Using Tea Filters as Hop/Spice Sacks

[Brewbirds]

Glad to hear the first experiment worked out and hope you get the same from the next. Looking forward to the results.

FWIW using the tea balls has been weird in that there seems to be no commonality to when or why some hops completely disintegrate and some don't for us.

I know that there are different types of pellet production but since that is not mentioned on Hop Unions labels I'm not sure if that is the reason.

I still put them all in a tea ball and just accept that some will come out empty.

I'm intrigued by how your tea bag trials end up.

[Bluejaye]

Hopeful that the sealing heat would not be enough to set the tea filter aflame, I tried sealing the hop-filled filter. Result: It worked! It seems to have made a complete seal across the flap of the tea filter.

Were you sanitizing the tea filter before or after sealing it?

[lindseywinstead]

Were you sanitizing the tea filter before or after sealing it?

I suppose that the best operating procedure would be to sanitize the filter. I must confess that I have not in any of my experiments. Perhaps I have just been lucky, but I have not had any issues with contamination. My thinking is that when used in a boil, sanitation would be unnecessary (though it is always better to be safe rather than sorry, eh?). When dry hopping, I imagine sanitation would be advisable. Not sure on the best course of action when dealing with paper. Perhaps a minute or two in the microwave before filling? Perhaps someone a bit more knowledgeable on the subject can give us some advice...

[jimjohson]

if your boiling the wort, you don't need to sanatize the bag

[Bluejaye]

I ask for concerns with regards to flameout and dry hop additions.

[jimjohson]

sorry, i missed that

[lindseywinstead]

Using a dose of Bacillus cereus dried on an envelope as a substitute for mail contaminated by anthrax spores, Bitton said he found he could kill 98 percent of the spores in 10 minutes by microwaving the paper – suggesting, he said, one possible course of action for people who fear mail might be contaminated. However, more research is needed to confirm that this approach works against actual anthrax spores, he said.

This has been, thus far, the only mention I have found after a less-than-exhaustive search. It is from a study in Science News. Seems that one can sanitize a paper product in the microwave. This makes me want to start a whole new series of trials, but as my collections of petri dishes and virulent strains of bacteria are at a low, I shall take them at their word.

[RickBeer]

I use muslin bags for hops and grain steeping. These are not one use and throw away. After dumping the contents, I turn them inside out and rinse them clean, then dry them and reuse them. No issues.

[Bluejaye]

sorry, i missed that

Nothing to be sorry about, you were attempting to be as helpful as always. I'm pretty sure my intent was unclear.

I definitely want to give this a try, because for 7.5 cents it would be worth it to me not to have to deal with cleaning out a used muslin sack.

[jimjohson]

at flame out it's still not an issue, the wort's way too hot to infect. but once the wort cools, sanatize.

[lindseywinstead]

FINAL UPDATE (Unless anyone has a question/comment/concern for me): After multiple brew sessions using this technique (paper tea filter enclosed with the sealing feature of a vacuum sealer), I have been very pleased. I have used the filters as a dry hop, in a hop boil, and as a spice sack. None of the filters have opened nor have they torn or been otherwise compromised. The paper filters will not replace muslin or nylon sacks, but I am delighted to have an inexpensive, easy, and disposable alternative, particularly for small batch brewing. Cheers!