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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



Registered: 02/21/09
Posts: 258
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Pasteurizing straw question
#14596033 - 06/11/11 01:14 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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So I am currently pasteurizing around a bales worth of straw outside in a drum with a propane burner. I don't have it insulated unfortunately to save on gas and help it heat up faster, but I at least have it wind blocked. My question is: I have a basket in the drum to hold the straw (which is packed in there real tight) and their is a little space between the drum and the basket where the water is currently at 160, but when I shove my thermometer down into the middle, the temp is still at like 80...is it ok if the water between the drum and the basket gets way higher so long as I get the middle to heat up to around 160? Thanks for any help!
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



Registered: 02/21/09
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the water at the very top is wicked hot too..but its only when i jam the thermometer right down into the middle of the straw it says the temp is now 90..so it is rising..but i am just concerned about the water around the straw getting too hot. any help?
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
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Carl Sagan
Time Dilation Analyst


Registered: 04/19/11
Posts: 922
Loc: Myco-tek.org
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Patience. You don't want the water temp getting too high. You will get the middle up to temp faster, BUT the temp will continue to climb quickly. I've been impatient in the past and walked away for 10min and had the core temp hit 180 real fast. It is going to take a long time to get the core temp of a bale up to 140. Maybe 5 hrs? IDK? I keep my water temp at 175f. It takes longer but I am sure I wont sterilize my sub.
-------------------- “Sacred cows make the best hamburger” Mark Twain Independant Research Foundation
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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



Registered: 02/21/09
Posts: 258
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Pasteurizing straw question [Re: Carl Sagan]
#14596093 - 06/11/11 01:32 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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ok cool thanks, and now how about pulling that basket out (when its done) and shoving another bales worth of straw in and using that same hot water (I assume I will have to add a little more water to compensate for what came out with the last load of straw) - I assume it should take less time for that one to rise back up to temp?
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
Edited by CuriousGeorge83 (06/11/11 01:34 PM)
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Carl Sagan
Time Dilation Analyst


Registered: 04/19/11
Posts: 922
Loc: Myco-tek.org
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Well... one would assume because you already have hot water, but it will still take a long time for the core of the bale to hit 140f. Slow and steady. You would hate to walk away for 15min only to return to find the core of your bale is at 185f. Thats why I keep my water temp @ 175f.
-------------------- “Sacred cows make the best hamburger” Mark Twain Independant Research Foundation
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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



Registered: 02/21/09
Posts: 258
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Pasteurizing straw question [Re: Carl Sagan]
#14596164 - 06/11/11 01:45 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Ok so when you say you keep your water temp at 175 you mean the outer water surrounding the straw? Once it gets to around there I should turn my flame down eh? and then just wait until my core hits 140..then let it sit for an hour? Thanks for your patience with my questions!
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
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Carl Sagan
Time Dilation Analyst


Registered: 04/19/11
Posts: 922
Loc: Myco-tek.org
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Exactly! The water in the drum should stay at 175f. It takes a bit longer, but you will be sure not to sterilize your straw. Yup once the water hits 175f turn the flame way down. Once the core hits 140f start your timer for 60 min. I try to stay below 160f.
-------------------- “Sacred cows make the best hamburger” Mark Twain Independant Research Foundation
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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



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Re: Pasteurizing straw question [Re: Carl Sagan]
#14596541 - 06/11/11 03:16 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks! Thats exactly what I needed to know. Now, hope I wont be up all night doing two rounds of straw...
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
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Quote:
My question is: I have a basket in the drum to hold the straw (which is packed in there real tight)
The straw must not be packed at all. It needs to be loose so the temperature will be uniform. Remove half the straw and re-submerge. Hopefully, you soaked the straw for 24 hours before pasteurizing.
You can use the water twice, but no more. Drain every second batch. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



Registered: 02/21/09
Posts: 258
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Pasteurizing straw question [Re: RogerRabbit]
#14597562 - 06/11/11 07:35 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
The straw must not be packed at all
A little too late, so we shall see how it works out. How much of a bale do you get into a drum then? I've read people saying they can get a whole bale in one drum. I definitly needed to pack mine tight to fit it all...
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
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conformist


Registered: 07/29/10
Posts: 210
Loc: SE
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Arrrg, this thread is killing me... 
CuriousGeorge33 - You didn't mention that you shredded your straw, did you?
RR - When you say "soak for 24 hours" does that mean "submerge" or "thoroughly wet"?
When growing oysters, I've been packing the basket of a turkey fryer full of straw and submerging it in 150degF water (burner off). The water drops a little but stays above 140degF for the half-hour to 45min that I let it pasteurize. The method I use has been successful but I'm always open to improvements.
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CuriousGeorge83
Super Conscious Monkey



Registered: 02/21/09
Posts: 258
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Pasteurizing straw question [Re: conformist]
#14597788 - 06/11/11 08:29 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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yes i shred my straw via RR's weed wacker in a garbage can method.
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 My Trade List "After a good meal and a good pipe, George felt very tired."
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