BP: preparation/freezing questions

[Heinz 57]

I know you can soak and freeze BP, but how long does it keep for in the freezer on average?

And, can you defrost it in the microwave? It would be going from freezer to microwave straight into the bucket, so we're talking immediate use after microwaving.

I just know I have a bad memory when it comes to pulling out frozen foods to defrost in time, and microwaving doesn't seem like it would be bad as long as its being fed ASAP. I'd only be doing this for the winter months - we've been having problems with the BP freezing solid in the bucket outside.

[nadasy]

Is there any way you can prepare it inside and leave it inside until you feed it?

I know that may be not possible-too far from the barn, too many buckets, not enough room etc. I can tell you that feeding BP when I had some horses on it, or worked at a barn that had 3 or 4 - 5 gallon buckets, it was kept inside a warmed tack room, or in the house.

Just trying to think of options for you.

I just have one horse now, and live where it's really cold. I keep BP on the closed in porch, but keep the soaked containers, covered, on my kitchen counter.

[mht]

I use one of the heated water buckets to soak my beet pulp in from one feeding to the next. The heat makes it nice and fluffy, and the horses like it because it is just a bit warm!

[jn4jenny]

I know you can soak and freeze BP, but how long does it keep for in the freezer on average?

I don't know, but my guess is "a very long time". At least a month. Probably much longer.

And, can you defrost it in the microwave? It would be going from freezer to microwave straight into the bucket, so we're talking immediate use after microwaving.

Sure, but that would cook at least some of the beet pulp since microwaves don't heat evenly.

I had a friend with a similar problem, and her solution was to soak the beet pulp in a mini-fridge that she kept in the barn. Yes it meant the beet pulp was cold, but she'd add a little hot water after it came out of the fridge and feed it immediately.

I'd only be doing this for the winter months - we've been having problems with the BP freezing solid in the bucket outside.

I'm sure there are other possible solutions. Think "beep in a Coleman cooler", or "beep in buckets nestled in straw in a muck bucket", or "beep with a spare turnout rug thrown over it to help combat freezing."

There's also the good-old last-minute soak. My current BO puts on a hot pot of water before he starts dosing out grain. By the time he's done dosing out grain, it's ready to pour on the beep. And beep soaks up REALLY fast in hot water.