Best place to store hops?

[Mucknbullets]

Right I have just put on a new brew and obviously didn't use all 113g of Saaz hops. Now what is the best way/place to store them?

Cheers
Ade

[Stomach]

Hi Mate

The best place is in the freezer!

Cheers

[Mucknbullets]

Excellent as that is where they are. Wrapped foil pack in cling film and chucked them in. Had read it before but wasn't sure mind was playing tricks or not.

Cheers
Ade

[sbond10]

What do you do when you use them again throw into the steeping pit frozen or defrost

[Monkeybrew]

What do you do when you use them again throw into the steeping pit frozen or defrost

May sound weird, but they don't really freeze solid, so you can just use them as normal

[jaberry]

No moisture so they just stay cold, easy to pull apart as when first opened

[sbond10]

Yeah was wondering if they'd stick together like a pieces of meat

[Wolfy]

Storing them free of oxygen is the most important thing, since that is what causes the most degradation over time.
If they are kept free of oxygen the temperature matters significantly less.
Interestingly most home-brewers will suggest you keep them in the freezer, but most industry experts suggest that keeping them in the refrigerator (whole hops and plugs especially) is better and that freeze/thaw cycles can harm the hops (compressed pellets are not likely to change much in the fridge or freezer).

[sbond10]

I thought pellets could be kept anywhere as long as its airtight

[Mucknbullets]

No moisture so they just stay cold, easy to pull apart as when first opened

Right, easy to pull apart. Not supposed to be a brick that needed hacking at with a sharp knife. Hmm mine might be old then. Just checked and go out of date next month. Oh well, best get another brew on and chuck the lot in

[orlando]

Wolfy's point about oxygen is important. Keeping them frozen will help in stopping volatile hop oils from losing their aroma but oxygen will stale them. If you have a food sealer then their ability to remove oxygen helps you to achieve the best of both worlds. The other issue is light but the freezer should deal with that.

One other point: If you are in an LHBS and you can smell hops don't buy any from there. See above. Unless they are repackaging of course.

[Monkeybrew]

No moisture so they just stay cold, easy to pull apart as when first opened

Right, easy to pull apart. Not supposed to be a brick that needed hacking at with a sharp knife. Hmm mine might be old then. Just checked and go out of date next month. Oh well, best get another brew on and chuck the lot in

I seem to remember that you said you had a 113g pack of hops.

I haven't used this type myself but the vacuum pack looks like a compressed brick of hops, so that may be why you have had to hack them apart.

All of the 100g packs that I have used soon break apart once opened.