Beer Machine Powder Hard as a Brick

[riteandritual]

I bought a Beer Machine kit from the thrift store for 10 bucks. Looks like its been used once and sitting around ever since. I mostly just bought it for a convenient bottling bucket / apfelwein or mead fermenter, but I'd like to give it a try just once to see what its like.

Problem is the two beer powder packets it came with are hard as a rock. Is there a way to soften them up? Can they be used like that, or have they indeed 'gone bad'?

Is it worth the bother/risk?

 

[bullinachinashop]

I'm not familiar with the beer machine kit, but I'll assume the packets are some form of DME. If the kit requires you to bring everything to a boil, just steep the "powder" in a SS strainer and break up the clumps.

You may want to put it into the micro for a short time to see if that will help soften it like brown sugar.

You already paid for it so you may as well try to make something out of it.

I wouldn't expect great results.

Good luck,

Bull

 

[billc68]

I had some DME recently that was hard as a rock, it disolved the same as a fresh package, no issues at all.

 

[riteandritual]

Actually the instructions say to pour it in room temperature water, but I'll try the microwave idea. If that doesn't work, I'll try dissolving it in hot water like a regular DME.

Thanks guys!

 

[homebrewer_99]

Do not unseal the bag...slowly (not hard) hit it with a hammer (use the side for more area coverage) for a while...it'll go back to powder form. Trust me. I've done it.