OG readings are too low

I've now made two brews, both using recipe kits. Both times my OG readings have come in considerably lower than what the kit says they should be. I read elsewhere that this may be caused by the wort and water not being fully mixed in my primary when I take some out of the top for my hydrometer reading. I'm being sure to measure at 60 degrees.

Any tricks for getting a more accurate OG reading?

 

Have you taken into account a possible difference in volume? For example this weekend my batch came in 5 points lower than I calculated. But I was 5.5 gallons going into the fermenter instead of 5 even. Plugging the difference into my recipe made my OG dead on.

 

"Considerably lower" doesn't sound like something that would be caused by a half gallon here or there. Are you getting the kits from reputable sources? Are you topping up with water? That would be a possible cause of poorly mixed wort causing low gravity readings. You could gently stir with a sanitized spoon, or you could take a hydrometer reading before topping up (as long as you know the volume before top up) to determine what it would be after adding water. The yeast will probably stir it for you.

 

Are these extract kits, steep kits, partial mashers or all grain?

 

They are extract kits with steeping of specialty malts, as well.

 

Yes, from reputable source. I do top them with water. Should I take a hydrometer reading from a 60 degree wort sample?

 

What you really should do is take the hydrometer reading from the kit and leave your hydrometer in its case where it won't get broken. It is very difficult to get the high density wort to mix properly with the lower density water added. The only ways I would place any bets on would be a very long, large spoon that would reach clear to the bottom of the fermenter (does not apply to carboys) and stir like mad or use a paint mixer (long one, still needs to reach nearly to the bottom) on the electric drill.

If you put in all the extract that came with the kit and had the right amount of water, you hit the numbers on the kit box.

 

Read this.

 

You could be scorching the extract. If your boil is too vigorous, you can heat the extract at the bottom of the kettle before it dissolves to temperatures high enough to darken the beer and cause some of the syrup to stick to the kettle.

If your color is OK, you can just assume that you hit your OG in an extract kit.

 

Well that pretty well cleared it up for me. Thanks!

 

This occurance/question gets posted 2-3 times a day. It's just that common.