FAQ: Aluminum Pots for Boil Kettles?

[slouch]

I was using the wire brush because I thought our really hard water here was forming a build up and preventing the proper seasoning.

It did seem to help a little. Though I have boiled about 10-12 full batches of water for several hours each, and still can't get the top of my kettle to go black.

The bottom is very black by the way. So black that it almost looks like soot or lamp black.

 

[bradsul]

The oxide layer is there, don't worry about the colour. Brew away!

 

[slouch]

sounds good i'll give it a shot.

 

[Montanaandy]

We have a nice old restaurant quality Wearever 24 qt thick walled Alum. pot that I want to use for 5 gal boils. Was sitting hidden in the basement for years so it was dusty, full of animal hair. Wife used oxyclean to clean it out/get it ready for use as I now know is a no-no. Is the pot toast with respect to using it to boil wort or as an HLT? It still has the black oxidization "ring" up about 3/4 of the length of the pot. Thanks, Montanaandy

 

[bradsul]

We have a nice old restaurant quality Wearever 24 qt thick walled Alum. pot that I want to use for 5 gal boils. Was sitting hidden in the basement for years so it was dusty, full of animal hair. Wife used oxyclean to clean it out/get it ready for use as I now know is a no-no. Is the pot toast with respect to using it to boil wort or as an HLT? It still has the black oxidization "ring" up about 3/4 of the length of the pot. Thanks, Montanaandy

I would fill it up and do a water boil for an hour just to be safe. After that it will be just fine.

 

[Montanaandy]

Fortunately I am in the process of doing a full boil (well about 2" from the top) and I came across your message. Thanks. I am really looking forward to using this kettle because it is a really thick, high grade of Alu. & I would hate to see it not be put to use. I paid a fair amount for it years ago. Montanaandy

 

[springer]

you don't want to use the water for the initial boil to oxidize the pot in your beer.

 

[Montanaandy]

Well I boiled the water for an hour and now the oxidize ring has pretty much disappeared! WTF? We are on whole-house R.O. so that may have made a difference. Any suggestions as to what I should do or perhaps I should just dedicate this pot to my venison spaghetti sauce. Montanaandy

 

[bradsul]

It's fine, go ahead and use it.

 

[Islandboy85]

Just out of curiosity, some of the turkey pots do seem thin. Has anyone ever thought about installing a doubler with the ball valve to give it some structure; or is this still unnecessary?

 

[taylornate]

Just out of curiosity, some of the turkey pots do seem thin. Has anyone ever thought about installing a doubler with the ball valve to give it some structure; or is this still unnecessary?

What is a doubler?

 

[Islandboy85]

Sorry, airplane mechanic speak for basically a large washer or second piece of material attached behind you primary structure (the pot in our case) to just beef it up for things like installing ball valves.

 

[Islandboy85]

Since we're talking about different metals, does it REALLY matter if you use brass ball valves versus stainless?

 

[FlyGuy]

Since we're talking about different metals, does it REALLY matter if you use brass ball valves versus stainless?

Perhaps that is a good topic for a new thread?

 

[sillyburt]

well I'm almost ready to take the first plunge...

I walked in to the LHBS and started getting some additional equipment aside from what I already have and what I'm goin got pick up used on ebay. well after telling them I have a 30 qt alum kettle they convinced me to buy a SS one. I walked out with one thinking I could return if I didn't wanta to use it.

after reading the FAQ alum kettle vs SS post I have some additional questions

the store told me I couldn't use Star San on the alum but rather iodophur (sp?). is that true?

I also purchased one step cleanser but now know I shouldn't use that on the alum kettle.
-can I use cascade liquid dishwashing soap (for automatic dishwashers)?
-do I need to sanitize the kettle since it will have boiling water in it anyways?

if I can use cascade and not sanitize then I can use the one step for the rest of my equipment. but I wonder what this would doif I stuck my stirring spoon that was washed with one step into the alum kettle.

bottom line is I really want to keep this kettle and would rather not pay the extra $$ for the SS one.

 

[Synovia]

the store told me I couldn't use Star San on the alum but rather iodophur (sp?). is that true?

Why would you need to sanitize your kettle? You're going to be boiling things in it. You really don't need to do anything other than rinse it out. When something gets grubby on mine, I just soak it.


As to returning it, I'd think about it. I've got a 34 Qt, and I think its a tad small for full 5g batches. I'd love to have a 40qt instead. Its doable in the 34, but you gotta watch it like a hawk early on.

 

[sillyburt]

Why would you need to sanitize your kettle? You're going to be boiling things in it.

I haven't done this before and that is why I asked. I didn't think so but I'm kinda like that big guy you see driving done the road in his harley chopper...one day he had to do it for the first time, well this is MY first time

 

[Hoppus_Poppatopolis]

I have an aluminum kettle. It works fine. As you now know, you don't have to sanitize it. I just rinse mine when I'm done. Maybe hit it with a paper towel if it's a little grungy.

 

[mikeysab]

Return the SS kettle, and spend the money on something else. Buy a wort chiller, a MLT, or more ingredients. If you're already doing extract batches, you need very little more equipment to do all grain. Buy some mesh bags and a small cooler, even if you don't convert it, you can still mash in it and pour the wort out. Check out Deathbrewers genius threads on PM's and AG. I just ordered a partial mash kit, an AG kit, and ingredients to do two of my own recipes, and I have no more equpment than I used for extract batches. I do feel the need to brag about the 50 foot roll of 3/8 inch copper tubing I scored for free from my job.....actually it cost me 4 beers, but the guy was drinking Bud, so it was cheap. Anyway, If you have a kettle already, don't waste y our money. There's plenty of other ways to spend your money than on ANOTHER kettle.

 

[sillyburt]

I boiled water for 1+ hour last night. the kettle (bayou classic) was like a polished aluminum color but now has a gray/milky white tint/covering to it, but I did not get any black colors. the polished look is gone on the inside

should I feel confident that it has the oxidized layer on it now? or should I try to boil again for another hour or more?

I as pretty happy with the fact that I could keep up a roiling boil without having to turn the electric stove all the way to high.

 

[springer]

I boiled water for 1+ hour last night. the kettle (bayou classic) was like a polished aluminum color but now has a gray/milky white tint/covering to it, but I did not get any black colors. the polished look is gone on the inside

should I feel confident that it has the oxidized layer on it now? or should I try to boil again for another hour or more?

I as pretty happy with the fact that I could keep up a roiling boil without having to turn the electric stove all the way to high.

your fine some pots never get black oxide I have one that is blackish and another that just turned dull like yours.

 

[mikeysab]

It's done....It doesn't EXACTLY look black, but it's a way of saying "much darker than how it started out".if you boiled water in it for an hour, the protective layer is there. now boil wort in it, make beer in it, or wash your weiner in it, you're gonna be doing it safelly.

 

[sillyburt]

now boil wort in it, make beer in it, or wash your weiner in it, you're gonna be doing it safelly.

Awesome, thanks that's hilarious

 

[Montanaandy]

Brewed 4.5 gal in my 6 gal thick gauge aluminum pot on the stove this Sun. Glad I didn't try for a full 5 gal because I didn't even think about the volume of the LME added which brought the level up pretty high in the pot (roughly the 5 gal level). Loved how quickly the water heated up in the aluminum and how it kept a nice even rolling boil with the wort for the hour. The immersion chiller seemed to work really well in the aluminum bringing the temp down from around 190' to 70 in a short time. The beer is fermenting nicely and I think that it will be a great batch. BTW - I think I purchased this at Sam's Club years ago and they tend to carry restaurant equipment for anyone in the market for aluminum pots. Montananady

 

[schwarzk]

What about anodized aluminum? I've looked it up a little bit, and the anodization is supposed to thicken the oxidized layer, which should be good, right?

I'm hoping to use a Calphalon stockpot we already own (an underused gift, seeing as we don't make stock or huge pots of soup), rather than buying a dedicated brew kettle.

Plus, I don't think it has a non-stick treatment, but if it did, would this be a problem? I don't plan to use any harsh cleaning or sanitizing solutions because everything in it will be brought to a boil.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this type of pot... Thanks!

 

[Ichthy]

Guys

I remembered that I have an antique (i.e., pre WWII) aluminum pressure canner. I'm planning on using is as my boil kettle until i get a turkey fryer because it is flat bottomed and i have damned glass stove top.

My concern is, that ther are some hard water deposits on the bottom that won't come off. It's currently soaking in vinegar but I don't think the water deposits are coming off. Should I sandpaper the deposits off, or just say to hell with it and brew on??

 

[slouch]

Guys

I remembered that I have an antique (i.e., pre WWII) aluminum pressure canner. I'm planning on using is as my boil kettle until i get a turkey fryer because it is flat bottomed and i have damned glass stove top.

My concern is, that ther are some hard water deposits on the bottom that won't come off. It's currently soaking in vinegar but I don't think the water deposits are coming off. Should I sandpaper the deposits off, or just say to hell with it and brew on??

I say brew on!

 

[engrishjones]

Here is my question I hae a turkey fryer used once. Its 36 quarts would be OK to scrub it up and used it for Wort

 

[bradsul]

Most definitely! My HLT has cooked a couple turkey dinners now. Just make sure to get any and all oil residue out and you'll be just fine.

 

[Hillbilly_Bill]

Iron oxide is rust red/brown.
Copper oxide is green.
Nickel oxide is BLACK.
Aluminum oxide is dark gray.

For you guys just starting out brewing with little or no chemistry background, don't worry if your aluminum pot does not turn black on the inside. Actually, if it turns BLACK something is not right.

Ok... I have read the entire thread and I am new to this forum, so I have been biting my tongue. I can't bite it any longer.

Yesterday I did what any one of us could have done, and maybe we all should do... I did a Google search to get the latest info on the aluminum/Alzheimer's Disease link. Yes, there is a link.
Notice... I did not say that aluminum causes Alzheimer's Disease... I said that there is a link. The major part of the link is that aluminum is found in the brain cells of all three parts of the brain that are Alzheimer's related. Is this a cause or is it an effect? We simply don't know.
What we do know is that most of the aluminum we ingest/eat is passed through the alimentary canal and excreted or if in solution or suspension is passed through the kidneys. The dialysis/aluminum link is a different topic and I will let you guys research that one.
A good note...
The bone marrow does a good job of handling any aluminum that passes it's way... thus healthy bone mass is a good thing for more reasons than just for supporting our body. Studies have concluded that a diet high in Calcium helps the body deal with ingested aluminum.
Another interesting fact is that a large portion of the aluminum that our bodies are exposed to comes from aluminum chlorate which is the active ingredient of the Arrid XX deodorant that I spray on myself daily.
Is this bad? We have not proven that it is.
Is this good? I doubt that it is good, but the aluminum in the brains of Alzeimer's patients has to come from somewhere, doesn't it?
One more thing... it appears that in order to develop Alzeimer's related dementia, one must have the gene that predisposes that person to the disease. Some people handle and ingest aluminum in copious amounts and live long healthy lives, never having any symptoms of dementia.
Some Alzeimer's victims are not exposed to any more aluminum than the average person.
Should you avoid aluminum in the form of deodorants, antacid tablets, and cookware? I do not know... but I do know that:

The minumum daily requirement of aluminum in our diet is 0mg.

and...
If my family had a history of Alzeimer's Disease, which it does not, I imagine I would want to play it safe and avoid ingesting aluminum as much as I possibly could.
What do you think?