Free hops in kettle & heating element?

[InTrOvErT]

Does anyone who uses a heating element in their boil kettle also throw hops right in the kettle without a hop bag? Does this pose any risk with heating element contact? i.e. will the hops burn/char/stick on the element?

 

[milldoggy]

Do it all the time, no issues.

 

[wysiwyg]

I've only free-hopped with pellets a couple of times before I got tired of cleaning out my plate chiller, now I always use a sock. Never had an issue with scorching. I did have a scorching issue using whole hops in the boil, now I only use them after 'flameout'.

 

[milldoggy]

The rolling boil keeps things moving around