Coolers for Hot Liquids

[C-Rider]

Posted this as part of another post but there were no comments on it so I thought I'd post it alone to see what people think.


While wandering around on Coleman's web page I noticed that their round coolers are just that, coolers. It says "not recommended for hot liquids". Wonder if I'm slowly killin' myself and those that drink my beer.


I'm using a round 5 gallon Coleman cooler to mash my grains.

 

[mcaple1]

we all die someday.....mash away friend.

 

[BrewStooge]

I'm no chemical engineer, but my guess is since they're plastic it's referring to really hot liquids that can warp it. Beyond that, trust the masses of people that have been doing so for ages with no ill effects as a guide.

 

[mcaple1]

ages? not sure what your source is but using coolers for MLT's isnt exactly an age old secret. maybe in 50-60 years we might start seeing the health ramifications of doing so...but until then....brew on!!

 

[bob1852]

There are threads on here that explain it, I'll try and find them.

In short, the liners are safe to use at the temps we use them at, but retailers/manufacturer's don't want to deal with warped cooler replacement, so its recommended not to use hot liquids.

Edit: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/mash-cooler-hot-temp-safety-200194/index2.html#post2331313

 

[BrewStooge]

ages? not sure what your source is but using coolers for MLT's isnt exactly an age old secret. maybe in 50-60 years we might start seeing the health ramifications of doing so...but until then....brew on!!

Relatively speaking, I don't know how long it's been in practice but it seems like a pretty obvious solution for keeping stable temps for a long time. I figure someone has to have been doing so for a couple decades or more.

 

[mcaple1]

mmmmm....muyessss.....ages....

 

[C-Rider]

Thanks guys.

 

[Murray]

Yeah you will almost certainly not have any ill-effects of using a Coleman as a MLT. The intended design is as a cooler, but those materials are inert at the kind've temperatures we mash at. The manufacturers just put that on the side in case you put boiling liquid into it and the shape changes a bit.