First batch done! ... but I damaged my stove

Pooleh · Feb 2, 2012

OK so I brewed my first batch of beer yesterday afternoon and everything went great except that after I took the pot off the stove at flame out I noticed that the electric element had been damaged. The metal support that fits into the slots on the stove top had bent and twisted down. Has anyone ever had this happen? I did a 3 gallon boil and never though that the weight would cause the element to bend. Could it have been from having the element on high for about 2 hours (I steeped a pound of specialty grains for 30 min before the boil)? Any advice would be great. I plan on going out and looking for a heavy duty element, if there is such a thing, so I don't damage it next time. Cheers and thanks for all of the great info here guys! :mug:

SenorPepe · Feb 2, 2012

Pooleh said:
OK so I brewed my first batch of beer yesterday afternoon and everything went great except that after I took the pot off the stove at flame out I noticed that the electric element had been damaged. The metal support that fits into the slots on the stove top had bent and twisted down. Has anyone ever had this happen? I did a 3 gallon boil and never though that the weight would cause the element to bend. Could it have been from having the element on high for about 2 hours (I steeped a pound of specialty grains for 30 min before the boil)? Any advice would be great. I plan on going out and looking for a heavy duty element, if there is such a thing, so I don't damage it next time. Cheers and thanks for all of the great info here guys!

I BIAB 2.5 gallon batches on my electric stovetop, so about 4.5 gallons plus grain weight at a time on it. It has very slightly bent the inserts but it still works fine and holds up. Maybe you could find a way to brace it at the level where the pot is touching the element somehow...

ETCS · Feb 2, 2012

Yep, I've had this happen before. I just bought a new element for normal use and used the slightly damaged one when I brewed.

petey_c · Feb 2, 2012

About 8.3 pounds to a gallon. Almost 25 lbs in your boils, plus the weight of the pot. Most elements and their support legs/tabs (?) should be able to hold this for quite awhile. It could have happened if the pot twisted while you were picking it up/putting it down (not said in a German accent..). I doubt it though. Is the stove very old? Maybe it's just time for a new element.

unionrdr · Feb 2, 2012

3 out of 4 of mine did that. But with normal food cooking making big pots of stuff. I need new pans & elements myself.

Pooleh · Feb 2, 2012

It isn't a very old stove but maybe it is just a cheap element. I found a canning/large pot element in searching online that will elevate the pot up a bit and looks like it is build pretty sturdy. Maybe I will go look for one locally to use while brewing.

petey_c · Feb 3, 2012

The canning element for my GE stove will run about $70. That'll have to wait until I start doing bigger boils more often. The biggest issue I have is the cheap azz drip pans that I'm finding. At Lowes/HD they seem to last about 5 months before they start turning to rusty POS. You should be able to find elements online pretty cheap.