinAl]

Mine says 6 months on it too.
Al

 

[pc farmer]

I have used mine that's over a year old. Still works.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Yup

Few of mine are going on 3 years and still work fine at the same rate

 

[chopsaw]

Ok , thanks good to know .

 

[mski2]

Yup

Few of mine are going on 3 years and still work fine at the same rate

How do you determine it is still working ?
As it gets older do you use more ?
Mark

 

[BGKYSmoker]

How do you determine it is still working ?
As it gets older do you use more ?
Mark

Use just the same as you would new never opened bacto. Dont worry if you use a tad more than whats called for.
New or old bacto, if you dont smell fermentation within 5-8 hrs, you didnt mix it right.

Keep it frozen, even if opened. Just fold the package over and tape it shut.

 

[SmokinAl]

Thanks Rick!
Al

 

[mski2]

Thanks, smell, not PH drop?
Mark

 

[BGKYSmoker]

Thanks, smell, not PH drop?
Mark

Reading the pH by either strips or a meter is your call. You wont smell the pH. You will smell the fermentation starting then your call to check pH. Just use UMAi and dont worry about the fancy equipment.

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Yup

Few of mine are going on 3 years and still work fine at the same rate

Good info, thanks Rick!

 

[mski2]

Thanks Im going to do the smell test and PH next project and compare maybe I can turn my nose into a PH meter
UMAI bags work great I did a Ribeye roast , bags worked great but me and the daughter didn't like it, 8# of dog food. Fido loved it.
I have a Coppa in the fridge drying now, I doubt it will have the flavor of one dried in a casing but it is alot easier .
We will see
Mark