Can you use an electric boiler for a mash tun?

[Brew_Meister_General]

I'm planning on getting the 40ltr Buffalo boiler and turning it into a mash tun although I've only heard of people using it for BIAB, would the mash effect the heating element and cause it to cut out?

 

[doug293cz]

Heating during the mash, without stirring or recirculation will cause significant non-uniformities of temperature throughout the mash (temp stratification.) This will make mash results hard to predict. If you stir whenever the heating element is on, things should work fine.

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[Brew_Meister_General]

Heating during the mash, without stirring or recirculation will cause significant non-uniformities of temperature throughout the mash (temp stratification.) This will make mash results hard to predict. If you stir whenever the heating element is on, things should work fine.

Brew on

Is there a downside to this such as tannin extraction? What kind of mash tun do you use?

 

[doug293cz]

Tannin extraction is primarily due to mash pH being too high (above 5.9 - 6.0.) In decoction brewing, portions of the mash are actually boiled, and they don't have tannin extraction issues, if they keep their pH under control.

I do BIAB (brew in a bag) where I mash in my boil kettle (a 15.5 gal SS pot.) I seldom add heat during the mash. Heating strike water and boiling is done with a propane burner.

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