Steeping grains

I've read that you need to steep the grains for 15-30 minutes when making beer, but I was wondering what the difference would be for a 30min steep time vs a 15min steep time.
How will it affect the final product?

It would increase the amount of extraction from the grains.

If they are "steeping grains", that is crystal type grains, you'll get nothing more out of them than they can give so 15-20 minutes is fine. Steeping it for longer won't give you more flavor or color or sugar out of them.

If they are "mashing grains"- that is base malt, or grains that must be mashed, they should be in the liquid for 45 minutes to an hour so that the starches can be converted into fermentable sugars.

Steeping grains is like making tea- for the first few minutes you'll get more out of them just like when you make tea. But steeping tea for 30 minutes won't give you better tea than when you steep for 10 minutes. The same is true with steeping grains. Once they are "done", they are done.

I put them into the water when I turn on the heat and watch the temperatures in the boil As soon as it hits 165F, out they come.

Yooper said:

Steeping grains is like making tea- for the first few minutes you'll get more out of them just like when you make tea. But steeping tea for 30 minutes won't give you better tea than when you steep for 10 minutes. The same is true with steeping grains. Once they are "done", they are done.

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You obviously have a lot more experience with this than me and I now rarely use steeping grains but I have never heard this before. I have heard it likened to tea by Palmer but he still suggests 30 minutes. You would never go 30 with crystal?

Ok, thank you guys very much. I figured it was like making tea, but I figured I should ask someone.

ayoungrad said:

You obviously have a lot more experience with this than me and I now rarely use steeping grains but I have never heard this before. I have heard it likened to tea by Palmer but he still suggests 30 minutes. You would never go 30 with crystal?

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No, never. Usually 15-20 minutes will do it.