Fermentation Fridge - Minimum Dimensions?

[TempTest]

I have a small 49.5ish cm wide fridge. Fits a Youngs 23l fermenter in but not the wider ones

Don't s'pose you could take a snap of the fridge with the fermenter in it, so get an idea of how much space to work with, heater location, etc? Thanks!

[Pinto]

Ive found that these make very effective fermenters...

http://www.tesco.com/direct/wham-crysta ... d=208-2107

Nice, food safe PP, and with my standard sized 600x600 larder fridge, I can stack two of them in if need be Lids are good enough fitting to prevent crud and fruit flies getting in, but not so sealed that CO2 cant escape so no blow off tube or airlock required either. Mine are also tapped which is niiice and easy with the flat slab sides.

And they cost £4 each - poke that up your £15 Youngs bucket and smoke it !!

[Goulders]

Hi TempTest
Not the greatest photo but you can see a picture in this here

[TempTest]

Hi Goulders,

Thanks for the pic. Have much room is there between the lid and the roof of the fridge? I use the wide neck wine fermenter, like this : http://www.tesco.com/direct/youngs-wide ... 3-7188.prd

It's narrower than the standard pails (so will fit width-wise into the fridge) but it is taller so I wonder if it would fit in that dimension.

Also do you have the fridge model number so I can find specs, etc, online? It's doubtful I'll find the same model but I might be able to find one of the same size!

[Goulders]

I'm afraid it's an old fridge off gumtree and my FV is in the loft and I won't be getting it down any time soon. Suggest you have a look on gumtree for any fridges near you and measure up when you look

[TempTest]

Okay so an update on my hunt for a fermentation fridge:

The *only* place I have for a fridge can only take a H85cm x W50cm x D50cm fridge. Even then it'll somewhat restrict access to the kitchen but shhhh... I visited a rather large Curry's this evening, tape measure and fermenter measurements in tow and here are my findings:

1) None of the 50cm wide fridges will fit my wide neck wine fermenter. Because they all have a 'step' at the bottom rear for the compressor either (a) the distance from the door to the step is not large enough for the fermenter diameter or (b) the distance from the top of the step (and therefore also the salad crisper shelf) to the roof is not large enough for the fermenter height.

2) I cannot fit a fridge greater than 50cm wide (I did find *one* model that was 60cm wide that would *just* about fit but because that will not fit in the kitchen it's no good anyway...).

So I'm left with two choices:

(a) Give up on the fridge solution until I move to a larger place (note there is no intention to move anytime soon so this effectively puts the idea of fermentation fridge on hold indefinitely).

-or-

(b) Find an alternative fermenter that will fit in one of the 50cm wide fridges. There are two recommendations in this thread alone (the jerry can and the stackable boxes) - I'll check both of these out. I'd need it food grade and *ideally* able to put a tap on it... Though I suppose I can always give siphoning a try! (Although typical after the amount I've spent on various grades and sizes of tubing!).

I've found a fridge locally that should fit (and seems in good condition) for £40 (I've had very little luck indeed finding a working fridge, of the correct size for free or cheap). I might see if I can haggle them down and just see how I get on.

If you have any alternative fermenter recommendations please share them...

Thanks!

[Pinto]

persist with the local free ads, gumtree or freecycle - I got my first fridge for £10 and the second for free....

Just a matter of waiting.

[Fil]

+1 to patience try posting a plea on the local freecyle page/list and gumtree..

when you get a fridge that will fit, then look at the FV options, anything with the volume needed and made from a foodsafe material with an inner surface you can sanitise with confidence will work..
dont worry about hard to get into to clean solutions, the budget scent free laundry oxi will shift the worst welded to the side yeast deposits

forget about airlock headspace, you will never hear an airlock bubble with the door shut..