can you do a full boil on a stovetop?

[studentofbeer]

well i was hoping for homebrewing equipment for chanukah, but it looks like mom bailed on the idea and would prefer to do it for my birthday in april instead. :mad: and i was hoping to get a batch or two underway while i was on break from school. she doesn't realize brewing in the summer isn't always the best option, though mark twain did say the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in san francisco, so maybe it won't be too much of a problem.

anyway, she went into a homebrew supply store and the guys told her that i should stick to a partial boil because i couldn't get a full boil going on a gas range. I never thought about this problem. as an urban apartment dweller i have no access to outdoors, so there is no chance of doing propane. so can full boils be done on a stove, or does a stove not kick out enough energy? i liked the idea of doing full boils, but maybe it's not possible.

[Grog]

I do full boils on an electric stove top in 2 pots (3.5 gal each) when it gets below 40° outside. I can't get more than 5 gallons to boil, but I might have a grossly underpowered stove as well.

-G-

[wortchillergoal]

It will depend upon the BTU out put of your range's burners. I have always done a full boil on the stovetop. My pot is big enough that it covers two burners and I burn them both.

Test it. Put 5 Gallons in your brew pot and see if you can get it to boil. If you can't get a strong rolling boil with water then most likely it won't work. I will bet that it does.

[Otis_The_Drunk]

I don't have a problem getting a full boul on my Gas stove, it just takes about an hour to get it going.

[crashbobo]

I used to do full boils on my electric stove. It can be done. It just takes a long time to get it to get to boiling. If you have the extra time I would say go for it. If not, I think doing 2 boils in smaller pots would probably work best for ya.

[wortchillergoal]

It is easier to do it on a gas range compared to an electric.

[studentofbeer]

ok cool. i have a gas stove, tho the burners aren't close enough to do two at once i dont think. i guess the reason for asking the question was so that i didn't go out and get a more expensive 7.5 gallon brewpot for full boil if i could only do 3 gallons or so at a time. sounds like it's worth the extra expense to give it a shot.

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
ok cool. i have a gas stove, tho the burners aren't close enough to do two at once i dont think. i guess the reason for asking the question was so that i didn't go out and get a more expensive 7.5 gallon brewpot for full boil if i could only do 3 gallons or so at a time. sounds like it's worth the extra expense to give it a shot.

you'll be happy that you did. that pot will last you forever.

[unkle bik]

If you are thinking of trying the gas grill outside, forget it.

Even using both burners full blast, a partial boil was even impossible. The burners are too far from the grill.

We had to bring the boiling pot inside. (at 1:00 AM!)

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by studentofbeer
ok cool. i have a gas stove, tho the burners aren't close enough to do two at once i dont think. i guess the reason for asking the question was so that i didn't go out and get a more expensive 7.5 gallon brewpot for full boil if i could only do 3 gallons or so at a time. sounds like it's worth the extra expense to give it a shot.

You might find that the bigger pot will cover two burners, or buy a pot that will.

[studentofbeer]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
You might find that the bigger pot will cover two burners, or buy a pot that will.

good point. if i could find a wider, rather than taller pot it might work. most of this is moot anyway for a while since it sounds like any gift of equipment won't come until april, but it will be good to do the research so i can explain what i would want. thanks for the help folks.

[Grog]

SOB - You can buy an 8 gallon aluminum pot that is 16" diameter for around $30 new.

-G-

[studentofbeer]

Originally posted by Grog
SOB - You can buy an 8 gallon aluminum pot that is 16" diameter for around $30 new.

-G-

SOB-- not the nickname i was thinking of when i chose this handle, but what can you do. :p

[Grog]

And here I was giving you credit for being somewhat clever. ;)

-G-

BTW - Check your PM's.

[wild]

I just picked up 3 Thermos Remote Control Turkey Fryers at Target for $15 each. Has anybody tried one of these? I see ebay (http://www.isde2002.net/THERMOS-30-QUART-TURKEY-FRYER-WITH-REMOTE-IGNITOR-NEW,i4354708450,c10035.html) has some available too.

Wild

[Tweek]

Student. I brewed all summer long in SF last year. No worries about that. Weather is perfect for it.

[YamahaXS]

partial boils are fine. just up your hop additions abit to compensate for the lower conversion rates that you get in partial boils.

you can make great beer with partial boils.

[SSEAL]

I bought a Stainless Steel Turkey Fryer & burner for $70 at Sam's Club.

Here is a link: http://search.samsclub.com/eclub/search/search.do?simpleitemtype=0&action=search&searchtype=simple&simplesearchfor=TURKEY+FRYER

Steve

[blatant_brewer]

I've been wondering about how well turkey fryers work to boil wort. Anyone out there had any success or disaster stories?? Thanks.

Beebs

[YamahaXS]

I think the common consensus here is that the work great. turkey fryers have at least 150,000 BTUs. which is at least 5 x's what you get on the largest stove top burner.

[ray m]

I, too, bought my turkey fryer at Sam's for @ $70 (and bought it exclusively for homebrewing). Best $$ I ever spent.:)

[Jughead]

I use the stove and two smaller pots. It saves time over using one large pot. I get the first pot boiling while I'm still filling the second pot (all grain). I put any bittering hops in the first pot which I let boil the full hour. I put flavor/aroma hops in the second pot which I only boil for 15 minutes or so. Then I can start chilling the second pot while the first pot is still boiling.

[danno]

Originally posted by blatant_brewer
I've been wondering about how well turkey fryers work to boil wort. Anyone out there had any success or disaster stories?? Thanks.

Beebs they work just fine. I even took the burners from my turkey fryers and used them for my half barrel AG setup, they still work just fine... if you're planning on building a similar setup, watch out for deals like Wild found, $15 for a whole kit, including burner and regulator and everything, is cheaper than you can piece together just a burner or a regulator and hose...

[blatant_brewer]

Kewl. I'll keep my eyes peeled.
Shouldn't be hard to find one on sale: I see 'em in all the stores (fried foods in Chi-Town?? a shocking revelation, I know).

[wild]

I find turkey fryers all the time. My first was came with a 32qt. pot for $25 at a yard sale (never opened).

Wild