The Fresh Loaf

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Which of these malted rye grains?

Anonymous baker's picture
Anonymous baker (not verified)

Which of these malted rye grains?

suave's picture
suave

Strictly speaking, none of them.  Red malt is significantly darker than crystal/caramel and lighter than roasted/chocolate malt which tastes like cinders.  In practice, however, crystal will do just fine.

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

I'll go for Crystal - the next best thing.

suave's picture
suave

That's what crystal looks like compared to real red:

 

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

Crystal looks red and I would have chosen that as red rye malt from the photo but You have said it is a lighter malt so it must be vice versa. So red is REALLY red - dark red.

Will be interesting to work with. I'll buy crystal and continue my search for the real thing.

Thanks Suave. Good comparison.

suave's picture
suave

It looks red, but it often comes lighter than in online photos, and gets even lighter after being ground.

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

If I buy the crystal how do they come? Do I have to dry and grind them or do they come ready to grind?

suave's picture
suave

Ready to grind. 

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

One last question. Just went to order and it asks if I want them "crushed" or "whole". What do you advise?

suave's picture
suave

Does not matter - crushed malt still needs to be ground.

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

Thanks for all your advice and patience with all my questions.

Ordered!

Lechem's picture
Lechem (not verified)

So I purchased the crystal malt and I'm about to do the scald and starter build. My next question is here... http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/51763/borodinsky-recipe-scald-question