Add water to grain - or grain to water?

[jerrylotto]

Does it matter? Addnig the grain to preheated water seems to be a better way to wet the mash and avoid balling, but adding preheated water to grain provides a more gradual and even temperature rise to the target. I use a recirculation pump anyway but I wanted to ask for conventional wisdom here.

 

[duncan.brown]

I underlet. Put the grain in the tun and then pump the warm water in from the bottom. Then I switch the connection and start recirculating though my HERMS coil. I give it a quick stir with my mash paddle when all the water is in, but I’ve never had dough balls with this method.

 

[jerrylotto]

Had to post this to find all of the similar threads. I KNEW this had to have been discussed before!