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Brewing on an electric stove top?

Discussion in 'Beginners Beer Brewing Forum' started by corycorycory09, Jan 13, 2015.

 

  1. #1
    corycorycory09

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    Is it possible / recommended to brew 5 gallon batches on an electric stove top in a 40qt pot?

    I imagine it would take quite some time to boil.

    I've seen a few people recommend turkey fryers, but most I've seen are around 30qts.

    Would this be a decent setup for a 5 gallon wort kettle?
    http://www.walmart.com/ip/King-Kooker-Propane-Turkey-Fryer/14956840
     
  2. #2
    unionrdr

    Homebrewer, author & air gun shooter  

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    An electric stove might not handle all that volume. I have aftermarket elements on my electric stove, & it takes about 20 minutes to bring 3 1/2 to 4 gallons of wort to a boil. 29 quarts equaling 7 1/4 gallons might barely be big enough for a 5 gallon boil, but 5 1/2 to 6 gallons to account for boil-off would be pushing it.
     
  3. #3
    FirstAidBrewing

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    I've done both. While an electric stove will boil 5 gallons of wort, you'll be amazed how much faster a turkey fryer will get you to a full, rolling boil. It's a noticeable time savings. As long as your large pot will fit on the fryer and can handle the heat you'll be fine.
     
  4. #4
    stpug

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    It is highly dependent on your stove. The best way to find out if it's possible is to fill a pot with 6 gallons of hot water and find out if it can bring it to a boil. If so, how long does it take?

    I do 5.25 gallon batches on my solid-surface electric stove very successfully in an 11 gallon turkey fryer. It takes about 25-30 minutes to bring my hot wort (~145F) to a boil. My brother-in-law's gas stove took almost 2 hours to bring a test pot of hot water to a near boil, so he ended up opting for a propane burner.

    Size your pot to you preboil volume plus some headspace. A 5 gallon batch usually starts off as 6-7 gallons preboil volume and when the hotbreak happens it can raise up some foam several inches (2-5 depending on beer). A 40 quart pot is a very good size to do 5 gallon batches in and leaves plenty of cushion.

    Here's one that doesn't come with a burner but is 40 quarts:
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CHKL68/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

    I'm not necessarily recommending it, but just showing there are many options out there.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 23, 2018
  5. #5
    sky4meplease

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    Love my lectric stove.
    My 60 minute preboil volume is 6.5 gallons in a 7 gallon kettle.
    I start my boil when the lauter is 80% or so done and carry over the last 20% as my wort comes to temp. I would say it takes 20-30 minutes to get to boiling.
    Additionally, I preheat the oven and use it for a mash tun mashing right in my BK. It holds to within a degree over an hour mash.
    Keep an eye on the hot break and remove from the burner momentarily for hop additions.
    My wife wants to get a new stove and I'm afraid it's gonna ruin my mojo.
     
  6. #6
    ram5ey

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    Yeah I use the electric stovetop. I i think I started to wear out the element though and augmented it with a heat stick. Now I use the heat stick at full and turn the stove to about 6. Thats been the sweet spot.
     
  7. #7
    unionrdr

    Homebrewer, author & air gun shooter  

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    My electric elements on the stove went out or got weak. so I replaced them with the ones in the link on my profile page. Heats up way faster.
     
  8. #8
    mdharris99

    Active Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    I tried a full volume 5 gal batch on my stove once. After I tasted the beer I ran right out and bought a propane burner. My electric stove struggled with maintaining a rolling boil and the beer was a DMS bomb.
     
  9. #9
    Tinpanharry

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    I brew partial mash BIAB on and electric stovetop. Its a great time savings and I can brew out of the weather.

    I use a 30qt turkey pot from Walmart (takes about 20min to boil) and boil 5 gal or more down to 4 or more gallons. I chill with an ice bath as I don't have a immersion chiller. This also takes about 20 mins.

    I top off with almost freezing RO water to pitching temp. Works pretty well, and usually I am done in about 3 hours.

    Welcome and cheers!

    :mug:
     
  10. #10
    Psylocide

    Ippons for Days

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    It's possible to brew on an electric stove top, but I would suggest standing on the floor... it's much safer.
     
  11. #11
    BlueHouseBrewhaus

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 13, 2015
    It all depends on your stove. Mine will boil 7.5 gal in my 9 gal pot in about 20 min (from mash temp). My pot is a tall boy that is only 13 inches diameter, which helps. I've read posts from others that couldn't get their pots to boil at all. My BK is stainless but aluminum will boil faster, too.
     
  12. #12
    Calichusetts

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Jan 14, 2015
    I have an induction stove top that works fine. Remember, you aren't necessarily boiling 6 gallons to start. Start the boil with your first runnings (if you are sparging) I find that I am practically at a boil, sometimes even boiling, when I add my second runnings. Takes another 20 to get back up. You can pick up a cheap heating element to assist in getting you to a boil quicker, and or maintaining a vigorous boil. Good luck!
     
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