DME

[Hopperty]

Do I need to boil DME / Spray Malt. before adding to a kit ?

i haven't in the past with no problems, but have just been told I should boil it for 5 minutes before adding.

 

[Sandimas]

No you don't need to boil it. Adding it to warm water usually help with mixing it in, compared to cold water.

 

[Gerryjo]

As @darrellm says no boil needed and same for LME as they are both sealed products leaving the factory.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

So why do extract Brewers boil their wort?

 

[trevorS]

I was advised to boil DME for my starters!

 

[Gerryjo]

So why do extract Brewers boil their wort?

Some do and some don't but if you're adding hops you would need to boil for your bittering, aroma and flavouring additions.

 

[Gerryjo]

I was advised to boil DME for my starters!

If you have just opened a bag of DME there is no reason to but if its already been opened and sitting about it would be advisable as its not sterile.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Hop tea?

 

[Gerryjo]

Hop tea?

In what respect?

 

[Sandimas]

I was advised to boil DME for my starters!

By who?

There are lots of myths in homebrewing and this is one of them. You can boil it of you want to, but you don't need to: it's a sterile product.

Extract brewers boil DME because it helps with extraction of the hop oils, not because the DME needs it.

 

[MrRook]

By who?

There are lots of myths in homebrewing and this is one of them. You can boil it of you want to, but you don't need to: it's a sterile product.

Extract brewers boil DME because it helps with extraction of the hop oils, not because the DME needs it.

You don't need to boil to do that either. Temperatures above 165-180f (depending on who you ask) will get IBUs.

 

[An Ankoù]

So why do extract Brewers boil their wort?

Same reason as since the Middle Ages: unboiled water isn't potable. You never know how much Scum it's passed through.