Is a week and a few days too long to hold on to crushed grains

[linusstick]

My wife wanted to do a pumpkin beer today. I bought the grains and had them crushed on Friday. Something came up today so we won't be able to brew until next Sunday. I see mixed answers on this question so I figure I'll ask again and get some opinions here.

 

[Kee]

I've brewed two weeks after crushing grains, and not noticed any ill effects.

 

[bilder]

I have used crushed malt a couple months later with no noticeable difference.

Just store in a cool dark place and you should be fine.

 

[RedlegEd]

I have used crushed malt a couple months later with no noticeable difference.

Just store in a cool dark place and you should be fine.

+1^^^ this. The other thing that will help is to keep it sealed (twist tie, Ziploc, etc.) in a plastic bag with as much air squeezed out as possible. RDWHAHB! Ed

 

[jwalk4]

Yeah, depends on who you ask. Many will say it is unacceptable. Many will say "you're fine!"

As with most things, the true answer is in the middle: not optimal, but probably not a make or break.

For my part, my lhbs gets the grain sent to them crushed, so it sits around for weeks at least.

 

[Leezer]

I have also gone 4 or 5 weeks before using crushed malt with no ill effects. As stated above, just store in a cool, dark place.

 

[RM-MN]

Heat and humidity are the enemies. Store cool and dry and it will last a long time, much longer than the week or 2 you are thinking about. If in doubt, do a smell test. If it smells fresh its fine.

 

[Gravity]

No

That being said, i'm assuming they were properly stored

 

[catdaddy66]

I had to back off on a brew session I had planned for 8 days ago due to a kitchen/plumbing emergency. I won't get to brew til this coming weekend. Two weeks should be no problem.

 

[italarican]

One of my beers my homebrew club raved about the most was made with grains that'd been crushed 14 months before. Stored sealed in ziploc gallon bags in a cool, dry closet.

 

[brick_haus]

I always crush my grain immediately before mash in.

But I don't have a reason why I do so besides procrastination!!
Properly stored, a couple weeks should be OK.

 

[Denny]

My wife wanted to do a pumpkin beer today. I bought the grains and had them crushed on Friday. Something came up today so we won't be able to brew until next Sunday. I see mixed answers on this question so I figure I'll ask again and get some opinions here.

Personally I've gone as long as 5 months with no problem. Briess says 2 years for properly stored crushed grain.

 

[Gravity]

i always crush my grain immediately before mash in.

+1

 

[RM-MN]

Personally I've gone as long as 5 months with no problem. Briess says 2 years for properly stored crushed grain.

If Briess is willing to say 2 years, then 4 years is probably still OK.

 

[izg]

The 'use by' date on the bags of grain I order in crushed is 1 year after crushing. That's sealed, of course. If I have stuff left I generally roll up the bag and tape it shut. Have brewed with this stuff a couple of months after opening and noticed absolutely no problems.

 

[LarMoeCur]

My wife wanted to do a pumpkin beer today. I bought the grains and had them crushed on Friday. Something came up today so we won't be able to brew until next Sunday. I see mixed answers on this question so I figure I'll ask again and get some opinions here.

A couple of months should not have any affect on the grains. Depending on how you stored them. Out in the damp nasty garage you may have issues in a nice dry dark grain bin or bucket covered. No worries. even in the HBS paper bag treated well you will be fine.

I bought a vacuum sealer off craigslist for $5 bucks. I've vacuumed sealed crushed grains and used 8 months later with no ill affects.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I've gone a few weeks without problem. They were stored in a bucket with a gamma lid in a cool basement though so I am sure that helped.

 

[madscientist451]

Yeah, your screwed, a week is too long. Put the grain in a box and fed ex it to me, I'll send you a couple of bottles when its done.
Ok just kidding, don't worry, it will still be beer, I've gotten busy and had crushed grains sitting around for months (in a sealed bag in a sealed bucket) and although I can't recommend that practice, the beer still came out fine.

 

[jdonley]

I left mine wrapped up in the paper bag that I crushed and purchased them in, from my LHBS for 2 weeks. Everything was fine.