Storring Hops

[RabMaxwell]

Hello all i have ordered one of these vacuvin things to give it a try for storing pellet hops http://xrl.us/8nuo
I am going to see if i can come up with something before i order new hops. I already have a cheap vacuum sealing machine but the bags are a rip-off & i reckon i can squeeze more air out by hand (It's Rather Pish)

[Aleman]

Looks good Rab,

When I'm storing hops long term, I flush out some of the air with my co2/N2 mix from Midget widget. Give the bag a good squeezing, then flush again, then give it another good squeezing. Its worked so far.

[Madbrewer]

Low tech solution here, large bag for all my hops which are packed in foil tightly as possible. This bag is the push-seal type like coin bags used to be before they went wrap-over. I push the seal towards the middle from both ends and when i have a slight opening still in the middle I suck the remaining air out till it looks like a vaccum seal before popping it shut (sad i know). stored in the dark cupboard seems to work a treat!

[steve_flack]

stored in the dark cupboard seems to work a treat!

They would keep better still in the freezer - there's three things that make hops deteriorate and they're light, oxygen and heat. You're doing something about two of those. Without sorting out the third you'll still see a considerable drop off in alpha - as much as half of it in a year with some varieties.

[Madbrewer]

My wife has this strange habit of warming things up out of the freezer. I'm not totally confident that i wouldn't end up with pie & mash complete with this weird vegetable she found in the freezer

good point well made though

[steve_flack]

I have a drawer in the freezer just for hops - we have two freezers (not counting the one I use as a kegerator).

[RabMaxwell]

Hello all i gave this vacuvin thing a try with these little sticker valves he shows you how to make with electrical tape http://xrl.us/8nuo doesn't work worth a [censored] think i will use my vacuum packer instead. Has anyone got a cheapish source of good quality vacuum bags. The ones i have bought in the past has been expensive & pish quality. I will have to get something organised as i have 5 KG of Golding's pellets on there way from Charles Farms

[Vossy1]

Hi Rab, I used this roll to make my bags and the chaps on the forum who bought hops from me were really impressed with the vac packing.
They're really thick and top quality

Vac bag roll

[RabMaxwell]

Hello I had another Vacuvin idea i used plastic bottles with those push up lids sucked the air out. I am wondering if it would help them store even better if repressurise them with 70 / 30 mix gas

This is 5 KG saves a fair bit of space in the freezer

[steve_flack]

CO2 or N2/CO2 would be better than air as the oxygen in air is the culprit as it causes oxidation of the hops.