How do you speed up your boil?

[Devasin]

I currently have 30 minutes left in my boil and I can tell you from steeping my specialty grains, to adding the LME, to bring that (and 3 gallons) to a boil, I am frustrated kinda. I started my water on the glass top stove at 5:05 pm and it is 8:20 pm now and its hardly a roiling boil on its max heat setting. What do you guys use to get those boil times down so they are not a hindrance?

 

[k1ngl1ves]

This would be a good start...

 

[TheMadKing]

Look on craigslist for a propane turkey fryer. I got mine for $25. I also bought a propane tank with a grill for $40 and now I have both.

 

[d3track]

Hate to say it, but your best bet is an outdoor burner (unless you want to go electric), another cost, but it will save lots of time.

 

[brewing_wookie]

Yep, need to move to a burner. I believe those glass tops conduct the heat so you don't get the concentrated heat like from a flame.

 

[h22lude]

Propane or electric full boil would be a great. If you can't do that and need to use your stove, you can try to boil less water or get an electric heat stick to supplement your stove burner.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Yeah, glass stove tops are no good. You won't ever get the power that you need. Even the plug in element electric stovetops (which still aren't strong enough 9 times out of 10) are a step up. You can manage with a GAS stove, but that's still often now powerful enough (I use a gas stove, and would like a little more boil strength).

If you cannot use propane or otherwise use open flame, you could look into using induction, or using heat sticks as indicated above. If nothing else, unplugging your stovetop and using that outlet would provide PLENTY of electricity to brew even fairly large scale all grain batches.

 

[Shawn_Brewin]

Heatsticks work great for that first step into indoor brewing. I use one in the Winter to help my burner out when it is -25*C- to -40*C but it would probably help you get up to temp on your stove alot faster.
http://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/hotrod.htm

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I'm lucky enough to have a dual ring burner on my gas stove, I've only done one batch but it seems to get the job done with 3 gallons at a rolling boil.

-- Nathan

 

[Natdavis777]

This gets 13 gal up to boil pretty quickly. Id recommend a element to supplement stove top brewing, or move on to a full propane burner/heating element.

 

[Bosh]

Wrapping your brewpot in aluminum foil can also help.

 

[DJP00829]

the easiest way ive found to get a great boil going is to go do something, anything, else briefly. This will allow the pot ample time to go from flat liquid to boil over!

 

[ZebulonBrewer]

I will vouch for the outdoor propane burner. It speeds things up so much. My old apartment had a gas stovetop, which is amazing compared to my new glass-top POS, but it still took me 4-4.5 hours to do a partial mash (45 min)/partial boil 5 gallons batch.

When I moved to my new place I got a propane burner, and my SAME RECIPES take 2:45-3 hours. The speed up in heating is insane. Faster time to strike temp. Faster time to adding extract. Faster time to boil. Just watch for boil-overs or get some ferm-cap.

If you have to be inside, get a heat stick, and just remember to NEVER plug it in while it isn't submerged in liquid.

Cheers!

 

[Natdavis777]

Putting a lid on the kettle while the wort heats also helps. Just don't cover while boiling

 

[Mexibilly]

Search for propane burners. It will totally simplify whar you're trying to accomplish

 

[brewprint]

I currently have 30 minutes left in my boil and I can tell you from steeping my specialty grains, to adding the LME, to bring that (and 3 gallons) to a boil, I am frustrated kinda. I started my water on the glass top stove at 5:05 pm and it is 8:20 pm now and its hardly a roiling boil on its max heat setting. What do you guys use to get those boil times down so they are not a hindrance?

A 220,000 BTU propane burner for $99 at adventures in homebrewing. I can have 6.5 gallons or wort boiling in 15 minutes.

 

[Singletrack]

Natural gas burner instead of propane if you have service at your place. No need to fill propane tanks, and NG heats almost as well.

 

[h22lude]

the easiest way ive found to get a great boil going is to go do something, anything, else briefly. This will allow the pot ample time to go from flat liquid to boil over!

Watched pot never boils. An unwatched homebrew always boils over lol

Putting a lid on the kettle while the wort heats also helps. Just don't cover while boiling

This will get the water to boil faster but once the lid is removed the boil might not be strong enough.

 

[kh54s10]

Buy a new glass top stove. Mine does 3 gallons very easily. I haven't tried a full boil for a 5 gallon batch, and won't, because of the weight of 7 gallons on the glass.

A propane burner is a lot cheaper and boilovers outside are a lot better than on the stove indoors.

 

[MattyIce]

Brand new propane burners can be had for $40-50

 

[Qhrumphf]

Just gonna say it, since the OP hasn't responded, it's entirely possible that the OP is in a situation similar to many of us, brewing indoors in an apartment or condo, and using propane is absolutely 100% not an option, only able to brew indoors (or even on a balcony) where propane is not only likely against fire code but also completely unsafe. Now, if the OP has the option to brew outside, then yes, propane is a good bet. But it may not be an option. However, given that the OP has a glass top electric range, then we know that more than likely the OP has the power supply necessary to brew electric. Some of us are in old, old buildings where we can't even do that

 

[Devasin]

Qhrimphf, I'm sorry I never responded lol. I've been super busy as of
Late and haven't really checked the thread. I live on a farm. So I can brew in my garage, in a barn, outside what have you. I'm looking for a propane burner because I don't want to be stuck in the kitchen. Hank Hill should help me out.

 

[Qhrumphf]

No worries, just pointing out that everyone responding "use propane!" may not be helpful. But obviously if you can use propane that's a good way to go. Of course, if you won't want to brew outside in the heat of summer or cold of winter, then electric is still an option. But propane will absolutely get the job done.

 

[Devasin]

We have a garage that I can brew in that won't give me frostbite and will keep me out of the sun. So I am good. Now I just need to hone in what kinda of burner I want.

BUT my problem is that I want to stay away from brew kits and buy ingredients for 1-2 gallon brews. If this is the case I might as well stick to my glass stove but even then it will still take forever.

 

[h22lude]

If you are doing that small of a batch you can get a countertop induction cook top.

 

[millstone]

If you are doing that small of a batch you can get a countertop induction cook top.

+1
This is a nice long and active post on that subject to help get you going.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=301722
tom

 

[Hamaki]

Wrapping your brewpot in aluminum foil can also help.

I thought this was a novel response. Has anyone tried this with great success or is it one step removed from wrapping your head in aluminum foil? (Remember, shiny side out to deflect psychotronic mind control radiation)
http://zapatopi.net/afdb/build.html

 

[Owly055]

Just gonna say it, since the OP hasn't responded, it's entirely possible that the OP is in a situation similar to many of us, brewing indoors in an apartment or condo, and using propane is absolutely 100% not an option, only able to brew indoors (or even on a balcony) where propane is not only likely against fire code but also completely unsafe. Now, if the OP has the option to brew outside, then yes, propane is a good bet. But it may not be an option. However, given that the OP has a glass top electric range, then we know that more than likely the OP has the power supply necessary to brew electric. Some of us are in old, old buildings where we can't even do that

I'd like to know how propane is "completely unsafe" on a balcony???? That's nuts........

 

[Owly055]

I use a 2500 watt floating heater I built. It runs on 220 volts, and cuts my time to boil on a 2.5 gallon batch down to 8 minutes from mash temp. I also use it to reach strike temp quickly.


H.W.

 

[Qhrumphf]

I'd like to know how propane is "completely unsafe" on a balcony???? That's nuts........

I wasn't clear. Propane inside is completely unsafe. Propane on a balcony is often against fire code, at least in urban areas.