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Ow To Do An Iodine Mash Conversion Test: Nick Carr
Ow To Do An Iodine Mash Conversion Test: Nick Carr
Test
Any homebrewer who has done some all-grain batches knows that the mash is of vital
importance to convert non-fermentable starches into sugars the yeast can use to make
alcohol. This conversion often referred to as saccharification, takes place when water at a
certain temperature activates enzymes in the malt, which then begin to break down longer
chain sugars. But how long does this take? When is the mash fully converted?
Most recipes use the standard timeframe of 60 minutes for full conversion. But, higher gravity
worts can require a longer mash and some recipes don’t need a full 60 minutes to complete.
Also, conversion time can be affected by mash thickness, malt makeup, etc. An Iodine test
can tell you when full conversion has taken place.
What You’ll Need
A “test platform.” This platform can be white railroad or sidewalk chalk, a scrap piece of
drywall, or a scrap piece of white paper/filter paper that doesn’t contain starch. Alternatively, a
small white bowl (ramekin bowls work great); white plate; or even a clean white surface will
also serve.
Iodine (Lugol’s iodine or an iodine tincture are best)
Iodine is available from any local drugstore or pharmacy. Chances are you already have some
in your home as part of your first aid kit. If you don’t, I’d recommend buying the smallest bottle
you can find with an eyedropper. Even the smallest bottle will last you years if its sole use is
for this test.
The test can be easier to read by diluting the iodine in water or ethanol. Use about ten parts
water or ethanol to one part iodine. This lightens the iodine’s dark color to more of a base pale
yellow and makes the color change more apparent.
Testing Tips
Always add the iodine to the wort and not the other way around. Getting the wort
first allows you the chance to pick out any larger husks or particles, which made it into
your sample, before you add the iodine. This also gives the sample time to cool before
the iodine is added.
Use a piece of white chalk, scrap drywall, or non-starched white filter paper as your
test platform if available. These surfaces will absorb the wort and iodine into a single
point and make any color change easy to see. Also, because it’s absorbed,
comparison to other tests is easy. A false positive is also less likely because of the
absorption; husk or particle matter is left behind and can be more easily removed
before adding the iodine. And really with this method all you need is a small point of
wort, so you can just dip a sterilized sharp point of some kind (temperature probe, ice
pick, etc.) into the wort and draw out a single bead of liquid.
A small piece of the large sidewalk chalk stood on end works well, as does a thinly
cut piece of drywall stood on edge, so that the chalky middle makes up your test
platform.
If you must use the alternative white bowl, plate, or counter surface be particularly
careful about not including malt particles or husk in your sample. This can cause a
false positive. Also, don’t clean up the test so you can compare it to other tests.
*Note: If you have not diluted your iodine it will be harder to mark subtle color shifts. Basically,
in undiluted iodine, no color shift (it stays that reddish-brown color) means there is no starch
present.
Nicoli Carr has been tinkering with homebrewing for over 10 years and graduated from the
American Brewers Guild (CBA) Craft Brewers program in 2014. When he’s not busy freelance
writing, he is likely out foraging wild brewing options, writing, or hunting stillness in remote
places. You can contact him through his website ThePenAndBow.com.
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