Brewing Master

Question:

I am getting ready to brew a fruit flavored beer and I have a concern about using fresh fruit in the brewing. Many commercially available citrus fruits have a wax coating applied at the packing house to improve the fruit’s appearance.  These are frequently a paraffin- or petroleum-based wax.  I plan to grate the outer peel and add to the brew pot.  I also plan to add some of the juice. I’m concerned that the wax will screw up the beer.  Am I overly concerned about the wax?  Is there something I should do to the fruit prior to adding to the boil?  What about a brief dip in boiling water to remove the wax? Would that work? Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. Martin Brungard Tallahassee, FL

Response:

So okay..you say paraffin wax…but that can contain fillers and solvent, etc..anti fungal agents, etc.. So its still a variable what your melting point is..but I dont think you would need boiling water and even if you did the minute you lift it out it will get coated again….so you need a solvent like turps..then a wash..or try a flash over a flame..a quick barbecue over a fire..that will get rid of it..you need to experiment…sacrifice a couple in the name of science..but yet its tricky stuff…but you can buy dried citrus peel….women bake cakes with the stuff.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am getting ready to brew a fruit flavored beer and I have a concern about using fresh fruit in the brewing. Many commercially available citrus fruits have a wax coating applied at the packing house to improve the fruit’s appearance.  These are frequently a paraffin- or petroleum-based wax.  I plan to grate the outer peel and add to the brew pot.  I also plan to add some of the juice. I’m concerned that the wax will screw up the beer.  Am I overly concerned about the wax?  Is there something I should do to the fruit prior to adding to the boil?  What about a brief dip in boiling water to remove the wax? Would that work? Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. Martin Brungard Tallahassee, FL

Response:

Um disagree…point in question..the candy industry uses wax as filler, and utilises its hot moulding ability..it holds a shape and makes neat  sharp edges…So yes your eating wax and sugar..its a important ingredient..its gets eaten a lot. But in the citrus fruit industry, the wax is to fill the pores, stop respiration, fruit shrinkage, and soilage..so its loaded with antifungal..and eating it is secondary/nil importance all fruit, food, should have on it that its wax coated, or its worth a $1,000 fine..but not many do..yes it holds in pesticides etc..and wax will not wash of with soap and water, hexane, or some other solvent is needed. Ps..fruit can also be artificially coloured. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -My understanding of fruit waxing is somewhat out of date, but food grade waxes were required. Regular parafin was not acceptable. I think its called montan wax in the candy industry. As so much of the fruit in grocery stores comes from overseas, this may not be the case. Either way, there is so little wax applied that a good scrub with soap and water, followed by a good rinse should do the trick. This will also get rid of any surface residue of pesticide and fungicide. Any farmer will tell you how easily a light rain will wash away hundreds of $ worth of spray chemicals. That’s why its so amusing to listen to "organic" lovers carry on about the chemicals all food is loaded with. Its really hard to get the stuff the government allows you to use to actually stay on long enough to work. Relax. Wash the fruit well and go to it with the grater. It will be fine. Your water source probably has more chemicals in it than that fruit has on it. BTW, what kind of beer are you making? I’ve seen belgian recipes that call for citrus peel, but the juice too? Curious to hear this…. Kel I’m concerned that the wax will screw up the beer.  Am I overly concerned about the wax?  Is there something I should do to the fruit prior to adding to the boil?  What about a brief dip in boiling water to remove the wax? Would that work? Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. Martin Brungard Tallahassee, FL

Response:

                …but you can buy dried citrus peel….women bake cakes with the stuff..

What do men substitute for it? JeffMo Is it better to be bored, wishing you’re not, or not to be bored, wishing that you were? Remove dipstick for email replies.

Response:

    Not only is the wax a problem, but neither your beer (nor you) will benefit from the pesticides used on the fruit. If you have access to organically grown fruit in your area, that’s your best bet. If not, try to find the dried orange peel others have mentioned. If you can’t do either, I’d wash the hell out of the fruit before letting it anywhere near the brew pot.     Good luck with the brew and let us know how it turns out! Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am getting ready to brew a fruit flavored beer and I have a concern about using fresh fruit in the brewing. Many commercially available citrus fruits have a wax coating applied at the packing house to improve the fruit’s appearance.  These are frequently a paraffin- or petroleum-based wax.  I plan to grate the outer peel and add to the brew pot.  I also plan to add some of the juice. I’m concerned that the wax will screw up the beer.  Am I overly concerned about the wax?  Is there something I should do to the fruit prior to adding to the boil?  What about a brief dip in boiling water to remove the wax? Would that work? Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. Martin Brungard Tallahassee, FL

Response:

replying to an original post about zesting oranges for addition to the boil. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     Not only is the wax a problem, but neither your beer (nor you) will benefit from the pesticides used on the fruit. If you have access to organically grown fruit in your area, that’s your best bet. If not, try to find the dried orange peel others have mentioned. If you can’t do either, I’d wash the hell out of the fruit before letting it anywhere near the brew pot.     Good luck with the brew and let us know how it turns out! Mike I am getting ready to brew a fruit flavored beer and I have a concern about using fresh fruit in the brewing. Many commercially available citrus fruits have a wax coating applied at the packing house to improve the fruit’s appearance.  These are frequently a paraffin- or petroleum-based wax.  I plan to grate the outer peel and add to the brew pot.  I also plan to add some of the juice.

My understanding of fruit waxing is somewhat out of date, but food grade waxes were required. Regular parafin was not acceptable. I think its called montan wax in the candy industry. As so much of the fruit in grocery stores comes from overseas, this may not be the case. Either way, there is so little wax applied that a good scrub with soap and water, followed by a good rinse should do the trick. This will also get rid of any surface residue of pesticide and fungicide. Any farmer will tell you how easily a light rain will wash away hundreds of $ worth of spray chemicals. That’s why its so amusing to listen to "organic" lovers carry on about the chemicals all food is loaded with. Its really hard to get the stuff the government allows you to use to actually stay on long enough to work. Relax. Wash the fruit well and go to it with the grater. It will be fine. Your water source probably has more chemicals in it than that fruit has on it. BTW, what kind of beer are you making? I’ve seen belgian recipes that call for citrus peel, but the juice too? Curious to hear this…. Kel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m concerned that the wax will screw up the beer.  Am I overly concerned about the wax?  Is there something I should do to the fruit prior to adding to the boil?  What about a brief dip in boiling water to remove the wax? Would that work? Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. Martin Brungard Tallahassee, FL

Response: