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Author Topic: Can old yeast be used as a nutrient?  (Read 1791 times)

Offline beerrat

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Can old yeast be used as a nutrient?
« on: March 29, 2010, 10:15:30 am »
I have not been able to find the source of where I read/heard this, but can old yeast be boiled (or added to the wort boil) and used as a yeast nutrient?
Something to do with those old packs of munton's that came with the beer kit.  ;D
If so, would same hold true for a yeast slurry from a prior batch?

Offline denny

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Re: Can old yeast be used as a nutrient?
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2010, 11:00:37 am »
Maybe....as I understand it, the nutrient value comes from zinc stored in the yeast.  There will only be a lot of zinc in there if the previous fermentation was healthy and built up a reserve.
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Offline blatz

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Re: Can old yeast be used as a nutrient?
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2010, 11:08:19 am »
IIRC, The Professor says he always adds some of the previous slurry to the boil on a new batch for that very reason.
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Offline denny

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Re: Can old yeast be used as a nutrient?
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2010, 11:09:49 am »
IIRC, The Professor says he always adds some of the previous slurry to the boil on a new batch for that very reason.

But I don't think he or anyone I'm aware of has actually done a comparison to see what is actually happening.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell