DME punctured pack, still usable?

[Amidared]

I'm not sure this is the right place to post but I hope so. I just received an order of DME and yeasts but one of the packs of light malt extract was punctured with a small hole in the pack, the pack itself is sticky on the outside. I am pretty obsessive about the risk of contamination so I think I will simply dispose of it, it will be replaced anyway. But just for peace of mind would this still be usable?

 

[dad_of_jon]

I'm not sure this is the right place to post but I hope so. I just received an order of DME and yeasts but one of the packs of light malt extract was punctured with a small hole in the pack, the pack itself is sticky on the outside. I am pretty obsessive about the risk of contamination so I think I will simply dispose of it, it will be replaced anyway. But just for peace of mind would this still be usable?

a 20 min boil will sort out any nasties but as it's been replaced I wouldn'd use it, after all what made the dme sticky?

 

[Amidared]

a 20 min boil will sort out any nasties but as it's been replaced I wouldn'd use it, after all what made the dme sticky?

No I think I'll just throw it. Strange that, I just been reading some of your posts about your wheat beers. nice one.

 

[dad_of_jon]

No I think I'll just throw it. Strange that, I just been reading some of your posts about your wheat beers. nice one.

I've kept one from my first batch to drink at end of summer to see if it's still good if so I can brew two batches next year which will last from 1 may - 1 sept.

 

[Amidared]

I've kept one from my first batch to drink at end of summer to see if it's still good if so I can brew two batches next year which will last from 1 may - 1 sept.

I lived in Germany for 16-17 years and drank Weizen all year round, better in summer though in the garden I must admit. You kept one from your first batch? you must be itching to get at it. You might find me picking your brains a bit in future.

 

[Tony1951]

No I think I'll just throw it. Strange that, I just been reading some of your posts about your wheat beers. nice one.

Just boil the extract. Throwing it is a total waste of good product. I wouldn't even hesitate to use it boiled. What can survive a ten minute boil, let alone a twenty minute one? If it had been contaminated with chemical waste, it would be a different matter.

On the news today the fact that the British throw away more perfectly good food product than any nation in Europe, mostly because of the ludicrous terror of eating stuff beyond its sell by date, irrespective of whether it is perfectly good or not.

 

[Tony1951]

a 20 min boil will sort out any nasties but as it's been replaced I wouldn'd use it, after all what made the dme sticky?

Water vapour out of the air made it sticky. Like salt, sugar is hydroscopic and binds to water vapour becoming damp and sticky if exposed to air. This is particularly evident in ultra fine particles like DME or icing sugar.

I don't understand your reasoning in the above; you say (rightly) that a twenty minute boil will kill any germs and then suggest destroying the product.

 

[Covrich]

Water vapour out of the air made it sticky. Like salt, sugar is hydroscopic and binds to water vapour becoming damp and sticky if exposed to air. This is particularly evident in ultra fine particles like DME or icing sugar.

I don't understand your reasoning in the above; you say (rightly) that a twenty minute boil will kill any germs and then suggest destroying the product.

Yep DME does get sticky!!

Ever tried putting a bag in at flame out for a partial or extract it just glues like caramel all over your hands.

You could probably use it but use it quick so it doesn't go off

 

[Amidared]

Just boil the extract. Throwing it is a total waste of good product. I wouldn't even hesitate to use it boiled. What can survive a ten minute boil, let alone a twenty minute one? If it had been contaminated with chemical waste, it would be a different matter.

On the news today the fact that the British throw away more perfectly good food product than any nation in Europe, mostly because of the ludicrous terror of eating stuff beyond its sell by date, irrespective of whether it is perfectly good or not.

I'm like you I don't like throwing anything out unless I really need to but I'm no chemist and only know what I'm picking up from you guys and a few mates on another (cigar) forum in the U.S. who brew. What I was worried about was airborn bactaria, I have no idea how long or how the puncture happened but to be honest it looks ok in the bag just a bit sticky as I say where the puncture is. I'm having a go at a partial mash Weizen so I might just add it. Thanks for your imput, as I say I only know what I pick up from you guys so its all a learning curve and some mistakes are bound to be made .

 

[Tony1951]

I'm like you I don't like throwing anything out unless I really need to but I'm no chemist and only know what I'm picking up from you guys and a few mates on another (cigar) forum in the U.S. who brew. What I was worried about was airborn bactaria, I have no idea how long or how the puncture happened but to be honest it looks ok in the bag just a bit sticky as I say where the puncture is. I'm having a go at a partial mash Weizen so I might just add it. Thanks for your imput, as I say I only know what I pick up from you guys so its all a learning curve and some mistakes are bound to be made .

Make up the solution and boil it for a while. No bacterium and no mould can survive that. Sugar is actually used in preservation anyway - jam for example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_preservation

 

[dad_of_jon]

Water vapour out of the air made it sticky. Like salt, sugar is hydroscopic and binds to water vapour becoming damp and sticky if exposed to air. This is particularly evident in ultra fine particles like DME or icing sugar.

I don't understand your reasoning in the above; you say (rightly) that a twenty minute boil will kill any germs and then suggest destroying the product.

from a safety biological point of view, the boil will kill bugs. From my CDO (not ocd the letters are in the correct order as they should be remember) point of view..

Don't know what caused it to be sticky.

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...yard-feeding-her-old-dog-news-photo/116560634

Or how long it's been like that...

just saying

 

[dad_of_jon]

I lived in Germany for 16-17 years and drank Weizen all year round, better in summer though in the garden I must admit. You kept one from your first batch? you must be itching to get at it. You might find me picking your brains a bit in future.

No probs,

If I lived in Germany i'd be drinking weizen, maybe weizendopplebock in the darker months, aventinus or pikantus :-) will have to try brewing WDB one day!

On topic however, all the dme I've had has been well sealed e.g. muntons or double sealed with no loose dme in between the layers of plastic.

 

[Tony1951]

I have a dog not unlike that one. He loves beer, and now and then, I catch him dipping his nose into my glass and slurping it up.

 

[Amidared]

No probs,

If I lived in Germany i'd be drinking weizen, maybe weizendopplebock in the darker months, aventinus or pikantus :-) will have to try brewing WDB one day!

On topic however, all the dme I've had has been well sealed e.g. muntons or double sealed with no loose dme in between the layers of plastic.

I've just done Weizenbock, at least its in the FV right now. I decided to use the light dme as I'd put it into an airtight ziplock and as has been stated a good boil would sort out anything that wasn't desired. all seems well so far, early days though.