Hops storage

[hambrook]

I have quite a few bags hops but am not sure on how to store. They are all from the Malt Miller so Neale Brewing Supplies; some leaf some pellet.

Once opened I fold the packet over and close with a crocodile clip and store in the freezer - is that correct?

For unopened, vacuum packed hops I am storing in a cool cupboard; should they be stored in the freezer or are they fine in the cupboard as long as the are unopened?

[Goulders]

Freezer
Edit: unopened fine in a cool place

[YeastWhisperer]

I store all of my hops in the freezer compartment of my brewing refrigerator, opened or not. Storage temperature, available oxygen, and genetics determine the rate at which a hop variety deteriorates.

http://morebeer.com/brewingtechniques/l ... aretz.html

[6470zzy]

Freezer compartment it the best whether they have been opened or not. Ideally it is best to minimize the exposure to Oxygen so a vacuum sealer is a wonderful accessory to have.

Cheers

[hambrook]

Freezer compartment it the best whether they have been opened or not. Ideally it is best to minimize the exposure to Oxygen so a vacuum sealer is a wonderful accessory to have.

Cheers

Any recommendations on Vacuum Sealers; a quick search on eBay turned up this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//260833634592

[Grumpydev]

Freezer compartment it the best whether they have been opened or not. Ideally it is best to minimize the exposure to Oxygen so a vacuum sealer is a wonderful accessory to have.

Cheers

Any recommendations on Vacuum Sealers; a quick search on eBay turned up this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//260833634592

That's the one I have - ordered it from Amazon.

[mattp94]

Freezer compartment it the best whether they have been opened or not. Ideally it is best to minimize the exposure to Oxygen so a vacuum sealer is a wonderful accessory to have.

Cheers

Any recommendations on Vacuum Sealers; a quick search on eBay turned up this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//260833634592

That's the one I have - ordered it from Amazon.

Do these work to reseal the aluminium coated bags that the hops generally come in or do you need to put them inside a proprietary vacuum bag to seal them?

[Wonkydonkey]

It may depend on if the bag is ribbed or not. (Channels to suck the air out)

[BenB]

Most of the bags hops are supplied in have smooth internal surfaces so won't work with that type without using a straw or ridged bit of plastic to allow the air to be removed. Snorkel vacs can be had imported from the states for about 100 quid which will do them otherwise you're looking at £££ of just sealing the bag with hair straighteners(!) after putting in an oxygen scavenging pellet- this means a vacuum isn't necessary- is the oxygen that's the problem not the rest of air.

[Graham]

The results of tests on this subject published in an article in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing indicate that keeping air out is far more important than temperature. Indeed hops stored in a vacuum at room temperature do not deteriorate much over a year. Lower temperatures reduce the deterioration even further, but even so, there is not much advantage in going much below 5 degrees C. I don't know how a vacuum can be achieved in a domestic environment without specialist equipment. At one time there used to be available plastic food bags and Tupperware-type boxes that had a nozzle, through which the air could be sucked out using either a vacuum cleaner or a special pump, often made of cardboard, that behaved like a balloon pump or a bicycle pump that worked backwards; i.e., sucked rather than blowed. I have not seen these things for ages but, a few days ago, I was assured by a friend of mine that these things still exist and are available from specialist shops and online.

[BenB]

Just incase anyone wants a snorkel vac ebay
"KeepFresh Vacuum Sealer - 220 Volt"
This is what I did. Works really well including shiny internal mylar bags.

[Tango Man]

Thanks BenB for the advise, just done that. Got 5kg of Nelson on order so needs to be split.

[kebabman]

Tango Man
Do you mind me asking who you are getting your 5kg of NS from?

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Simply hops? I suspect? Leaf is a b*tch to split up though. I know a lot of guys who sit on their deals page for pellets though.

[Gorebyss]

I typically use a vacuum sealer from crazysales to store my hops using technique. Since I typically buy hops in 1 pound bags that are sealed in mylar, this works perfectly. I've sealed hops like this for up to 18 months with only a little loss of flavor and aroma. A quick search online and found: http://www.crazysales.com.au/vacuum-sealer/
It looks good and I likely bought mine on that site. Not so sure, I got mine years ago.