Rice hulls

[Beer Please]

Hi all.

I see a lot of those using a bewzilla suggest using rice hulls in the grain bill to prevent blockages/help with sparging.
What ratio should I be using?
TIA

 

[gyurmaember]

It's depends on your grain crush. As far as I know there's no negative effect if you use too much. After a couple of brews you'll know how much is enough by the feeling of your mash paddle at the dough in. I can't really describe it better or give you an exact amount.

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

As a rule of thumb I go 5% of the total grain bill

 

[MmmBeer]

I only use rice hulls when there is a significant risk of clogging, e.g if you are using a large proportion of a grain such as wheat or oats that produce a lot of beta glucan. If your sparges are working fine without rice hulls, it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[The Baron]

I use Oat husks but only when I have some negative grains/adjuncts. When I do use them a couple of large handfuls is usually enough as a free flowing mash is what it should be and not too free flowing.
I would think 5% IMO is quite a lot as they do not weigh heavy.
In summarising I would only use when essential and most mashes benefit from a stir if they are showing signs of sticking a little

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

Personally, I haven't had a problem using 5%. It hasn't impacted my mash efficiency. Agree on the advice to give it a bit of a stir if it's sticking a little.

 

[fgoulding]

I use 2 or 3 handfuls of rice hulls and it works great for me. No stuck sparges and a bump in efficiency.

 

[Hop_it]

Everything posted above concerning rice hulls is fine. However, there are a number of Forum members who suggest that they should be avoided because of the risk of contamination from pesticides etc. I don't really know if this is a real/serious risk, and I have suffered no ill effects myself from using them in beers like Weizen where there is a risk of a poorly draining mash (a particular issue with the Bz). So, if you do decide to use them, I would suggest rinsing them thoroughly with a couple of kettles full of boiling water before adding them to the mash. You will be surprised/possibly horrified just how coloured the rinse water is

 

[The Baron]

I am sure that I have read that you should rinse them before use but can not remember where

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

I have never rinsed them time for a change in practice I think

 

[The Baron]

I use oat husks and have never rinsed them either

 

[Hop_it]

It may not be necessary, and there may not be any toxicity issue, but the colour of the rinse water suggests that at the very least they are not very clean.

 

[fgoulding]

I bought mine from Geterbrewed and I have never rinsed them nor had any issues. That’s not to say one shouldn’t but I’m too lazy to start!

 

[The Baron]

Builds up your immunity

 

[foxy]

I have mentioned it a few times about washing the rice hulls before use. Throughout their growing life rice hulls are sprayed with insecticides and fungicides, the final spray is weed killer when they are ready to harvest.
Here in Australia the hulls must be washed if going into animal feed. There are washing plants which specialise in the washing of rice hulls solely for animal feed, so that should indicate that it isn't a good idea to use them without washing. Or don't use them at all just increase the liquid of the mash and stir regularly for 20 - 30 mins.

 

[fgoulding]

My next beer will be an IPA - Insecticide Pale Ale

 

[fgoulding]

In all seriousness, the Geterbrewed rice hulls are from Brewferm which are apparently steam-sterilised, free from organic & chemical contaminants and with a completely neutral flavour profile

Oh, and they are cheap as chips…

 

[foxy]

In all seriousness, the Geterbrewed rice hulls are from Brewferm which are apparently steam-sterilised, free from organic & chemical contaminants and with a completely neutral flavour profile

Oh, and they are cheap as chips…

Easy way to find out if they are clean is make a tea with them, look at the colour and the taste. I use them in my hydroponics as a growing medium then dump them in the compost, this is what comes up.
Because of this some countries don't allow them to be used as chicken litter, the sharp eyes of the chicken pick up the stray grain of rice.

 

[Hop_it]

I bought mine from Geterbrewed and I have never rinsed them nor had any issues. That’s not to say one shouldn’t but I’m too lazy to start!

I also bought my last bag from them, and they appear to be no cleaner than any that I had bought from other suppliers prior to that. The rinse water is still very brown coloured. . . . . . . It's your choice, and to be honest, the risk of harm is probably quite small, but I prefer not to ingest it.

 

[fgoulding]

I’ll give it a go next time and see.