when to steep

[micromaniac]

hi guys does it make any differance if you steep any grains after you have added your malt ?(sugar extraction) only ive just read that it should be done first ,as i do my steeping in the boiler this would mean letting the wort cool before adding the dry malt or putting in cold water to stop the malt getting lumpy.

[Brotherton Lad]

It should still work. It depends how much water you have in with the extract. A very concentrated wort might find it more difficult to take up all the goodness from your grains. You could, this time as a work-around, steep the grains in a pot on the hop and add that to your wort.
It's more efficient to steep first, as you are heating up the water, and then go on to the boil, hops and extract stages.