(500g) POTASSIUM METABISULPHITE Wine Beer Home Brewing

(500g) POTASSIUM METABISULPHITE Wine Beer Home Brewing Description

Potassium metabisulfite, also known as the food additive E224 or potassium pyrosulfate, is a food preservative which preserves the natural colour of food and protect against bacteria.

Wine

Potassium metabisulfite is a common wine or must additive, in which it forms sulfur dioxide gas (SO2). This both prevents most wild microorganisms from growing, and it acts as a potent antioxidant, protecting both the color and delicate flavors of wine.

A high dose would be 3 grams of potassium metabisulfite per six-gallon bucket of must (yielding roughly 75 ppm of SO2) prior to fermentation; then 6 grams per six-gallon bucket (150 ppm of SO2) at bottling. Most commercial wineries do not add more than 30 ppm at bottling.Some countries impose regulations on how much SO2 wines are allowed to contain.

Winemaking equipment is sanitized by spraying with a 1% SO2 (2 tsp potassium metabisulfite per L) solution.

Beer

Potassium metabisulfite is sometimes used in the brewing industry to inhibit the growth of wild bacteria and fungi. This is called 'stabilizing'. It is also used to neutralize monochloramine from tap water. It is used both by homebrewers and commercial brewers alike. It is not used as much for brewing beer, because the wort is almost always boiled, which kills most microorganisms.