Malt economy, storing the bigger bag?

[Shadowknight]

I've made a couple of beers now, and am happy that AG/BIAB is the way for me, so am now making my brew days cost effective. By buying 25kg bags of Pale I can knock £5 off a brew.

I've purchased a 80ltr black bin to store it in, keep it off the floor, keep it dry etc. Is this bin okay to keep the malts in, assuming I am keeping the malt in the original grain bag? Or should I line the bin with something?

Thanks in anticipation.

[Blackaddler]

I've purchased a 80ltr black bin to store it in, keep it off the floor, keep it dry etc.

What's the bin made of?

Malt sacks are plastic lined, so should be OK anyway.

[Shadowknight]

HDPE, the base is at least. Its solid enough, wasn't sure if I would get any taint or anything transferring to the grains.

[Blackaddler]

HDPE, the base is at least. Its solid enough, wasn't sure if I would get any taint or anything transferring to the grains.

HDPE [High-density polyethylene] is food grade, so perfect.

[Shadowknight]

Cheers BA, I wasn't 100% sure, thought it best to check.

[Wolfy]

Anything that keeps the mice, bugs, moths and moisture out of your grain works fine, sounds like your bin is ideal.
(I just keep mine in the original bags with the tops folded tightly over to seal and then piled on the floor).

[boingy]

HDPE is not automatically food-safe. It depends on what additives the manufacturer used to colour it and stuff. However, it's not really an issue here because it will not be in contact with the grain.

I use a cheapo black plastic dustbin and it's fine. Keep the grain in the original sack and put that inside the bin. The bin will give a bit of extra protection from humidity, rodents, small children and accidental damage from, say, the lawnmower when I am putting it away next to the grain store....

[Shadowknight]

Cheers for replies guys.

My economy issue also allows me to develop a 'house beer' as well as the random experimental 'what if...' brews.
Saturday morning, buy grain. Saturday late morning. Brew. Life is good.

[Horden Hillbilly]

When I store my grains in my large bin, I always put a few silica gel sachets on top of them (got them from shoe boxes, etc) to absorb any moisture which may be present.

[koomber]

When I store my grains in my large bin, I always put a few silica gel sachets on top of them (got them from shoe boxes, etc) to absorb any moisture which may be present.

Pro Tip!

[Shadowknight]

When I store my grains in my large bin, I always put a few silica gel sachets on top of them (got them from shoe boxes, etc) to absorb any moisture which may be present.

Pro Tip!

Indeedy. Think I have some around this pit too.

[Kev888]

Just to emphasise the rodent issue; Some people don't seem to have any problems whilst some do. I had one chew through a thick blue HDPE barrel once, fortunately I noticed the hole before (I think) using any grain from that bin, on closer inspection there were lots of small brown pellets mixed in with the chewed grain... eew!

But that was out in the garage, I've had no problems in the house. I'll be wanting to store it out there again soon though, so I'll be getting metal dustbins or cupboard or something before then.

Cheers
Kev