Cheap stock pot

[Peruvian802]

40qt aluminum $31.15

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=as2&tag=hombrefin-20&linkId=7FOR2YZJDMMRJ4OQ

I use this one (added a weldless valve) and it works great. Nice and heavy duty.

 

[ChelisHubby]

If you are brewing 5 gallons 40 qt is the right size. The foam will have room to expand so you won't be cleaning wort off of the side of the pot. I will soon be doing 10 gallon batches but the brew pot will be 20 gallon so I can turn my back on it and take a leak.

 

[Precious_Paul]

Sam's club has A 5 gallon one for $35 comes with a lid, the one I use

View attachment 1459536985036.jpg

 

[CUrchin]

I would suggest getting a pot much larger than 5 gallons. Otherwise you'll be buying another pot in a year or so. If you insist on a 5 gallon pot, $35+ is a lot, even for SS. I got mine for $20 at a local discount store around canning time. I have since gotten a Concord pot (9 gallons, SS). Works well enough for me for a reasonable price.

 

[BuglessDuster]

Amazon.com is your friend. You might also try Wal-Mart.

 

[Pyg]

Think SWMBO talked me into a 42 q polar ware SS on Amazon

 

[Peruvian802]

Think SWMBO talked me into a 42 q polar ware SS on Amazon

Keep her.

 

[Pyg]

Ended up getting a bayou classic 30 quart for a decent price
Now the issue is the it wobbles on the stove burner when cooking.
I have to prop 1 side up to get it to stop wobbling.
Thinking the bottom is tapered.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460144829.953629.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460144902.452147.jpg

Update:
After extensive reading the issue is a thin bottom.
However if I slowly raise the temp of the burner gradually, instead of putting right on high the pot does not distort

 

[ColeVet67]

well... looks like my comment may be a lil to late, but ill still chime in here. I have found, through my own experience, that a 4/5 G pot only suits you for so long. Now unless your only goin to stick with extract or small AG brews; buying a cheap pot to begin with.... only leads to a more expensive bigger pot later.

BUT.. BUT.. dont think youll just throw out that cheap pot.. when your ready/able to upgrade... i have found that it came in handy later down the road. so there is hope.. as i have seen/experienced... that you soon will have the NICE BIG pot.. with all that "shiny stuff" on it..

Happy Brewing.. !!!

 

[kristiismean]

Okay, the wobbles. I run two 5 gallon SS kettles on my Flat top stove. One has an indention in the center on the bottom, and does not wobble. One is flat and does wobble. Does yours stop wobbling at around 180, or if you push down gently on it?

(Mine second pot was free from northern brewer. Spend 125 get a free pot. doubled my output, since adding another 5 gallon batch at the same time adds on only 1/2 hour)

 

[MattyIce]

Okay, the wobbles. I run two 5 gallon SS kettles on my Flat top stove. One has an indention in the center on the bottom, and does not wobble. One is flat and does wobble. Does yours stop wobbling at around 180, or if you push down gently on it?

(Mine second pot was free from northern brewer. Spend 125 get a free pot. doubled my output, since adding another 5 gallon batch at the same time adds on only 1/2 hour)

My 62qt Bayou wobbles in a certain range. 180 would seem reasonable as it only does it as I approach boil vs heating strike/sparge water.

Can you show a pic of that indentation? Curious if it's something I could do to a flat-bottomed pot myself.

 

[kh54s10]

I started with a 20 quart aluminum pot that I already had. IMO plenty big enough for extract and partial mash. Since you are topping up anyway, just boil less volume.

I recently bought another 20 qt. pot in SS for $14. Local discount chain, Benny's.

If you are planning on going to all grain in the future, spend more $$ and go at a minimum or 8 gallons. I got two 10 gallon pots that were advertised on Craigslist, $100 for both. I still have to watch for boil overs.

 

[kristiismean]

My 62qt Bayou wobbles in a certain range. 180 would seem reasonable as it only does it as I approach boil vs heating strike/sparge water.

Can you show a pic of that indentation? Curious if it's something I could do to a flat-bottomed pot myself.

Ill take a picture of it tonight, and replace this post with it

 

[jm21]

Feeling good about Chinese prices but will see how my pot works this weekend. About $15 for a 15gal pot with welded handles. A little on the thin side, especially on the bottom, but not that bad for the size...I've had a lot of experience cooking and am sort of through with triply bottoms on pans. A lot more expense and it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. The pot I've burned the most stuff with is a really nice stockpot with a triply bottom.

There are a lot of myths that cooking with aluminum is unhealthy but I don't think they were ever confirmed.

 

[kristiismean]

 

[kristiismean]

please excuse the bad picture, bad lighting, but you get the point. That's an indentation, it in about 2-3 mm. but do not have problems with it on my flat top stove.

 

[Pyg]

First batch and I already have a mess to clean. However the mess is only on the inside
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1461007461.287316.jpg

But boiling 5 gallons in a 7.5, it was nice not to have any spill over. So there was no spilled Wort on the stove.
No messy counters to clean!

 

[kristiismean]

If you don't have any already. Bar keepers friend. Amazon. Get the 3 pack (powder). You will thank me, your pots and stovetop will thank me, and if you have a significant other, they will thank you.