Does barley gain weight while germinating?

[peanutaxis]

Should my kilned malt weigh the same as my starting grain?



thanks
p

 

[emjay]

Should my kilned malt weigh the same as my starting grain?

thanks
p

I doubt germination actually causes the grain to gain weight... I suppose it could absorb some oxygen or even moisture to do it though.

However, kilning obviously alters the moisture content, typically reducing it. So, far from gaining weight, I would expect a *decrease* in mass.

 

[peanutaxis]

Thanks, so what you're saying is that kilned malt would have a lower moisture content than the starting grain.

 

[mloster]

Yep. Emjay is correct. It loses a significant amount of moisture. Also, little tails, acrospires, grow during the malting process and are removed. Thus the malted grain loses some mass in that fashion too.