Stirring? Whats your experience?

[iiKryptic]

Okay so I know there is no rival to good ol' time when it comes to steeping. Recently I have heard some debate about using magnetic stirring for a few hours. Some people swear by it and others are stating that it actually deteriorates the flavors. Keep in mind I am talking about a vortex stirring that does not break the surface tension, thus no air is incorporated.

 

[SteveS45]

I use an electric mixer for DIY and for an experiment I have left a few proven recipes just age with an occasional shake and have noticed no difference in taste at all. Just my own observation and not scientific fact. I also use heat to speed up the process.

 

[iiKryptic]

I use an electric mixer for DIY and for an experiment I have left a few proven recipes just age with an occasional shake and have noticed no difference in taste at all. Just my own observation and not scientific fact. I also use heat to speed up the process.

Do you find the stirring speeds up the steeping process? Or is it merely used to blend the mix in a more uniform manner?

 

[SteveS45]

Well it does mix it more thoroughly from the start and once I fill the bottles I soak them in hot water at 150 degrees maximum for up to an hour. Some flavors do require a longer period to sit so the flavors infuse. So I would have to say yes to speeding it up.

 

[SteveS45]

I have found that some flavors do require longer periods of time to infuse into the mix. Mostly deserts or creams and custards.

YMMV though! Good Luck