Hydrometer reading before or after settling of wort

Hi,

So my boil is done. I stir up the wort to make such it's relatively distributed. Pull a sample.

My samples these days have lots of particles and such (either hop stuff or just break material). Drop in the hydrometer and take a reading. Is the more correct reading the one immediately after droppping in the hydrometer or maybe 15/20 minutes after the junk has settled. Me thinks the later reading is probably more accurate. Note that in my latest beer the difference is a good 3 to 4 points. (1.043 to 1.047)

-paul

It depends.

I'm assuming you're cooling your sample before measuring? Or converting based on temp? Just making sure.

To me, the most accurate would be after things have settled. Surprised you got such a big difference honestly.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

I don't think you need to stir your wort after the boil. The boil itself will have the wort stirred.
I prefer to not have particles in my hydrometer sample just in case it may affect the reading. I also let the sample cool to within 10° or so of my hydrometer calibration temperature. Correction charts and apps have a less accurate conversion as the recorded sample temperature increases.
The time for cooling allows some time for remaining particles to settle.