Cracked Specialty Grain

[Dazza_devil]

I haven't heard of using a blender to crack grain. Please tell us more.

Just put the grain in a bag with a towel over it and bash the shit out of it with the blender, superior results.

 

[bum]

The blender tek is only for biab isn't it? Or is it hit and miss regardless of what style you brew?
If it works for biab i'd scrap my 3v system so i could save coin on the sacks of grain. Planning a trip to brisbane so i can grab some sacks while i'm down there.

Setting up for BIAB would cost more than many mills anyway, wouldn't it?

 

[manticle]

I made onion jam once.

 

[ekul]

Bum- I meant i'd scrap my plans for 3v. I have 3 pots already ranging from 50-80L and probably an esky. Just would need to attach various taps.

If i could buy in bulk (uncracked) and crack it myself with a blender (which i already have) then i would be making considerable savings.

 

[bum]

Ah, I see what you mean now. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Shed101]

I made onion jam once.

what sort of onions - spanish, brown?

... did you blend them?

 

[manticle]

I used shallots (proper ones not NSW ones).

No blender - just smashed them with a rolling pin until I was happy with my brunoise.

 

[goomboogo]

I used shallots (proper ones not NSW ones).

No blender - just smashed them with a rolling pin until I was happy with my brunoise.

The shallots are a great choice for a jam. Can you give us the rest of your recipe?

 

[manticle]

Shallots
1 bullet chilli (small)
1 small clove garlic finely chopped (seeds removed if you are a sook, fine chopped)
Raw sugar
White pepper (not pre-ground)
Bay leaf
thyme
Port
White wine vinegar
salt
Neutral oil

Peel onions and remove root.
Slice longitudinally - no thick 'orrible bits but not completely thin slices either. Try and make all slices approx the same thickness so they cook evenly.

Chop thyme till fine - don't bruise, mince or include big bits of twig.

Heat oil till hot (shimmering not smoking). Quickly fry off thyme, chilli and gralic (20 secs or until fragrant)

Season onions and fry off stirring so they don't stick or brown too much,

As they start to turn translucent, turn down heat and deglaze with a dash of port.

Cook off port, add sugar (good size sprinkle - say around 1/3 cup for every 6-8 shallots), very small amount white wine vinegar, bay leaf, a few whole peppercorns*, a touch more port and sweat onions down until soft. Season a bit more to taste if necessary (balance sweet and salty with a slight acidic bite), let sit off heat till warm, serve with fresh baked bread (such as salt encrusted olive bread).

*If, like me you are a big fan of pepper you'll also grind some white peppercorns in to the mix. You could add spices like ginger or something if you felt like it - brunoise or grate peeled ginger and fry off at the beginning with the others. Probably unnecessary in my opinion though.

 

[felten]

I just milled some spec grain (2kg worth) in a blender last night for an upcoming brew and NEVER AGAIN. :angry: I've had a few grain orders from different places that have come unmilled either accidentally or just a misunderstanding (and once purposely so I could eat it), so I had to use an alternative cracking method.

It works if you're in a pinch but IMO it is far from ideal and a real pain in the arse to get every single grain cracked without turning it into flour, I started using a colander to get the whole grains out but that is an exercise in frustration so I ended up grinding it it up pretty fine, which I imagine wouldn't be good for a 3v system. (I BIAB)

That is just my frustrated opinion, based on my own results, for anyone seriously considering it. If I wanted to mill my own grain on the cheap I would buy a 2nd hand corona/victoria mill or one of the basic 2 roller mills from the US, but for now I'll be making sure I buy mine pre-cracked.

The blender tek is only for biab isn't it? Or is it hit and miss regardless of what style you brew?
If it works for biab i'd scrap my 3v system so i could save coin on the sacks of grain. Planning a trip to brisbane so i can grab some sacks while i'm down there.

 

[Fourstar]

I just milled some spec grain (2kg worth) in a blender last night for an upcoming brew and NEVER AGAIN. :angry: I've had a few grain orders from different places that have come unmilled either accidentally or just a misunderstanding (and once purposely so I could eat it), so I had to use an alternative cracking method.

This is the reason why we dont need boobiedazzler and other likeminded individuals toting their latest and greatest re-invention of the wheel.

 

[Pennywise]

I buy my grain un-milled, and use my boobiedazzler to crack it.

 

[bum]

boobiedazzler's entire aim in life seems to be to make people crack it.

 

[Fourstar]

boobiedazzler's entire aim in life seems to be to make people crack it.

Yes, like grain in a blender! :icon_cheers:

 

[Yob]

personally I think grain cracks itself in the BD establishment... probably from the razor sharp insights pouring out

 

[booyablack]

Stop baiting the troll. It might come back!

 

[Fourstar]

Stop baiting the troll. It might come back!

Really?!? Sorry, i had to.

buy it uncracked and use a blender to prepare as required.

 

[bum]

Uh-oh! Be careful posting images from there, dude. You don't know what shit you could be getting yourself into.

 

[Fourstar]

Uh-oh! Be careful posting images from there, dude. You don't know what shit you could be getting yourself into.

such as...?!?

 

[bum]

The wrath of a certain brewer.