How to reduce boil off

**cheesecake** · 02-03-2010, 01:41 PM

Well im asking this question because in a hour of boiling i boil off 2 3/4 gallons of water and im looking for ways to reduce that.
Im using a 10 gallon aluminum brew pot with a 4500 watt element. I have to have the element set to 78% to maintain a boil. The pot is not insulated and i don't use a lid so now my question is what should i do to reduce boil off

Thanks in advance

**GilaMinumBeer** · 02-03-2010, 01:44 PM

Move somewhere humid.

**Yooper** · 02-03-2010, 01:48 PM

I boil off quite a bit using my 5500 watt element. I found that I only need to keep a 5 gallon batch (starting with 7.25 gallons) at 65% to keep a full rolling boil. You want a boil, of course, but you may be able to turn down the element a bit.

In the summer, I boil off less due to the humidity than I do in the winter. Drier climates cause more boil off.

Aside from possibly reducing the vigorness of the boil, I don't have any suggestions aside from accepting what it is.

**GilaMinumBeer** · 02-03-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YooperBrew

I boil off quite a bit using my 5500 watt element. I found that I only need to keep a 5 gallon batch (starting with 7.25 gallons) at 65% to keep a full rolling boil. You want a boil, of course, but you may be able to turn down the element a bit.

In the summer, I boil off less due to the humidity than I do in the winter. Drier climates cause more boil off.

Aside from possibly reducing the vigorness of the boil, I don't have any suggestions aside from accepting what it is.

This year has been freakish for me. 30's and lower with 50 to 70% humidity. Wreaks havoc on estimating boil off.

I have been boiling off less this winter than I did over summer. So, point is, get a hygrometer and keep an eye on humidity levels on brewday to get a feel (over time) of how much you'll need to compensate. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a calculator to do this.

**cheesecake** · 02-03-2010, 01:52 PM

Yeah i tried using the element at a lower percentage but it cuts the boil when the element shuts off. im wondering if insulating the pot would help hold heat in to allow me to run the element at a lower percentage

Cliff897 · 02-03-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesecake

what should i do to reduce boil off

Play around with leaving the cover on and lowering the power.

Of course you gotta watch the initial boil when the scummy protein foam develops but after that, all you need is some headroom of pot above the boil.

6" should be more than enough. So maybe pot size is an element of the solution?

Insulating will definitely allow you to lower power and maintain a boil.
Radiant heat loss from a pot is enormous.

**Yooper** · 02-03-2010, 06:12 PM

I wouldn't consider covering the pot to be a viable option at all. Sure you'd reduce the boil off, but at what cost? It wouldn't be worth it. You'd be much better off just starting with more wort to begin with, rather than risking DMS.

worth · 02-03-2010, 06:22 PM

I am just starting, but in either the Palmer or Papazian book, they suggested boiling with the cover off b/c off-flavor causing chemicals will boil out with the cover off and won't with it on. I have zero experience boiling with a cover, so it may not be a big deal, but I figured I'd throw it out there.

worth · 02-03-2010, 06:24 PM

Should have said "not" boiling with cover off, but Yooper already said it anyway.

**cheesecake** · 02-03-2010, 06:36 PM

Yeah no cover id prefer to leave it off but thats alot of boiloff