Malt extract shelf life

[QED]

All,
Contemplating buying the 15 kg muntons light malt extract jerry can however i'm not going to use it all at once. Should it be ok if I open it on day 1 and use 5 x 3kg per brew over the next 6 months?

Thanks

 

[evanvine]

It does have a limited shelf life as some "Partial mash" of mine friends found out.
I will ask the question and let you know.

 

[QED]

Thanks evanvine however I think that I have found the answer here

For those of you that dont want to read the whole link but are interested, here's the punch-line:

Liquid malt syrup that has been opened, or is sold in bulk plastic containers, has a much shorter shelf life. While buying malt syrup in this form is normally less expensive, it must be used in less than 3 months, or the syrup will degrade or even grow mold

 

[evanvine]

That's good news QED.
Do you know any sources of UK literature that deals with brewing from liquid malt extract?
Richard Gutteridge was asking, a Forum member who is making the transition from kits to extract brewing.

 

[QED]

I've been reading "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" which I found to be a great reference for extract brewing. Especially good for helping the beginner take the next few tentative steps as there are a large number of extract recipes and guidelines. It's an American book however there's nothing that it talks about that you can't get in the online brew-shops in the UK.

I am also using the fermenting technique illustrated in this book whereby you ferment in a demijohn. It's working great for me however seems to be a bit controversial!

 

[evanvine]

Just for info QED.
Sharon (not a member) had kept her LME for 2 years before it went past it's best!
This of course is probably exceptional.

 

[Aleman]

I am also using the fermenting technique illustrated in this book whereby you ferment in a demijohn. It's working great for me however seems to be a bit controversial!

Not really controversial, just unnecessary. Fermenting beer is a lot more forgiving than fermenting wine, and, generally, is stored for much shorter times than wine. Therefore a fully closed container is not required, plastic fermenting bins are more than adequate . . . and much easier to clean . . . and cheaper . . . and less likely to slit you leg open when you drop one. . .The Better Bottle goes some way to addressing some of the issues but it's still over kill (A bit like a conical really :lol:) . . . but that is the American way from much of what I have read / seen in the home brew literature.

As for the shelf life of liquid extract . . . up to 12 months, although once opened you do need to use it fairly rapidly . . . if you keep it cool it will last longer, but it is much harder to measure out when it is at -10C (Ive successfully frozen LME and it extends the storage life considerably . . . just difficult to pour out) . . You may want to consider getting a small honey gate that fits on the Jerry can, which makes it simple to cut off the flow without leaving sticky trails everywhere.

The one thing I've discovered is even with the high osmotic potential of the extract it is still possible to get mould growth, generally it happens where water drops form on the surface reducing the concentration of the sugars (You see this in Jam as well). The good thing is that this can be scrapped off as it does not affect the usability of the extract as it really is just above the surface of the extract.

 

[QED]

Aleman,
I never actually thought of freezing it. I could possibly divide it into 5 lots of 3 kg in small containers or bags on day 1 of receiving it and throw it in the freezer and just take a bag out when I need it.
Buying it in bulk in this manner makes it half the price of the tins so makes much more sense.
:hmm: food for thought.

Thanks

 

[Aleman]

Splitting it when it arrives and freezing it then and there is a much better way of dealing with it than freezing 15Kg of it and trying to measure a couple of kilos when you need it . . . It resembles tar at -18C and flows very very slowly Plus if you put it into tubs and press some cling film over the surface you reduce the problem of mould growing on the surface.