Chill wort in a chest freezer?

[doomXsaloon]

Hi all,
I was wondering if it was possible/advisable to chill 5 gal of wort (2 gal boil; 3 gal cold water) in a chest freezer instead of using an ice bath or immersion chiller....
Thanks!!

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Could? Yes.

Should? Well, I wouldn't but......

 

[wolfstar]

Water is better at conducting heat than air. Just setting your kettle in a cold area will not offer the same amount of energy transfer as setting it in ice water.

 

[LVBen]

I've done it several times. It is basically a "no chill" brew.

 

[Bradinator]

If you do, cover the kettle to prevent nasty drippings into your wort. I tried it once and found that it took WAY longer then cooling with a plain cold tap water bath in the sink. Then I got sick of doing that and just no-chill. But thats just me.

 

[acefaser]

If your only boiling 2 gallons just use an ice bath. I crash cool my 5 gallon fermenters in my chest keezer and that takes about 10 hours to go from 65 to 33.