Indoor boil emergency

[eulipion2]

This is my first brew in my new apartment, and since I don't have an outside area (not to mention it's freezing out there!), I have to brew on my stovetop. Only problem is my stovetop isn't powerful enough to keep a boil without the lid on. Even partially covered the boil dies. I'm trying to boil 2 gallons plus extract. I know the general rule that lid on leads to DMS, but how bad am I looking?

 

[moonbrew]

Sounds like to me that you have a problem with your stove top. I would think that it would be no problem to boil twice that much, it may take a while to get up to boil temps, but maintaining the boil shouldn't be that big a deal. Is the stove old? Have you tried using the other stove elements?

 

[SeamusMac]

Does your kitchen have a GFCI plug? If so, build a 1500w heatstick to supplement the stovetop element.

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

Take some tinfoil and make a heat shield around the base. Let plenty of air in towards the burner, but make it so that that same air has to stay by the base of the kettle for a while.

 

[rwinzing]

DMS is not a problem in exact brewing only in all grain

 

[eulipion2]

It's a new glass-top electric stove. I like the heat stick idea, but I don't think I have the right outlet.

rwinzing - Thanks for the tip. That's a big relief!

Thanks everybody for the suggestions and feedback!

 

[Myrdhyn]

The glass stovetop that came with my house makes me rage. I can't fathom trying to do even extract batches on the pathetic piece of junk (it'll barely boil pasta). It's the most pathetic piece of cooking apparatus I've ever used. I'm actually torn between a new stove and a pool table with tax return money.

 

[eulipion2]

I usually prefer electric, as gas is expensive, and it's one less bill to have to pay without it, but yeah, the glass stovetop is a bit pathetic. Oh well.