covering wort

[kjm13]

OK - I know this may seem like a silly question. I know the rule of thumb is to never cover your wort while boiling etc... Think there is any risk in covering it for like 2 minutes while I carry it outside to cool, so the snow dripping of the house doesn't fall in the wort?
thanks!

 

[WileECoyote]

OK - I know this may seem like a silly question. I know the rule of thumb is to never cover your wort while boiling etc... Think there is any risk in covering it for like 2 minutes while I carry it outside to cool, so the snow dripping of the house doesn't fall in the wort?
thanks!

Yes by all means cover it up, when people say do not cover your wort they mean during the boil, any other time it is best covered so nasties don't get into it, especially during cooling the wort.

Cheers

 

[kjm13]

Yes by all means cover it up, when people say do not cover your wort they mean during the boil, any other time it is best covered so nasties don't get into it, especially during cooling the wort.

Cheers

That's what I thought - just wanted to double check as it will still be putting off steam at the point I cover it briefly.
thanks!

 

[flars]

Snow is also a great insulator. If you set your kettle in the snow you will have melt around it and then the snow will hold the heat around the kettle. The insulating effect can be counteracted by continually refreshing the snow against the kettle. Stirring with a sanitized spoon will speed the cooling.

 

[kjm13]

Snow is also a great insulator. If you set your kettle in the snow you will have melt around it and then the snow will hold the heat around the kettle. The insulating effect can be counteracted by continually refreshing the snow against the kettle. Stirring with a sanitized spoon will speed the cooling.

Thanks for the tip! I have a wort chiller and a 2 bucket system. I have thin hose tubing that I run through the first bucket filled with ice. (Or snow if available, which in norther NE this winter it readily is!) then hook up that to the wort chiller. Then put the brew kettle in the second bucket filled with ice water. I usually get 5gal down from 190F to 70F in <15 min. Works well esp in summer.

 

[flars]

Thanks for the tip! I have a wort chiller and a 2 bucket system. I have thin hose tubing that I run through the first bucket filled with ice. (Or snow if available, which in norther NE this winter it readily is!) then hook up that to the wort chiller. Then put the brew kettle in the second bucket filled with ice water. I usually get 5gal down from 190F to 70F in <15 min. Works well esp in summer.

Nice!