Sodium Metabisulphite (E223) - 500g - Youngs

Sodium Metabisulphite (here in a 500 gram pot) can be used to clean, sanitise and sterilise your equipment before you use it for homebrew.

Cleaning and sterilising your home brew equipment is extremely important as it will get rid of any bacteria or impurities that would otherwise go into your brew.

The last thing you want is a contaminated brew so make sure to clean your equipment first, it doesn't take long but will stand you in good stead for a successful, great tasting brew.

You only need to make up a small amount of Sodium Metabisulphite with water and make sure all sides of the item to be sterilised have been sloshed in the solution then rinse with fresh cold water. Be careful to avoid contact with skin and eyes and do not inhale fumes. Use in a well ventilated area.

Sodium Metabisulphite can also be used to suppress unwanted bacteria and 'wild' yeasts before a fermentation, and also to preserve a wine after fermentation has completed

Instructions as a steriliser:

Dissolve 1 tsp per 1 pint of water.  Swirl the liquid so all parts of the item are soaked in water, then leave for 10 minutes.  Do not breathe the fumes and use in a well ventilated area.

Instructions as a preservative and deoxidiser:

When bottling, use 0.3g per 4.5 litres of wine to preserve its colour, flavour and prevent oxidization.

To remove the oxygen from 19 litres of beer prior to packaging, it’s recommended to add 10 ppm SMB, which is 0.3 grams (1 gram SMB = 175 ppm/gallon).

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Potassium Metabisulphite and Sodium Metabisulphite work in very similar ways and either can be used.  

You may also see Sodium Metabisulphite called SMB and Potassium Metabisulphite called KMB