How big of a pot can I put on a stovetop?

[Croesius]

Well, I'm slowly accumulating the gear I need to move on to all-grain eventually, and I found a good deal on a slick 40qt stainless steel kettle. It has a sandwich of aluminum across the whole bottom to spread heat, but it's much larger than my stove burner. My question is whether the aluminum core would spread the heat enough for this application, or if I need to go ahead and spring for the propane setup.

[Jaimez]

Well, I'm slowly accumulating the gear I need to move on to all-grain eventually, and I found a good deal on a slick 40qt stainless steel kettle. It has a sandwich of aluminum across the whole bottom to spread heat, but it's much larger than my stove burner. My question is whether the aluminum core would spread the heat enough for this application, or if I need to go ahead and spring for the propane setup.
If its a gas stove you shouldn't have a problem. Although it will take some time to get to a boil. I put my pot over 2 burners on my gas stove and it works fine.
Propane is probably more efficient, but i live in an apartment so outside brewing isn't an option for me.

[beerking]

Probably the only way to get a full boil on the stove is using two burners, like Vance mentions.

[wortchillergoal]

I use two burners of the stovetop when I brew.

[cul8rv8]

I have a 7.5 gal brewpot and boil on the stovetop with one burner. Granted it's the "Power Boil," or whatever it's called, burner. It still takes over an hour to bring 6-7 gallons of wort to a boil.

[Croesius]

Well, got the pot on the stove burners (I did end up having to use two to get any real vigorous boil), it took about 45 min on the high setting to bring 3 gallons to a rollicking boil. Held the temp quite well too! Now to calibrate it for holding at 150...

[beerking]

If you are looking to mash in this pot, you are much better off wrapping insulation around it and a lid on it after heating, and letting it sit rather than continuous heating to maintain 150*F. While heating the mash, you need to stir non-stop IOT ensure you don't scorch the mash.
If you run to about 152*F, and insulated, you will probably only need to add heat once during an hour (let it fall to ~148*F before heating).

[Mikegobrew]

If you are looking to mash in this pot, you are much better off wrapping insulation around it and a lid on it after heating, and letting it sit rather than continuous heating to maintain 150*F. While heating the mash, you need to stir non-stop IOT ensure you don't scorch the mash.
If you run to about 152*F, and insulated, you will probably only need to add heat once during an hour (let it fall to ~148*F before heating).

That's what I do with my tungle (keggle mash tun) even in a garage ambient temp of 60*F without insulation I only have to heat at the half way mark. I do use a lid. Bigger mashes retain the heat longer though.

[Undergradbrewin]

Am I reading this right, you guys you two burners on your stove top? How do you do that?

[Jaimez]

Am I reading this right, you guys you two burners on your stove top? How do you do that?
The pot is so wide that if u put it in between the burners both touch the pot.

[Undergradbrewin]

Ah man, that is some good thinking. I dont think I could pull that off though. I"ll give it a shot. Thanks

[Jughead]

I use two burners with two pots. First I fill the first pot. As the second pot is filling, the first pot starts boiling. I put all my hops in the first pot. The second pot takes longer to boil as the burner is smaller. I only boil the second pot for 5-10 minutes (there are no hops in it, so I only boil it to kill whatever is swimming around in it). I know my hop utilization is bad, but this method saves me a lot of time.

[msk]

I use a 3 gallon, 4 gallon, and 5 gallon pot on three burners. I used to use a 3 and 4 gallon, plus a 6-quart and 1.5 quart pots...that was not happy life. I split the hops between the pots and constantly use a pitcher to transfer between pots to keep them all close to the same boil initiation, but far enough apart, once boil is achieved, to swap the chiller between them. I usually do a 10-minute hop addition variation.

It all depends on how bad you want to make some awesome beverage... but I load up all possible burners and add enough barley to the mash to make up the volume... and lauter as much as I can get. The biggest problem I have is getting something on the burner next to the 5 gallon canning kettle [it leaves little room for another pot]. I wish I could get a big pot that fit across two burners. I have been thinking of making and selling an oval pot.

[Jaimez]

I use a 3 gallon, 4 gallon, and 5 gallon pot on three burners. I used to use a 3 and 4 gallon, plus a 6-quart and 1.5 quart pots...that was not happy life. I split the hops between the pots and constantly use a pitcher to transfer between pots to keep them all close to the same boil initiation, but far enough apart, once boil is achieved, to swap the chiller between them. I usually do a 10-minute hop addition variation.

It all depends on how bad you want to make some awesome beverage... but I load up all possible burners and add enough barley to the mash to make up the volume... and lauter as much as I can get. The biggest problem I have is getting something on the burner next to the 5 gallon canning kettle [it leaves little room for another pot]. I wish I could get a big pot that fit across two burners. I have been thinking of making and selling an oval pot.
I just ordered a 10 gallon "sauce pot". The diameter is wider then a stock pot. so i'll def be able to fit it across both burners. I'm still waiting for it to come in the mail though.

http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/update-international/alp-40/p4905.aspx

[msk]

I just ordered a 10 gallon "sauce pot". The diameter is wider then a stock pot. so i'll def be able to fit it across both burners. I'm still waiting for it to come in the mail though.


I must be screwed up... I re-read the description of that pot, grabbed a tape measure, and ran to the stove. The 16 inches diameter of that pot is only an inch less than the grate covering the entire front-to-back distance of my gas stove. I should have one of those pots soon. Though the stainless one looks pretty also. I will have to convince myself of which one to snag.

I wonder how long it takes to get 15 gallons to rolling boil on two gas stovetop surfaces....

http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/royal-industries/roy-ss-rspt-80/p4894.aspx

[Jaimez]

Ya, i would have liked to get a Stainless Steal pot but the price difference is over $100. I'm convinced the Aluminum fear is total paranoia though. I may just get one of these as well.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/KETTLEVALVE_Patent_Pending__P2374C141.cfm

[Mad Scientist]

Well, I'm slowly accumulating the gear I need to move on to all-grain eventually, and I found a good deal on a slick 40qt stainless steel kettle. It has a sandwich of aluminum across the whole bottom to spread heat, but it's much larger than my stove burner. My question is whether the aluminum core would spread the heat enough for this application, or if I need to go ahead and spring for the propane setup.

You might want to look up the model number of your stove, it may tell you, otherwise, I might call whatever service number is available and ask them. Personally, I'd go for the propane setup, you'll be happier, and you already used to using it once the full AG setup is a reality.

[Croesius]

You might want to look up the model number of your stove, it may tell you, otherwise, I might call whatever service number is available and ask them. Personally, I'd go for the propane setup, you'll be happier, and you already used to using it once the full AG setup is a reality.

Well, it took some time to calibrate the numbers on the stove to an appropriate temp range, and was a total pain in the ass during the brewing of my stout, so I believe the propane burner will be my next piece of equipment, as well as an immersion chiller. Setting it out in the cold overnight was just pushing my comfort level a bit much.

[msk]

Ya, i would have liked to get a Stainless Steal pot but the price difference is over $100. I'm convinced the Aluminum fear is total paranoia though. I may just get one of these as well.

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/KETTLEVALVE_Patent_Pending__P2374C141.cfm


Be careful with that one. If you look at the spigot end, it is huge and octagonal. No hose will fit on it, and it might have a fairly large internal diameter [so fluid will trickle out when the pot gets down toward the bottom, instead of streaming out so that it can be caught in a fermenter]. Added up, you might lose the last gallon or two to the counter below the pot you attach that device to when it drools out of the huge hole and clings to the sides of that outlet pipe, running back under it to the pot.

[Mikegobrew]

Be careful with that one. If you look at the spigot end, it is huge and octagonal. No hose will fit on it, and it might have a fairly large internal diameter [so fluid will trickle out when the pot gets down toward the bottom, instead of streaming out so that it can be caught in a fermenter]. Added up, you might lose the last gallon or two to the counter below the pot you attach that device to when it drools out of the huge hole and clings to the sides of that outlet pipe, running back under it to the pot.

I'm pretty sure they expect you to add a hose barb to the end and that would fix all that.

[Jaimez]

Be careful with that one. If you look at the spigot end, it is huge and octagonal. No hose will fit on it, and it might have a fairly large internal diameter [so fluid will trickle out when the pot gets down toward the bottom, instead of streaming out so that it can be caught in a fermenter]. Added up, you might lose the last gallon or two to the counter below the pot you attach that device to when it drools out of the huge hole and clings to the sides of that outlet pipe, running back under it to the pot.
Ya i dint order that one, i just posted a quick google search link. I'll probably get one from my LHBS if i get one.