Storing Grain

[dane]

I'm just having a little clean up of the garage and what to know what is the best way to store grain. I have some Munich Grain (cracked) that I used in a brew last week (and will be using the rest of it shortly). At the moment I have it in an airtight container just on the bench. I keep hops in the freezer and yeast in the fridge - should I cool/freeze grains or is room temp fine? Does it differ if they are cracked or whole?

 

[RegBadgery]

Something airtight to keep the insects out. Read a story about a fellow walking into his grain storage room and seeing it alive with moths

You can store grain in the fridge/freezer - I havent' done this but have read recommendations from people who swear by it. I imagine you just need to be sure that no moisture gets in. I've also read about people advocating purging with Co2 whenever you remove any grain from a container (kill any bugs and prevent oxidation).

In general whole grain keeps much better than crushed. eg. a chap in Newcastle has hundreds of kg. of malted grain stored as is in sacks for at least a year with no ill effects. When he opens a new sack he just transfers the contents to a 25 litre container.

Interesting message here on grain going stale and why this happens and why it's more a problem with crushed grain.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftBrewing...ng/message/9385

However crushed grain should be ok for some weeks at least if stored in a dry, cool airtight container.
cheers
reg

 

[sluggerdog]

OK similar topic but to do with uncracked grain.

what is the best way to store this? Does it need to be in an air tight container or is a cheap-o storage box from bunnings ok?

 

[Ross]

Interesting message here on grain going stale and why this happens and why it's more a problem with crushed grain.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CraftBrewing...ng/message/9385

[post="592"][/post]​

I must be having a bad link day - saying link doesn't exsist :blink:

 

[wessmith]

Same result here too Ross.

The mantra for grain storage though is pretty simple - cool and dry. That does not necessarily mean a hermetic seal - just enough to stop humid air coming in contact with the grain.

Wes

 

[sluggerdog]

Thanks Guys, this is what I thought. I already bought the 60 litre box from bunnings however it is not air tight. should be right.

cheers