Boiling tip

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Try this next time you are running close on head space and close to a boil over. Just lay a wooden spoon across the top of the kettle and like magic when the foam rises and touch's the wood the boil calms right back down.

 

[zoomzilla]

Maybe this worked for you but ive tried this and its never worked. Maybe you have a magical spoon

 

[1977Brewer]

My whole family got to witness my first real boilover Saturday. They freaked out, I killed the fire and stirred like a mad man. The part where I sprayed star san directly into my boiling wort gave my wife a fit. The part where I sprayed star san directly into my mouth to prove a point almost gave her a heart attack. I told her that if it was remotely dangerous to ingest, our son would not be the chief bottle sanitizer.

Anyway, keep a spray bottle handy, but it doesn't work every time, I guess.

 

[bobo31]

I always lower the heat, stir the foam around, and blow on it when I get close to boil over. Haven't had one yet I couldn't tame.

 

[MikeInMKE]

Spray bottles are cheap. Get one plain water.

 

[Cheesy_Goodness]

Spray bottles are cheap. Get one plain water.

This.
I keep the lid on when heating to boil until it gets around 200F, then I get rid of the lid and watch it like a hawk, spray bottle in hand.

I've been burned (figuratively, not literally but have been close) too many times not watching it when it gets close to boiling.

"Just wash 4 more dishes" I said
"It'll be fine" I said
"Wife won't even notice the scorched stovetop and billowing smoke" I said.

Never again

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

My spoon must be magic it always works.

 

[Teromous]

You are ruining one of the best excuses to buy a larger kettle.

 

[ifearnothing0]

Spray bottles are cheap. Get one plain water.

Agreed here .. I try to use distilled water , but as long as the boil is raging like crazy then I don't think it matters about it actually being sanitary .. If it's not boiling i always use water I know is sanitary

 

[Singletrack]

The wooden spoon trick works great. But ooga forgot to mention the bag of ice hanging from the spoon.

 

[TheHappyHopper]

I prefer a few drops of Fermcap. It was like $4 at my LHBS, helps with blowoff during fermentation, and the little bottle should last me like a year.

 

[Black Island Brewer]

My whole family got to witness my first real boilover Saturday. They freaked out, I killed the fire and stirred like a mad man. The part where I sprayed star san directly into my boiling wort gave my wife a fit. The part where I sprayed star san directly into my mouth to prove a point almost gave her a heart attack. I told her that if it was remotely dangerous to ingest, our son would not be the chief bottle sanitizer.

Anyway, keep a spray bottle handy, but it doesn't work every time, I guess.

Thanks for the LOL! I can totally see that whole scene going down. I was teaching a homebrewing class and used star to knock back the hot break without explaining, then later when I sanitized with the same bottle, I got "Wait, what?"

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Well I sure as hell would not try this. It is just an old wives tale. Get a 40 gallon kettle and a maxi burner and brew on. Don't ever try a useful tip someone gives you. After all it might work and prove you are full of ****.

 

[Singletrack]

Sorry Ooga. Thanks for posting your tip. I am interested to understand the science. I will not be boiling over on purpose to verify it works, but I'm glad it works for you. I'm in the big pot camp, so I don't worry about boil overs.

 

[MattyIce]

I have used this tip in the kitchen, but not yet for beer. I babysit the hot break now. Even though I brew outdoors (except for starters), cleanup is much easier without a boilover.