BIAB with nylon paint strainer bag

hawkeyes · 02-07-2012, 11:19 PM

I'm going to start doing BIAB 2.5 Gallon batches. I'm curious if it's alright to have the nylon paint strainer bag rest on the bottom of the kettle? Since I will be doing this on an electric stove. I'm wondering if the bag can handle the heat and not melt. Thanks!

Eternalodyssey · 02-07-2012, 11:21 PM

NO! Its unlikely to melt since the surrounding wort will keep it from melting temps, but there is always the chance it can happen. Buy a metal colander from Walmart for @ $2-3 and save yourself the headaches.

evwoller · 02-07-2012, 11:23 PM

Mine is/was fine but my pot has a slightly convex shape to the bottom (when looking down into it). YMMV

**ghack** · 02-07-2012, 11:26 PM

I picked up the cheap metal vegetable steamer, and pulled the center rod off. Toss it in the bottom of the pot and no worries.

**mneilson** · 02-08-2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghack

I picked up the cheap metal vegetable steamer, and pulled the center rod off. Toss it in the bottom of the pot and no worries.

This is what I did for my last BIAB batch...worked like a charm.

bighorn_brew · 02-08-2012, 01:19 AM

Nope, def dont have it on the bottom and have the heat turned on, I walked away thinking I had turned the heat off and had submerged my bag,,,,remembered not more than a minute or so later...ding ding ding "did I turn the heat off?" Nope. Bag burned, actually burned to the bottom of stainless steel pot. Scrubbed off with a 3m abrasive pad, but still out 3.5 lbs doing a partial mash, needless to say I forged on, but went back to using my stainless steel colander as the "bag."

**borden** · 02-08-2012, 01:51 AM

If you don't have the heat on while the bag's in the water, you're fine. If you miss your mash temp by a few degrees, just add some boiled water (for heat) or cool water (for lowering it).

Of course, this means you can't do a mashout, but if you hit your efficiency without one, why bother with the added step?

stux · 02-08-2012, 03:00 AM

I would suggest a round cake rack. They only have to be half and inch or so tall

kcross13 · 02-08-2012, 03:05 AM

i have had no issues. i even did a step mash by heating from bottom and stir stir stir, and no issues with the bag. However one did rip after five batches.

evwoller · 02-08-2012, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcross13

i have had no issues. i even did a step mash by heating from bottom and stir stir stir, and no issues with the bag. However one did rip after five batches.

meeee toooooo except the rip