keg sanitation.

[johnnyredpocket]

how long do you consider a keg that has been cleaned and sanitized to be fillable and do you think it's better to store clean kegs in a cooler? these are kegs cleaned on a keg cleaning machine at a brewery using hot caustic for cleaning and chlorine dioxide for sanitizing. any information you have would be helpful.

[PanConsulting]

What type of Keg are you talking about? Sankey or Hoffstevens? Much will depend on the environment you are storing them in and how clean you really get the kegs. The tap area is what I would be concerned about. You should clean that area before filling the keg.

[gitchegumee]

We use the few pre-cleaned kegs from the end of our previous keg run to begin the new keg run. They aren't more than a week old, though. Some keg cleaners are better than others also. The spear exterior, for example will require a keg washer that trickles the caustic through in a dedicated cycle so that the flow is just enough to bathe the OD of the spear; not spray the interior of the keg. Likewise with the sanitizer. And if you do keep your cleaned/sanitized kegs around for extended periods, I'd fill the valve seat with sanitizer and cap it with a protective cover to keep bugs & dust away. Spray sanitize the valve again prior to and after filling. If you are fortunate enough to have a dedicated lab, then you can track results yourself. It may be just fine to store your cleaned/sanitized kegs for a few weeks. Proof will be in the culture dish. Good luck!