Crushed grain, how long does it stay fresh for?

[PaulStat]

I'm confused by John Palmer's comment

"Crushed grain will stay fresh for about two weeks if kept cool and dry."

How does your average home brewer get through 25Kg of grain in two weeks?

[ChrisG]

I read somewhere that someone used crushed grains that were a year old and they were fine.

I wouldnt do that, just get them crushed when you need to.

[Madbrewer]

I read somewhere that someone used crushed grains that were a year old and they were fine.

I wouldnt do that, just get them crushed when you need to.

I can beat that - I buy mine pre crushed and once kept the grains sealed for two years and the brew turned out fine. I'm not sure though that you wouldn't have noticed a slight difference in the maltiness if I had brewed two batches, one with old and one with new.

[wetdog]

I was going to buy a 25kg sack of MO, if I estimate around 4kg per brew and say 1 brew a month then it only needs last 5 or 6 months

[Andy]

Keep the air, damp and mice away from it and it will be fine for months.

[delboy]

Palmer talks a load of bum sometimes!!

[Stonechat]

I'm sure the last time I bought crushed malt the Muntos bag had a Best Before date that lasted about 6 months. If the maltsters have the confidence to put a date like that on their product then as Delboy said Palmer is talking nonsense.

He is not a citizen of the United States of America perchance? No disrespect to our sensible, solid chaps from there posting on Jims

[Aleman]

Muntons are the only supplier that put a 12 month BBE date on their crushed malt . . . . If kept dry crushed malt is fine for up to a year or more . . . if it gets damp then its very short lived. You may notice a reduction in efficiency as time goes on which is certainly an indication that it is getting damp and needs to be used quickly.

Whole malt also needs to be kept dry as well, but does keep longer that crushed. . . . You have to ask yourself if its worth the cost of a mill though

[ChrisG]

You have to ask yourself if its worth the cost of a mill though

I think I just like the idea of crushing my own. Saves a trip to the home brew shop too.