Pressure Cooker Rack to Protect Wilser Bag?

[MaxStout]

Can we take a step back...
Don't you have trouble stirring the mash inside the bag? How do you get around the bag twisting around your mash paddle the whole time?

We know, stirring and turning over the mash is essential, because hot mash from the bottom needs to be brought upward to heat the cooler mash above it.
I'm curious, how well does that work with the bag being in there?

Due to the bag, you can't scrape the bottom of the kettle to prevent stickage and scorching/burning.
Hence I understand your idea of using a (thin) silicone mat to provide enough insulation to prevent the bag from scorching/burning/melting, while there should be enough heat convection through the mat to heat the bottom of the mash (in the bag).

On the other hand, using a false bottom would require some form of wort recirculation, to bring the hotter wort from underneath the false bottom to the top.

I have those stainless false bottoms from Brew Hardware. I bought the shortest legs, to minimize wort below the bag. Just enough spacing to keep the bag off the bottom. BTW, you can use them without legs at all. The false bottoms are constructed with rims that keep the mesh about 1/2" up.

As for stirring, I stir like I'm drawing a big asterisk on the bottom. Keeps the bag from twisting. And I use a big honkin' French whip, so it doesn't create as much rotation as a mash paddle would. Breaks up the dough balls nicely.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

The whisk sounds like a better tool than the spatula.

 

[seatazzz]

I too went with the Brewhardware FB; I have the bigger one for my BIAB 15g kettle, and the smaller (11" I think) for my cooler mash tun. The big one stays in the kettle during the entire mash and boil; has the added bonus of keeping the hop bag off the bottom as well. Yes they are pricey, but as @Broken Crow said, buy once cry once. They are super sturdy and being stainless will last a long long long time. I also went with Bobby's bent diptube; fits under the FB and gets every last drop of wort from the kettle with some judicious tipping.

 

[odie]

The whisk sounds like a better tool than the spatula.

I too use the big f-ing french wisk. BIG

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

My silicone "rack" arrived, and it looks great. Doubt I need it, but I'll use it anyway.