K-Met What's it mean???

[Guest]

I'm trying to figure out what the definition of the acronym K-Met is and subsiquently,why it's necessary in my wine.


Anyone have an answer?
Mike

 

[Wade E]

K is the Chemical letter for Potassium and Meta is Metabisulfite(K-Meta). It helps fight off microorganisms and also is a good anti-oxidant which will preserve your wine for extended periods of time.

 

[masta]

Plenty of info on why K-meta is important in wine makinghere in the PowerPoint slide show that I presented at Winestock this year:


<a href="/images/uploads/20101201_180711_PH_Acid_and_SO2.pdf" target="_blank">/images/uploads/20101201_180711_PH_Acid_and_SO2.pdf
</a>




If you do not have PowerPoint a viewer can be downloaded here:


http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=428D5727-43AB-4F24-90B7-A94784AF71A4&amp;displaylang=en
</span>

 

[onin24eagle]

Masta,


Thanks for the link to the Powerpoint show. I found it very informative, but have a question. I bought some k-meta to sanitize with. The label states to dissolve 3 TBS/Gal of water. The guy at the store I bought it from said it would last a long time, but using this much K-Meta every time I sanitze means it will be gone very quickly. Does this mixture sound correct?

 

[grapeman]

You can reuse it if you are careful not to contaminate the solution. Get a gallon glass or plastic jug and keep in it tightly corked. It is a lot cheaper by the pound also and that will last a long time.

 

[masta]

Masta,


Thanks for the link to the Powerpoint show. I found it very informative, but have a question. I bought some k-meta to sanitize with. The label states to dissolve 3 TBS/Gal of water. The guy at the store I bought it from said it would last a long time, but using this much K-Meta every time I sanitize means it will be gone very quickly. Does this mixture sound correct?

Yes that is the correct ratio (3 TBS TO 1 GAL) and if you buy Na-meta (sodium metabisulfite) it is much cheaper than K-meta and buying it in bulk as appleman suggested will also save some cash.


5 lbs for $10.99;
http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=7060CEdited by: masta

 

[laneygirl]

You can reuse it if you are careful not to contaminate the solution. Get a gallon glass or plastic jug and keep in it tightly corked. It is a lot cheaper by the pound also and that will last a long time.

How can you tell if it's contaminated? If it has a few specks of dirt (or something) is it still reusable? I don't want to cheap out, but also don't want to waste it if I can continue to use it.


I've been storing mine in a plastic water jug. Is that OK or is glass preferrable?

 

[Guest]

Whenever in doubt, throw it out.
You can buy more sanitizer (or whatever)for $5.00
What's your wine cost you?

 

[grapeman]

I only reuse k-meta solution that I have put in a bucket or other clean vessel to soak small utensils that were clean to begin with. Anything used for general cleaning gets discarded. Before I put anything back in a bottle, I check it for strength with a careful quick sniff. If it makes you step back after sniffing(strong smell) and is visibly clean, it's still good.


Like they said, if in doubt throw it out.

 

[Wade E]

I use a spray bottle for cleaning all my utensils. The meta stays pretty good in it also. I bought a new sprayer just for this purpose at a dollar store, please do not use 1 that had another chemical in it.

 

[grapeman]

Good warning Wade about not reusing a spray bottle from something else. DO NOT USE that little spray bottle the Roundup came in. The little bottles can be bought cheaply at home harware stores,etc.

 

[muscadine wine]

I use spray bottles for B-Brite, Campden tablet sanitizing solution (12 tablets per gallon), and another one for a solution mixed up for me by my LHBS. It contains citric acid and K-meta (I think). Works great. Each bottle has a different color sprayer on it, so I know what I am reaching for without using a label. The bottles were picked up at Sam's Club.

 

[pizz65]

Do you need to rinse your bottle after you sanitize with K-met??

 

[Wade E]

you do not have to and really shouldnt rinse out any bottles after sanitizing with k-meta as that would defeat the purpose as you would just be introducing bacteria again. Just let them drip dry and they dont have to be perfectly dry either.

 

[Guest]

The chlorine compound in the K-Met evaporates in a short period of time.
What's left in the bottle just before fillingis so insignifcant as to be ofno concern to me anyway.
I dont rinse because like Wade said, even the purist of water leaves the bottle open to bacteria between the rinse and fill cycle.

 

[Wade E]

Muscadine wine, Im looking at your campden tablet spraying solution and if you are using that to sanitize stuff i dont believe its going to work as that is very weak. K-meta to be used as a sanitizer should be used at 3 tbsp. per gallon. 3.5 campden tablets = 1/4 tsp of k-meta and 3 tsp.'s of k-meta =1 tbsp so I believe you would need 126 campden tablets per gallon for a sanitizing solution, this is why we buy it by the lb.

 

[bmckee56]

I also add 1/2 tsp citric acid to my solution which is used in the spray bottle. 3 tbsp K-Meta &amp; 1/2 tsp citric acid to 1 gallon of water.


I keep 4 gallons of sanitizing solution made up all the time. I keep rotating the jugs to ensure it gets used up before going bad.


Salute! Edited by: bmckee56

 

[muscadine wine]

Muscadine wine, Im looking at your campden tablet spraying solution and if you are using that to sanitize stuff i dont believe its going to work as that is very weak. K-meta to be used as a sanitizer should be used at 3 tbsp. per gallon. 3.5 campden tablets = 1/4 tsp of k-meta and 3 tsp.'s of k-meta =1 tbsp so I believe you would need 126 campden tablets per gallon for a sanitizing solution, this is why we buy it by the lb.

wade--I'll ask my LHBS about this. He is the one that told me that 12 tablets would be enough. I have never bought K-meta by the pound, but I may have to try it. I am always learning something new. Thanks for the info.

 

[Wade E]

1 tablet per gallon of must is good to kill off off wild yeast cells for wine. Dble check my math but I know 3.5 = 1/4 tsp and I know that the recommended dosage for making a solution is 3 tbls per gallon. Im pretty sure it takes 3 tsp to equal 1 tbls also so I think its 3.5 x 4 x 3.
OK, my math was way off and I knew it sounded high but my mind worked it out a few times and every time i did it, it came out the same but the real answer is 42</font>.

Shame on me!</font></font>

 

[muscadine wine]

1 tablet per gallon of must is good to kill off off wild yeast cells for wine. Dble check my math but I know 3.5 = 1/4 tsp and I know that the recommended dosage for making a solution is 3 tbls per gallon. Im pretty sure it takes 3 tsp to equal 1 tbls also so I think its 3.5 x 4 x 3.
OK, my math was way off and I knew it sounded high but my mind worked it out a few times and every time i did it, it came out the same but the real answer is 42</font>.

Shame on me!</font></font>

wade--42 is still a long way from 12. I am particular about cleaning and sanitizing. I hope to have an answer next week. Should make for an interesting conversation.