SmoothSmoke

Recipes 

I'm looking to buy a 5 gallon brewing kit. Just wondering if others are successful in using their stove top to handle such a load. My stove is gas, hopefully it can do the trick.

Rush2112

Recipes 

I got just about 4 gallons to boil nicely on a cheap Ikea electric stovetop. If ikea can handle it anything can.

Uziyahu

Recipes 

I do full boils on my gas stove. I start with 6 gallons to allow for the wort to boil off. My gas stove isn't the strongest, but it can handle it.

NineMilBill

Recipes 

I boil 6.5 gallons easily on my electric stove top.

Wrap my brew kettle in 2 layers of foil, add 5 gallons of water, and set the knob to the highest setting possible. Then, I add 1.5 gallons in a separate pot, set that to the highest setting until I hit my desired temp for my steeping grains. I steep my grains for the required time. In the amount of time it takes to finish that, the 5 gallon pot is almost at boiling - maybe 3-5 more minutes max. Adding in 1.5 gallons doesn't seem to phase the temperature. I believe the amount of time the 5 gallons is going for combined with the foil (insulation) both aide in my electric's ability to handle the load.

zachattack

Recipes 

Yeah I think you'll just have to try and see. I can get 7 gallons to a rolling boil on my gas stove, but lots of people have trouble. Keep it covered until it's boiling, and consider loosely wrapping the top part of the kettle with some heavy duty aluminum foil to keep the heat in there. I do all grain, so I start with hot wort and it brings it up to a boil in a little over an hour. If you're starting with cold water it'll take a lot longer.

But remember there's no shame in a partial boil, and most extract recipe kits are designed for one.

OkashiiBrew

Recipes 

you might want to put some foil on the adjacent counter surface. I scorched the granite next to the burner. I think the heat flowed along the base of the kettle and heated the granite counter top. SHMBO noticed it but did not continue the conversation. Enough said, I will protect the counter and count my lucky stars that it was not worse. It was a full 5 gal boil on a gas stove with the high output burner.

befus

Recipes 

I also have done 7.5 gallon pot boils (6.5 gallons wort) with an electric range. If the issue is in doubt I put the lid on almost completely (so I can still see into the pot to watch for hot break) until I get to the boil and it will maintain it thereafter.

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SmoothSmoke

Recipes 

Sounds like I'm good to go, thanks brewers!

TimpanogosSlim

Recipes 

yeah, the only question is if you WANT to do that in the summer.

MikeinCT

Recipes 

I use my builders special gas stove to boil 7.5 gallons of wort. But I get the pot to straddle two burners. Next stove is going to have a high output burner. good luck, Mike