Preparing Whole Hops

[Kepler57]

For all you more experienced brewers out there, how do you prepare whole hops?

I have purchased some Northern Brewer hops and they have come "compressed" into a 1/2sphere.

Should i just put them in the bag and toss them in the boil?
Do i want to break them apart first?
What about using whole hops to dry hop?

~ Mike

[brewmeisterintng]

Some folks just throw them into the brew pot with the boiling wort on the scheduled times and fish them out after the cold break prior to transferring to the fermenter. I myself use hop bags (not panty hose) leaving plenty of room for them to expand/ hydrate during the boil. That way I don't have to go fishing for the little buggers. You won't get quite the bittering that you would get with pellets but than you won't have the pellet breakdown in the bottom of your wort either. I use both leaf and pellets. I use leaf mainly because I grow it in my back yard, dry it in my dehydrator, vacuum seal and freeze 'em to use throughout the year.

James