2 pot full boil question

[brewzombie]

I want to attempt to full boil a 6 gal batch on my stove range. I have 1 big burner (2600 watts) and 3 little burners (2x1500 watts, 1x1100 watts). I've previously boiled about 4 gal on the 2600 watt burner and topped up. I was wondering if I split the batch so I had about 2 x 4 gal, and started each pot on the 2600 watt burner, could I maintain one of the 4 gal batches boiling on a 1500 watt element (small diameter as well )?

 

[smagee]

That sounds like it'd be a long brew session. I'd wager you can maintain a boil on the 1500, but it won't be all that vigorous and will take *forever* to bring back up to temperature if you have to add something to it.

I have a similar setup, and I've simply written off full boils until I can swing a propane setup. Just not worth the hassle, in my book. If you give it a try, let us know how it goes and tell me if I'm horribly wrong!

 

[brewzombie]

That sounds like it'd be a long brew session. I'd wager you can maintain a boil on the 1500, but it won't be all that vigorous and will take *forever* to bring back up to temperature if you have to add something to it.

I have a similar setup, and I've simply written off full boils until I can swing a propane setup. Just not worth the hassle, in my book. If you give it a try, let us know how it goes and tell me if I'm horribly wrong!

That's why I've avoided full boils thus far, but I'm tempted to see if it makes a quality difference in my brewing process. Might be worth a one-time experiment at least. If only I could rig something such that 2 of the 1500 watt elements could both heat the second pot...

 

[TipsyDragon]

I was wondering if I split the batch so I had about 2 x 4 gal

at that point you are no longer doing a full boil just two partial boils.

 

[brewzombie]

at that point you are no longer doing a full boil just two partial boils.

The goal is not have any top-up water and 2 pots more or less produces the same result.

 

[smagee]

I think Tipsy's point is that you still won't be doing the same process as a full boil unless you're dividing all your ingredients equally between the two as well. And even then, I'm not sure it's a direct correlation; that said, there's certainly nothing wrong with splitting it up as you're suggesting. I just can't be bothered to buy two 5+ gallon kettles .

 

[brewzombie]

I think Tipsy's point is that you still won't be doing the same process as a full boil unless you're dividing all your ingredients equally between the two as well. And even then, I'm not sure it's a direct correlation; that said, there's certainly nothing wrong with splitting it up as you're suggesting. I just can't be bothered to buy two 5+ gallon kettles .

Thanks for the comments. I know it's not the same process, but I'm hoping it's pretty darn close. The plan is to split all the ingredients down the middle. That's the whole point...I'm not boiling water in one pot and wort in the other . Doesn't really matter ...I'm just asking if anyone has been in this situation and managed to maintain a decent boil with about 4 gal on a 1500 watt element. I agree with you that it'll kinda boil, but barely.

 

[brewzombie]

Just discovered that my big 2600W element should be sufficient to boil about 7 gal or so --> not a crazy rolling boil, but still better than 2 pots! I can't believe I never even tried before!
Stove top brewing w/ 2600 W element

 

[rexbanner]

Thanks for the comments. I know it's not the same process, but I'm hoping it's pretty darn close. The plan is to split all the ingredients down the middle. That's the whole point...I'm not boiling water in one pot and wort in the other . Doesn't really matter ...I'm just asking if anyone has been in this situation and managed to maintain a decent boil with about 4 gal on a 1500 watt element. I agree with you that it'll kinda boil, but barely.

It's pretty much the same process. The evaporation rates are higher, and I'm sure it slightly affects IBU somehow, but for all intents and purposes it's the same. In fact, if you boiled all water in one pot and all wort in another, you'd actually get higher utilization in the all water pot.

I have been doing split boils for pretty much my entire time brewing. Here's a few tips.

1) Wrap your pots in reflective insulation. Doesn't matter that it's only rated to 180. It will melt a little but it's whatever. Replace it when it's too melted.

2) Keep the covers over the pots til you reach an extremely vigorous boil. This requires a watchful eye and some patience to prevent boil-overs. Then, if you have to top off, do it with boiling water, or room temp water added very gradually.

3) Put your lids partially over your pots, to a degree that facilitates a rolling boil. I can't really maintain a rolling boil without my lids at least partially covering my pots.

 

[onthekeg]

at that point you are no longer doing a full boil just two partial boils.

Its all semantics at this point. I would call this a partial boil, like partial mash, excep with all the water.

 

[smagee]

Just discovered that my big 2600W element should be sufficient to boil about 7 gal or so --> not a crazy rolling boil, but still better than 2 pots! I can't believe I never even tried before!
Stove top brewing w/ 2600 W element

"Sufficient" is probably the key term here; has Rex pointed out, it can certainly be done, but requires a bit of patience and babysitting. I've done 5+ gallon boils on the electric stovetop before, and while the thing will get you there, it'll take you all day.

That said, it's certainly worth trying out once!

 

[LordUlrich]

During this winter i did my boils by splitting the runoff from my mash into 2 pots, got them both to a boil and then combined them. My electric glass top stove would keep a boil but spiting pre-boil really decreased the time to boil.