Polystyrene box

[dopejack]

I've just 'aqcuired' a polystyrene box from work. Excellent insulation properties, but will a hot mash leach anything bad from the box?
Cheers

[likesbeer]

If its just polystyrene and doesnt have a plastic coating then it may well do, was it for liquid food stuffs use? (before it was aquired )
If no to both of those then it is probably a bit of a risk, also worth trying and seeing what happens if you put 70 - 80 degree water in it, see if it changes colour, leaks etc etc
Styrene isnt good for you, and the cheapo polystyrene cups are sometimes barely water tight

[edit1now]

Test it carefully. Polystyrene isn't usually a completely closed-cell foam, and you could have leaks between the stuck-together balls. I've seen a polystyrene cup start to leak when lemon juice was added to the hot water, though your mash shouldn't be that acidic.

Maybe you could use the box as insulation for an oblong bucket or something?

[nobby]

I've just 'aqcuired' a polystyrene box from work. Excellent insulation properties, but will a hot mash leach anything bad from the box?
Cheers

also great for planting potatoes in