Nylon Grain Bags

[homebrewaddict]

Hey,

I use a nylon bag that I got from my LHBS to steep my grains in. When I use it I am always paranoid that it has the potential to melt, so I usually sit there for the 20 minutes or so and hold it in the wort while the water is brought up to a boil.

That being said, I just got my issue of BYO this month and one of the pictures depicts a nylon grain bag just sitting in the pot. Is this okay? Will the heat from the burners melt the bag on the bottom?

What do other people do with their nylon bags?

Thanks,

Homebrew Addict

[Fast_Eddy]

In general I never have the heat on(except short bursts if I need to boost the temp) while a grain bag is in the water. Treat it a little like a mash. Try heating the water into the 165F - 170F range and then put the grain bag into the water and cover. Let it steep for 30-45 minutes. You get the extraction that you need without have to worry about scorching the grain bag or the grain.

[toneyc]

I have had one melt. I much prefer using the cloth bags. When I have to use the nylon ones, I now suspend it from a wooden dowel placed across the brewpot opening. Most of the time, I don't even bother with a bag anymore. I mash/steep the grains on the stove top in a smaller pot, then run them through a strainer into my brewpot.

:)
Toney.

[MagTheGrate]

I tie the strings of my bag to the handle on my brewpot. This keeps it suspended about 4 inches from the bottom.

I turn the heat on pretty low.... and steep the grains while the water is heating to 170 degrees. I try to time it so it takes at least 30 minutes to hit that temp.

-Mag

[shaken]

I've used the nylon bags from the grain to the 1 1/2 hour boil of the hops and only had 1 problem. I can tell you, that where the problem comes in, is if the bag touches the bottom of the kettle where the heat is supplied, then it will melt. (I've used as many as 5 per batch, depending on the style I was playing with at the moment). but it would probably be best, as Mag said, to tie the strings on the pot handle, just to ease your own mind. The nylon bags are easier to clean, and don't fall apart.

[Beerconnoisseur]

...is to wedge the strings of the bag between the lid and the kettle lip. It keeps the grain and bag from resting on the bottom, for the most part.

However, I'm usually pretty busy, using the string to swirl the bag with the grain. IMHO, this makes sure all the grains are wetted, and that I have the maximum amount of sugars extracted into solution.

[croc4]

I do the same thing Mag does, I use a small aoumt of cotton string and tie it to the handle, the grain bag floats a few inches from the bottom, never had an issue and I have done 4 batches using two nylon bags for each batch
(I like adding grains to my extract brew ;-) )
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