Storage of crushed malt

[Marcusp]

I'm just about to do my first biab having been a kit brewer for 12 months.
I'm going to put an order in with the malt miller and would like to order a 25kg sack of base malt however I don't have my own mill and would like to order it ready crushed.

My question is if I order it ready crushed how long can I store it for. I was thinking of keeping it in the garage in one of the airtight mango barrels with a spring seal.

Will it keep for a few months if it's ready crushed or should I invest in my own mill and order and store it uncrushed. The only issue with this is the cost of a mill as they don't seem cheap

 

[hairybiker]

Freshly crushed malt can be stored happily for 6 months as long as it is a seal container and out of sun light.
I tend to use mine in 3 months so keep it in the sack away from mice.

 

[rpt]

My 25kg sack lasts about 6 months and I store it on the garage floor. I tie up the bag but it isn't particularly well sealed. As far as I can tell the malt is absolutely fine.

 

[adomant]

It's important to keep the crushed malt in a suitable container because it will absorb moisture over time which will in turn cause unwanted microbial activity such as fungus e.g. aspergillus which can give rise to toxins and cause grass like off flavours ([url="http://www.bjcp.org/docs/OffFlavorFlash.pdf"]http://www.bjcp.org/docs/OffFlavorFlash.pdf[/url]

Mango type barrels are usually LDPE which will slow this happening a lot so up to 6 months should be ok, less than 3 would be ideal. LDPE will still allow air and moisture to pass through over a long period of time so it is not a perfect container but good enough for our purposes.

[edit]

I prefer to have professionally crushed grain than do it myself as quality of grain crushing has a big impact on the brewing process.

 

[oldjiver]

I buy mine uncrushed and keep it in a plastic bin. I prefer my own crush as I like doing it and I think I make a gentler job by hand. My problem is I take a 2 month winter break in the Med which means half my bag is just sitting for months?
I will have to time my purchase better next year.

 

[Marcusp]

Cheers guys that's put my mind at rest and I'll be ordering a sack