Cooling wort too long?

[DrKennethNoisewater]

Random question....

So I just finished brewing an all-grain batch and I went to store it in my garage fridge to let it cool.

My dilemma is that I have to leave the house in about 30 minutes. I'll be gone for close to 3 hours. Will I be ok to transfer to my carboy at that point (around 8:30 EST) or will it have cooled too long??? Is there such thing as cooling your wort for too long? I imagine it will be cooler than room temp in an hour or so and just don't want to mess it up in any way.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[microbusbrewery]

So are you putting the boil kettle into the fridge? If so I hope this is after knocking it down a bit with an immersion chiller or by some other means. Otherwise you'll probably ruin the fridge. Assuming it's relatively cool, it should be fine. I'd leave the lid on to help ensure it stays sanitary until you get it in the fermenter and pitch your yeast.

 

[MindenMan]

Put the kettle in a sink full of water and ice, it might be pitching temp when you get home.

 

[DrKennethNoisewater]

I've done it before with no I'll affects (the fridge I mean). I just put a towel underneath it.

Anyway, yeah, it's the boil kettle.

I left the top on to avoid toxins, etc.

So if it gets down to like 60 or 62 it won't hurt anything?

 

[duboman]

+1 to both ideas,

No you really can't over chill the wort. In reality it is better to pitch a bit colder and allow the temp to self rise to desired fermentation temperature!

 

[microbusbrewery]

I've done it before with no I'll affects (the fridge I mean). I just put a towel underneath it. Anyway, yeah, it's the boil kettle. I left the top on to avoid toxins, etc. So if it gets down to like 60 or 62 it won't hurt anything?

No, 60-62F should be fine. The only concern that I can think of is make sure your yeast temp isn't too far off the wort temp when you pitch later tonight. They can get stressed by quick temp changes.

 

[DrKennethNoisewater]

Thanks fellas ! Much appreciated.

My damn brew kettle won't fit into my sink, so I have to use the garage fridge.

 

[duboman]

No, 60-62F should be fine. The only concern that I can think of is make sure your yeast temp isn't too far off the wort temp when you pitch later tonight. They can get stressed by quick temp changes.

Not to pick nits........

warm to cold is bad but cold to warm is really not a big deal. I chill to 58-60, pull my starter from the fridge, decant and pitch right out of the fridge, the yeast love it as they slowly warm to the desired ferm temp

 

[microbusbrewery]

Oh, forgot to ask...is it at near boiling temps? If it's not below 140F you could end up with some DMS issues from cooling it slowly with the lid on.

 

[ScottG58]

I have left wort in the kettle for several hours with the lid on with no ill effects. The cold break and hops settle and you will syphon clearer beer to the fermenter.

IMHO, however, the best practice is to chill fast, rack fast and pitch fast to reduce infection.