So everyone seems to think my method of storing hops is substandard (1# bags, rolled up inside a ziplock with all the air squeezed out, in the freezer) so I bought a foodsaver.
I started packaging hops in 1 oz increments today. Pellets were no problem. Whole leaf (which make up about 70% of what I use) were more of a challenge. I had the following issues:
Goldings hops with their tiny loose leaves want to go everywhere. This includes jumping all over the place with the static charge of the bags and the sealer itself.
Getting them into bags is a challenge. 8" wide bags fit inside the 1# bags but have a narrow neck making them hard to fill. 11" bags really do not fit in the original bag so hops go all over the place when getting them out to the food saver bag.
I am sure some of this will be less of an issue with hops with a tighter cone structure but I would appreciate any pointers. At this point it seemed hardly worth it unless I buy more pellets (I have to use at least 1-2 OZ of leaf per 9 gallons in my process) or figure out a simpler way to portion and fill the bags.
I started packaging hops in 1 oz increments today. Pellets were no problem. Whole leaf (which make up about 70% of what I use) were more of a challenge. I had the following issues:
Goldings hops with their tiny loose leaves want to go everywhere. This includes jumping all over the place with the static charge of the bags and the sealer itself.
Getting them into bags is a challenge. 8" wide bags fit inside the 1# bags but have a narrow neck making them hard to fill. 11" bags really do not fit in the original bag so hops go all over the place when getting them out to the food saver bag.
I am sure some of this will be less of an issue with hops with a tighter cone structure but I would appreciate any pointers. At this point it seemed hardly worth it unless I buy more pellets (I have to use at least 1-2 OZ of leaf per 9 gallons in my process) or figure out a simpler way to portion and fill the bags.