To stir or not to stir?

[Blancaster]

I have conflicting information on this.
I add whirlfloc 15 min prior to the end of boil as well as the immersion chiller.
Flame-out
This is where my conflict is.
Wort at the stage is vulnerable to infection.
Stirring to whirlpool and/or assist in oxygenating hot wort which is bad right?

I read/hear different opinions on this, some say let it sit and just chill it, others day to rapidly stir the heck out of it, yet others say a gentle stir to allow more wort to come in contact with the chiller.

Thoughts?

[SkyBrew]

I dont think there is any problem with either method honestly. When I used an immersion chiller I just let it sit covered up as much as I could while doing other things. I dont think stiring it would cause a problem with oxidation. A lot of brewers oxygenate their wort with an oxygen tank and an air stone before pitching the yeast. Its later on when the yeast is done fermenting when you dont want any oxygen in your beer.

The problem I see with stirring it is that with it uncovered there is more of a chance for something to get in it and if something gets in it at this stage it could get infected.

Wort is vunerable to infection during chilling because while it is in a moderately warm range 100-140ish it is a prime target for all sorts of nasty bacteria. Bacteria love nothing better than a pot of warm ready-made sugar solution, complete with protein and other nutrients.

[Blancaster]

So giving the wort a good vigorous stir at flame out and then covering would be acceptable.
That is good to know. I did take Chris's class at usi last year but I forgot that part lol!
If I did that at flameout then I wouldn't have to worry about the cold break getting mixed back in to the wort.
Speaking of which.. Plate chillers... If you are not cold breaking in the kettle, it is cold breaking in the fermentor right? So I guess it doesn't matter where the cold break is. Am I correct?

[sirgiovanni]

You can get a good whirlpool without adding a lot of oxygen to the hot wort. I don't use additives other than irish moss but nothing works better for me to clear your beer haze than a good stir and letting it settle before pumping through the chiller.