Potassium Metabisulphite

Potassium Metabisulphite For Home Winemaking

Also referred to as sulphite or PMS.

Use instead of campden tablets or sodium metabisulphite (Sodium metabisulphite is banned in some countries for use in commercial winemaking) for sterlising must (fruit mixture you are turning in to wine) and (glass or plastic or fabric) equipment.

If your recipe says use campden tablets, substitute 5ml of 10% solution for 1 campden tablet.

Do not breathe in dust or vapour, use in well ventilated area.  Asthmatics and anyone with a respiratory condition take particular care or consider another method of sterilising.

Directions:

• Dissolve 1/8 cup (about 40g) in 400ml of water to make a 10% solution.
• Use 1 teaspoon of the 10% solution per 5 litres of room temperature must (fruit/sugar mixture that will become your wine) to sterlise the must 24 hours before adding yeast. 
• Use 1 teaspoon 10% solution during the winemaking process (eg racking) to stabilise & help prevent oxidisation.
• Store the 10% solution in an airtight glass or plastic container.
• Further dilute it 4:1 eg 400mls water to 100mls solution to give a 2% solution. Use the 2% solution to sterlise equipment.

A small amount goes a long way. Swirl it around all your containers etc so it touches each surface several times. Then leave it for at least 20 minutes (with lid on) to complete sterilisation. Bottles, containers etc can be kept sterilised by storing them with 2cm of solution in the bottom. Tip out solution (which can be reused) and shake them out before using them.

You can keep reusing the solution for sterlising until you stop noticing the obvious vapour or when you notice the solution is no longer clean and clear looking.

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