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Date: 15 Sep 2006 14:29:43
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: grain storage question
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What are considered the best practices for grain storage, and how long can
they be stored safely if handled properly?
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 23:34:32
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
> What are considered the best practices for grain storage, and how long can
> they be stored safely if handled properly?
Get a Foodsaver or similar vac-sealer product and seal them airtight in
bags or containers. I do this for my hops which I buy by the pound and
seperate into 1oz - 2oz packets. I usually don't have more than 1# of
grains at the ready, so they stay in the bag they were purchased.
I suppose I could start buying bulk grains, but I don't have a mill yet.
--
Dan
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 17:48:38
From: John Krehbiel
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
> What are considered the best practices for grain storage, and how long can
> they be stored safely if handled properly?
There was a time when I put the grains in plastic bags inside of other
bags, but a pretty bad mouse infestation cured me of that. Now I use
the big plastic tubs others have mentioned.
Also, I save the big plastic bags they use to ship 10 or 20 lbs of
grain. I can crush my grain the night before and use those bags for all
of the grain for my batch.
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 20:38:43
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:29:43 -0600, <nospam@noemail.com > wrote:
> What are considered the best practices for grain storage, and how long can
> they be stored safely if handled properly?
Dry and airtight are the two main concerns. Damp/humid environment will
promote mold and lots of airflow will cause the grains to go stale.
Regarding storage time, uncrushed grain is best and will last several years
without any problem if stored really well. Crushed grain has a much
shorter life, generally up to 6 months or so.
Personally, I keep my grains wrapped inside platic bags and then store them
in a rubbermaid container with a tight fitting lid. I've never had any
problems with this method. There are other options though, just keep the
goals of dry and airtight in mind.
John.
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 14:52:00
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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> Personally, I keep my grains wrapped inside platic bags and then store
> them
> in a rubbermaid container with a tight fitting lid. I've never had any
> problems with this method. There are other options though, just keep the
> goals of dry and airtight in mind.
That's cool. I wasn't sure if it would be that simple or not. I tried to
find something using the Google Groups search and the only thing I found was
dated 1998 (not that brewing is such a new concept) and mentioned using
nitrogen.
When you close up the bags and bins like you do, you don't have any problem
with trapped humidity?
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 00:00:27
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:52:00 -0600, <nospam@noemail.com > wrote:
>> Personally, I keep my grains wrapped inside platic bags and then store
>> them
>> in a rubbermaid container with a tight fitting lid. I've never had any
>> problems with this method. There are other options though, just keep the
>> goals of dry and airtight in mind.
>
> That's cool. I wasn't sure if it would be that simple or not. I tried to
> find something using the Google Groups search and the only thing I found was
> dated 1998 (not that brewing is such a new concept) and mentioned using
> nitrogen.
>
> When you close up the bags and bins like you do, you don't have any problem
> with trapped humidity?
It doesn't seem to be a problem. I try and push as much air out of the
bags when I close them though.
John.
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 16:07:16
From: The Artist Formerly Known as Kap'n Salty
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
>> Personally, I keep my grains wrapped inside platic bags and then store
>> them
>> in a rubbermaid container with a tight fitting lid. I've never had any
>> problems with this method. There are other options though, just keep the
>> goals of dry and airtight in mind.
>
> That's cool. I wasn't sure if it would be that simple or not. I tried to
> find something using the Google Groups search and the only thing I found was
> dated 1998 (not that brewing is such a new concept) and mentioned using
> nitrogen.
>
> When you close up the bags and bins like you do, you don't have any problem
> with trapped humidity?
>
>
I do the same thing as john does, but sans plastic bag (except for
specialty grains). The bins I use aren't rubbermade -- just random bins
with good lids from WalMart. I *do* keep mine indoors, so humidity is
not a problem -- except during a nearly month-long power outage last
summer, where I lost the grain in one of the bins. Some of these bins
actually have holes drilled in the bottom part of the molded in handles
or along the bottom of the lip, presumably for ventilation or maybe to
ease closing. I cover these with electrical tape.
Note that you can purchase large containers made for holding pet food,
"Vittle Vaults" that probably seal better-- but are much more expensive.
--
(Replies: cleanse my address of the Mark of the Beast!)
Teleoperate a roving mobile robot from the web:
http://www.swampgas.com/robotics/rover.html
Coauthor with Dennis Clark of "Building Robot Drive Trains".
Buy several copies today!
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 15:12:43
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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> I do the same thing as john does, but sans plastic bag (except for
> specialty grains). The bins I use aren't rubbermade -- just random bins
> with good lids from WalMart. I *do* keep mine indoors, so humidity is not
> a problem -- except during a nearly month-long power outage last summer,
> where I lost the grain in one of the bins. Some of these bins actually
> have holes drilled in the bottom part of the molded in handles or along
> the bottom of the lip, presumably for ventilation or maybe to ease
> closing. I cover these with electrical tape.
What is "sans plastic"?
Why do you store specialty grains differently? Is it simply a size thing or
another consideration?
When you lost your grain, how did you know it was lost? Or was it pretty
obvious?
Scott
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 16:34:12
From: The Artist Formerly Known as Kap'n Salty
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
>> I do the same thing as john does, but sans plastic bag (except for
>> specialty grains). The bins I use aren't rubbermade -- just random bins
>> with good lids from WalMart. I *do* keep mine indoors, so humidity is not
>> a problem -- except during a nearly month-long power outage last summer,
>> where I lost the grain in one of the bins. Some of these bins actually
>> have holes drilled in the bottom part of the molded in handles or along
>> the bottom of the lip, presumably for ventilation or maybe to ease
>> closing. I cover these with electrical tape.
>
> What is "sans plastic"?
>
> Why do you store specialty grains differently? Is it simply a size thing or
> another consideration?
Just a size thing. sans plastic="without plastic". Not in a plastic bag,
iow.
>
> When you lost your grain, how did you know it was lost? Or was it pretty
> obvious?
Oh, it was obvious.
--
(Replies: cleanse my address of the Mark of the Beast!)
Teleoperate a roving mobile robot from the web:
http://www.swampgas.com/robotics/rover.html
Coauthor with Dennis Clark of "Building Robot Drive Trains".
Buy several copies today!
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 15:37:20
From: Scott Lindner
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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> Just a size thing. sans plastic="without plastic". Not in a plastic bag,
> iow.
Oh man.. I really do know that "sans" means without but this time I just
missed it and assumed it was a specific type of product. Why do you not use
plastic? Is it the plasticizers, so it can breath, not breath?
Am I making this way too complicated and just get the grain and put it in a
bloody sealable bin and be done with it?
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 16:46:58
From: The Artist Formerly Known as Kap'n Salty
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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Scott Lindner wrote:
>> Just a size thing. sans plastic="without plastic". Not in a plastic bag,
>> iow.
>
> Oh man.. I really do know that "sans" means without but this time I just
> missed it and assumed it was a specific type of product. Why do you not use
> plastic? Is it the plasticizers, so it can breath, not breath?
Just seems like too much trouble.
>
> Am I making this way too complicated and just get the grain and put it in a
> bloody sealable bin and be done with it?
Probably -- at least if you're storing it indoors. The plastic bag is
probably a good idea to give you an extra layer of protection, I just
don't bother. The main thing is to get something with a tight lid that
will keep out pests. Be aware that weevils can also come in on new
grain. If I don't know where grain is coming from, I might leave it in
it's bag when I store it.
--
(Replies: cleanse my address of the Mark of the Beast!)
Teleoperate a roving mobile robot from the web:
http://www.swampgas.com/robotics/rover.html
Coauthor with Dennis Clark of "Building Robot Drive Trains".
Buy several copies today!
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Date: 19 Sep 2006 11:50:42
From: Steven
Subject: Re: grain storage question
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I have visited the supermarkets in my area that have bakeries and
gotten the "frosting buckets" that they use. The lids have a rubber
seal, and the medium sized buckets will hold about 15# of 2-row. I
have them for the majority of my grains, and split new grain orders
into them.
Very handy, and I have not lost any grain to date. And, for the frugal
(looks in mirror), the price is perfect.... Most of them will have 5-6
that they can spare from their collections, complete with lids.
Safeway and Thriftway are stores that never even asked for any payment.
Hope that helps,
Steven
Dan Logcher wrote:
> Scott Lindner wrote:
> > What are considered the best practices for grain storage, and how long can
> > they be stored safely if handled properly?
>
> Get a Foodsaver or similar vac-sealer product and seal them airtight in
> bags or containers. I do this for my hops which I buy by the pound and
> seperate into 1oz - 2oz packets. I usually don't have more than 1# of
> grains at the ready, so they stay in the bag they were purchased.
>
> I suppose I could start buying bulk grains, but I don't have a mill yet.
>
> --
> Dan
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