Hello Customer Service,
If I wanted to use a five gallon crock to make a fermentation happen is that going to be a problem? I do not want to use a plastic fermenter. I am afraid of using any plastics fearing the chemicals used to make the containers will leach into the finished food or wine? What do you think about that?
Thanks Mary
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Dear Mary,
It’s okay to use a stone crock for the first few days of the wine brewing, but after the fermentation activity starts to slow down, around the fifth day, you will need to put the wine in a different type of container. One that can have an air-lock attach to it with a rubber stopper. A glass wine carboy works good for this purpose.
The inside glazing of the crock also needs to be free from cracks and chips. These types of damages can not be sanitized sufficiently for a safe fermentation. Mold and bacteria can live in these cracks just waiting for a wine to ruin.
As for using plastic fermenters, what really matters is that the plastic is food-grade. This is the key. Plastics are used to package all kinds of foods. Just look on the store shelves. Everything from lunch-meats to whiskey, to drinking water is stored in plastic.
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Ed Kraus is a 3rd generation home brewer/winemaker and has been an owner of E. C. Kraus since 1999. He has been helping individuals make better wine and beer for over 25 years.
