drying hops

[The Jolley brewer]

Hi
What is the best was to dry fresh hops.
I was thinking an oven set low or maybe a clothes dryer.
Thanks

[Tom]

Tumble drier! Genius!

[Pat_buttercups]

how many hops do you put in that bag?, I found if you put too many in only the outside ones dry and the rest rot

[brenmurph]

Cold drying may prevent hop aroma oils evaporating so thats wat im experimenting with.

[LordEoin]

24-48 hours in a paper bag in the hotpress.

+1

shake the bag up every few hours

[Shanna]

I filled a thirty litre bucket to the brim last night. The hot press ain't going to cut it this year I am afraid. I have laid them out on the floor of my attic (currently 30C plus) on black plastic to dry out. Going to turn them every 12 hours or so for the next few days.

Shanna

[Frequent Sequence]

Somthing like this Double-Dryer-Net with a fan blowing on it is the way to go. You can also stack them to get as much surface area as you need

[The Jolley brewer]

Thanks for info ,will try the hot press

[delzep]

Be warned, your hot press will smell like dope for a few days after 

[CARA]

Can you pick and freeze straight away?

[auralabuse]

Don't use a tumble dryer,  unless you don't mind having flames licking up the stairs as you sleep

[Tom]

I knew there was a reason nobody had mentioned it before. I don't have a tumble dryer anyway, so you've just saved someone elses house, for which they can't thank you enough.

[Qs]

Can you pick and freeze straight away?

I think I heard John Palmer say something about that damaging them before.

[shanek]

Setting up a micro wire mesh in a simple frame with a wee fixed fan below worked perfect for me last year. it takes a good 36 hrs with a day on a window cilll / sunny spot afterwards (Unfortunately no hops this year - bugs bugs Hop Aphid (Phorodon humuli) everywhere ) I cut them back to the ground hoping to save them for next year.... Touch wood.

[barkar]

When should I harvest, all hops on my nuggetplant  have been formed for 4 weeks now , they are quite papery , turning a darker green, the bract does bend a bit and break  , although some have that lettuce head  look to them as you peal withyour fingers, none are anyways brown but I would imagine the last few cold mornings won't help ie first frost etc.
There is a good bit of resin when you rub between your fingers, I reckon less than a week ? Don't want to pick and brew too early, would give a whole new meaning to a lawnmower beer ie grassy Verry very grassy! I want to harvest and brew a beer for an ozzy mate who loves the idea of a brew day and harvest, he is going back for good in March - want to send him home with some nice hoppy harvest ale before he leaves