Igloo Mash

Two questions relating to my igloo mash tun:

1. What is the best way to clean and sanitize? Are there any chemicals that damage the plastic that I should avoid?

2. I'm thinking about filling a second igloo with sparge water for my sparge, but am worried that putting really hot sparge water in the igloo might release some nasty chemicals from the plastic inside. Is this a legitimate fear or can igloos handle water with really high temps?

Thanks!!

1. You don't have to sanitize it- it's preboil. I just clean it with a hot water rinse right after emptying the mash. If you let it sit, it's harder to clean but an oxiclean soak will clean it nicely.

2. Yes, that is a concern. That's why I finally switched over to all-stainless, but I used Igloo coolers for about 6 years, brewing twice a month. If you go over 180 degrees, they will warp and crack (as I know from experience ) and I do wonder about the plastic leaching something as they aren't designed to be used with hot water. I noticed that the first time I used it with hot water, it smelled "plastic-y" and so I poured out that water and never noticed that odor again.

1. Since it's before the boil, it doesn't need to be sanitized. You just need to clean it out the best you can (I don't remove my false bottom too often, but every now and then I do inspect to make sure it's all still connected and working).

2. I think the igloos are meant to have either hot or cold drinks in them. I've seen them filled with coffee often, with no worries. I don't sparge this way, but I did see a lot of videos where they use a second cooler to hold sparge water, so it must work. My thought is the plastics used to make igloos are safer than the clear recycled plastics that they say to avoid in the microwave.

Good luck

Dave

My 5 gal igloo (round) cooler is going on 20 years old with no warpage or cracking. I use it for my sparge so it always gets near boiling water.

Like above, I just spray my mash tun (10 gal) cooler and use a soft sponge or just my hands to clean it. I do take out my false bottom every time to clean it. Otherwise I would have old grain stuck in the false bottom, which I would rather not have.

I am getting ready to upgrade my system as I have outgrown the 10 gallon mash tun and now I need a 15 gallon mash tun. Since they don't seem to make a 15 gallon round cooler, I guess I will be going the keggle route. But at that time, my 10 gal cooler will be my hot liquer (sparge).

Yooper said:

1. You don't have to sanitize it- it's preboil. I just clean it with a hot water rinse right after emptying the mash. If you let it sit, it's harder to clean but an oxiclean soak will clean it nicely.

2. Yes, that is a concern. That's why I finally switched over to all-stainless, but I used Igloo coolers for about 6 years, brewing twice a month. If you go over 180 degrees, they will warp and crack (as I know from experience ) and I do wonder about the plastic leaching something as they aren't designed to be used with hot water. I noticed that the first time I used it with hot water, it smelled "plastic-y" and so I poured out that water and never noticed that odor again.

Click to expand...

+2, went through two Rubbermaid HLT's before switching to larger SS setup. I did notice its less prone to warping if preheated.