Cheap stock pot

[Pyg]

One of my 3 LHBS is selling 20 quart/5 gallon SS stock pot for $38.

However this is the LHBS that I only frequent for pre-packaged supplies, and rarely at that.
The staff, which consists of an older women who usually doesnt give AF, can only read directions. She can not even recite them.

Anyway she thinks that the pot is 5 gallons, but said it was nice.
It is generic and has no marking or connections.
Where as the other 2 LHBS have fancier pots for $75 and up of all sizes and skill level needs.

I kind of need a bigger pot. I have been cooking in a flimsy 4 gallon SS pot that has been around my house forever. Actually no idea when or where I got it.
I find myself running out of room doing partial mash/extract brews. Especially after I have added all the extract and the immersion chiller.

Should I trust this LHBS?
or go elsewhere?

I am limited on funds these days and the price of $38 was darn appealing!
If not here , where else should I go for a decent pot?

 

[MattyIce]

I recently bought a 10 gallon stock pot from a restaurant auction for about half of retail. 5 is pretty small unless you are only doing up to 2-3 gallons at a time.

 

[flars]

My 5.5 gallon boil kettle does double duty. Use it for cooking some of the larger size meals. Heavy stainless steel with a half inch clad bottom. Purchased at Walmart for $62. It should last forever.

A cheaper pot would probably end up scorching a wort or a meal. A cheap pot is just a cheap pot that may not perform very well and not last to long.

 

[IslandLizard]

5 gallons is not all that much larger than 4 gallons, so you may still run into capacity issues.

Some of the pricier kettles are just thicker material, beefier, and some come with a triple ply bottom, providing more even heat. Then some are induction ready, while others are not, so that can be another factor to weigh in.

Are you always going to do partial mashes or do you see all grain in the near future? For 5 gallon AG batches you'd need at least an 8 gallon kettle, 10 is better. You'd also need the heating capacity to boil that volume.

Have you taken a look at that pot being offered? She may think it's the bees knees, compared to what she has in her kitchen.

CL always has pots listed, sometimes at real bargain prices.

 

[beergolf]

Did you look at the pot? For $38 I am guessing that it is pretty thin, but that seems like a good price. Another place to look is a restaurant supply store. I have one near me that has lots of big pots and the prices are decent.

Are you doing partial boils? or smaller batches? i am guessing you are brewing in the kitchen. So most stoves will not get much more volume to a boils easily. If you are brewing outside then I would recommend getting a much bigger (10g or more) pot so you can do full boils. But here is a trick that I sometimes do. I do full boils on the stove when the weather is bad. I brewed yesterday after the big snow, in the comfort of my kitchen. I have a 4 gallon pot and a 5 gallon pot. I Can do full boil AG batches in the kitchen when the weather outside sucks. I just split the wort between the two pots.

 

[Jim311]

I don't think that's a good enough deal to justify using a pot that's still too small for any 5 gallon all grain batch. You didn't mention what you were doing with this though. Maybe 5 gallons might be perfect for smaller batches, or brewing with extract, but if you want a larger pot, I'd go for at least an 8 or 10 gallon one myself because I enjoy having plenty of room and not worrying about boil overs.

 

[TexasDroughtBrewery]

My first setup was a SS turkey fryer. It was 8 gallons and worked perfectly for awhile. You can get one for 30-40 dollars or you can get one with a burner as a set for around 90.

May seem shotty but it worked beautifully as my first pot and burner on a budget.

 

[slym2none]

I just bought a 4-gallon SS pot for $12 from a large discount store. Wish I hadn't.

I will use it for mashing, but I don't think I am going to use it for boiling anything, it is so flimsy. So, my BIAB system is now a two-vessel BIAB system, as my other pot (around 3 gallons) is a heavy stock-pot great for the boil, just not big enough to mash in.

FML

 

[wilserbrewer]

A $38 five gallon pot doesn't excite me at all....
Perhaps something like this would serve you far better

http://www.walmart.com/ip/IMUSA-Tamale-and-Seafood-32-Quart-Steamer/13370045

http://www.target.com/p/imusa-32-qt-aluminum-tamale-steamer/-/A-10910892

w/ free ship
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMUSA-32-qt...835701?hash=item46367c70b5:g:wyMAAOSwd0BVwK9~

 

[TexasDroughtBrewery]

A $38 five gallon pot doesn't excite me at all....
Perhaps something like this would serve you far better

http://www.walmart.com/ip/IMUSA-Tamale-and-Seafood-32-Quart-Steamer/13370045

http://www.target.com/p/imusa-32-qt-aluminum-tamale-steamer/-/A-10910892

w/ free ship
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMUSA-32-qt...835701?hash=item46367c70b5:g:wyMAAOSwd0BVwK9~

That actually looks like a great deal for what you are in the market for.

 

[estricklin]

My vote goes to the turkey fryer, I've seen them on sale with the burner for less than 40 before. Either that or one of the cheap concord stainless pots from ebay.

 

[dwhite60]

I guess I lucked out. I got a new, stainless pot from a local HBS which I think is VERY good quality. Welded handles. This thing is NOT flimsy at all. For it's size it's pretty heavy. Guy said it was different from what they normally carry.

Go take a look before you shoot it down. Might be worth your money.

I've used a cheap enamel 5 gallon canning pot for over 20 years. Actually have two. Don't think I put even $15 into each of them. If you take care of it, it should last a LONG time.


All the Best,
D. White

 

[Pyg]

A $38 five gallon pot doesn't excite me at all....
Perhaps something like this would serve you far better

http://www.walmart.com/ip/IMUSA-Tamale-and-Seafood-32-Quart-Steamer/13370045

http://www.target.com/p/imusa-32-qt-aluminum-tamale-steamer/-/A-10910892

w/ free ship
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMUSA-32-qt...835701?hash=item46367c70b5:g:wyMAAOSwd0BVwK9~

Those look perfect for doing partial mash-extract partial boils for my 5 gallon batches.

Is stainless preferably to aluminum? Or is it 6 one way- 1/2 dozen.......

I also like the turkey fryer idea.
That way I can start boiling outside, on the deck, by the pool etc....

Only issue is a new pot would require me to bend my immersion chiller to fit ....

 

[mongoose33]

In my experience, almost every time I try to cheap out on something I regret it later. I bought an 8-gallon megapot from Northern Brewer on sale--it's a great pot, like it a lot. Wish it was 10-gallon so i could easily do BIAB. Now I have to get a second pot to do that with.

It's sort of like buying a safe for firearms--the rule of thumb is figure out what you think you need, then go one size larger. In my case, I should have gone two sizes larger, but what can you do? I followed the rule of thumb....

IMO, you should ask yourself where you see this topping out at--and buy something you can use in that context. Maybe this is it, you're happy with where you are, and more power to you if so--everybody gets to choose what makes them happy.

But I agree with others that 5 gallons really isn't a game changer here. Consider going for an 8-gallon pot if you can find one within your means. You'll be able to go full-boil with 5-gallon batches and open up other opportunities.

My 2 cents--just some things to consider. Enjoy the process.

 

[AkBrew907]

Personally having gone through an aluminum turkey fryer pot, a stainless 5 gallon and a 16 gallon bayou classic, I would just save up a little and get a quality pot you won't have to worry about in the future. I wish I had done that from the get go. Would have saved money in the long run.


I just picked up an Anvil 10gal kettle and am beyond impressed. Amazing quality, looks and function and a pretty decent price.



Just my 2c

 

[Pyg]

Is there a benefit to stainless over aluminum?

Is one easier to clean?
Does one Alter the flavor?

 

[AkBrew907]

From beersmiths page.

"The only major disadvantage of aluminum is that it will oxidize, so you can’t use oxygen-based or caustic cleaners such as Oxyclean. This is the major reason why professional brewing equipment is made of stainless steel and not aluminum – the stainless steel is easier to clean with caustic cleaning agents. Also, over time aluminum will get an oxide layer over it which can discolor the aluminum and give it a grey tone. This is not a cause for concern – the layer of aluminum oxide actually protects the pot, but it is not as pretty as stainless steel."

 

[aprichman]

There's some pretty good deals on used equipment - in the 'For Sale' subforum a nice 8 gallon pot with a bottom and recirculation port (including ball valves, fittings, etc.) was going for $90 shipped. IMO that's a great deal and size for someone looking to do full boil 5 gallon extract batches. If you're looking to do 5 gallon all grain batches you're going to want a 10 gallon kettle.

 

[Jim311]

From beersmiths page.

"The only major disadvantage of aluminum is that it will oxidize, so you can’t use oxygen-based or caustic cleaners such as Oxyclean. This is the major reason why professional brewing equipment is made of stainless steel and not aluminum – the stainless steel is easier to clean with caustic cleaning agents. Also, over time aluminum will get an oxide layer over it which can discolor the aluminum and give it a grey tone. This is not a cause for concern – the layer of aluminum oxide actually protects the pot, but it is not as pretty as stainless steel."

On the flip side, aluminum can't rust, and stainless can. I once left some ball valve fittings in a weak bleach dilution to kill some funk. They almost totally rusted out in a matter of a couple of days. Wouldn't have happened if the fittings were aluminum.

 

[AkBrew907]

On the flip side, aluminum can't rust, and stainless can. I once left some ball valve fittings in a weak bleach dilution to kill some funk. They almost totally rusted out in a matter of a couple of days. Wouldn't have happened if the fittings were aluminum.

Odd. I soaked the stainless parts to my keg for an easy couple of weeks in a pretty stout oxy clean solution and they rinsed right off with no harm.


Sure it was truly Stainless Steel? Stainless can discolor but rust shouldn't be happening.

 

[AkBrew907]

"Stainless steel differs from carbon steel by the amount of chromium present. Unprotected carbon steel rusts readily when exposed to air and moisture. This iron oxide film (the rust) is active and accelerates corrosion by forming more iron oxide; and, because of the greater volume of the iron oxide, this tends to flake and fall away. Stainless steels contain sufficient chromium to form a passive film of chromium oxide, which prevents further surface corrosion by blocking oxygen diffusion to the steel surface and blocks corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

 

[Jim311]

Odd. I soaked the stainless parts to my keg for an easy couple of weeks in a pretty stout oxy clean solution and they rinsed right off with no harm.


Sure it was truly Stainless Steel? Stainless can discolor but rust shouldn't be happening.

Because oxyclean is not chlorine based. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel can and does rust in the right conditions.

 

[Pyg]

Recently became aware of this turkey fryer/burner at Home Depot
And SWMBO just gave me the OK to purchase it.
I dont anticipate going full AG anytime soon. In fact this weekend I will be doing my 1st AG as a 1 gallon batch?
So is the below worth $60 or should I go to my LHBS and get a 8 gallon SS for $75?

If I do get the turkey Fryer, has anyone ever fried a turkey and still used for brewing?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/30-qt-Turkey-Fryer-Package-TF2089904-RG/206107107

 

[estricklin]

Recently became aware of this turkey fryer/burner at Home Depot
And SWMBO just gave me the OK to purchase it.
I dont anticipate going full AG anytime soon. In fact this weekend I will be doing my 1st AG as a 1 gallon batch?
So is the below worth $60 or should I go to my LHBS and get a 8 gallon SS for $75?

If I do get the turkey Fryer, has anyone ever fried a turkey and still used for brewing?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/30-qt-Turkey-Fryer-Package-TF2089904-RG/206107107

I converted my turkey fryer TO brewing, it had fried many many turkeys (around 30) before I cleaned the holy crap out of it and started using it for beer. I actually fried a turkey in it later and cleaned it again too. Oxy clean, some good steel wool, it worked fine.

Seriously though check out the Concords on ebay.

 

[Pyg]

I converted my turkey fryer TO brewing, it had fried many many turkeys (around 30) before I cleaned the holy crap out of it and started using it for beer. I actually fried a turkey in it later and cleaned it again too. Oxy clean, some good steel wool, it worked fine.



Seriously though check out the Concords on ebay.

Everything I have found on eBay has been pricy or to fancy
Found a 7.5 gallon alum pot for $40.
Not sure if worth it!
http://m.target.com/p/bayou-classic...gclid=CIL5nOTj3ssCFcJahgodMngFjA&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Jimbodaman]

I got my 8 gallon pot for 50$ from Adventures in hombrewing I think it might still be on sale. If you want a bigger pot definitely get at least 7.5 gal

 

[Steelhorses]

Here's the link for that pot above and all the rest as well that they carry...

http://www.homebrewing.org/Brew-Pots_c_79.html

and agree, if you are doing full 5 gal batches you will want at least an 8 gal pot so you don't sweat boil overs and knowing that you will have enough pot for almost any recipe you want to try.

I just ordered the 9 gal Bayou Classic for them last Fri and it will match my 15 gal I got from them several years ago. ( Which has been a fantastic BK BTW)

 

[Pyg]

A different day a different idea.
(Which is driving SWMBO nuts)
I was originally looking at a 30Q alum turkey fryer for $40
Then I thought for $60 I could get the 30Q kettle and a burner.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/30-qt-Turkey-Fryer-Package-TF2089904-RG/206107107
However the propane burner has a 15 minute Saftey timer.
I was thinking if there is a way to swap out the hose with the timer for one without?
Is that even a possibility?

 

[jtratcliff]

Check out the 40qt stock pots at Staples (yes, the office supply, store)... 4mm thick. You have to buy the pot and lid separately, but it's still only $45 or so, free ship to store, some times free shipping to home with coupon code (check retailmenot.com)... I got mine for around $37 after coupon.

They have a couple different models so make sure you compare the prices

I can look up the exact model if you have trouble finding it... Just let me know.

It's a very nice pot. I can maybe post pics, too.

 

[Pyg]

30Q SS $60
40Q SS $68

40 is way to big for what j need.
Many o the AI fry pots have volume markers.
The cheap SS does not.