Nitration of Methyl Benzoate?

Why is COLD methanol in MINIMAL amounts used in washing and recrystallizing after the reaction? Methyl m-nitrobenzoate is supposed to be the product. I was thinking that the cold methanol was needed to wash the more soluble dinitrated side product away. Hot methanol would probably wash away the methyl m-nitrobenzoate too since hot makes it more soluble. A minimal amount for recrystallizing to obtain maximum yield. Can anyone verify this or explain otherwise?