My glass stove-top sucks, looking for heating/boil upgrades (cheaper = better)

[Hoochin'Fool]

@treacheroustexan - I'd be shocked if it didn't! But you really should look into getting some reflectix insulation. Home Depot sells a small roll for cheap here.

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

So there's ONE slight drawback to the reflectix jacket on my pot: it covers up the outer "lip" of the pot, that I wrap my paint grain-straining bag around. Was a pain in the butt to get the grain all stirred in, cuz the bag kept coming loose. But it's holding temperature great -- 30 minutes in, and it's dropped from 153 to 152.

 

[mac_1103]

Couldn't you fix that with a utility knife?

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

Couldn't you fix that with a utility knife?

Probably! I think if I shorten it by about a third of an inch, the strainer bag should be able to grab on to the pot a little better.

 

[IslandLizard]

Couldn't you fix that with a utility knife?

Scissors!

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

Welp, 6.5 lbs grain ground up (3 lbs briess 2-row, 3 lbs briess pale ale, 8 oz briess caramel munich 60L, 1 oz midnight wheat), mashed, boiled, and now cooling out in the garage, and everything washed up and put away, in just about exactly 3 hours. Once again, I had a little better efficiency (more like 80%, rather than 70% which my software is still set to). OG was more like 1.063 where I was shooting for 1.058 -- should I bother with a little top-off water before adding yeast, or just let it be a little stronger?

 

[IslandLizard]

should I bother with a little top-off water before adding yeast, or just let it be a little stronger?

If short on volume, top it up, unless you want it a tad stronger. Me, I'd leave it stronger.

If you have the right volume, you may want to leave it. You can't cram more in a keg than 5-5.5 gallons.

 

[ohioan55]

Anyone ever use a turkey fryer? Not one that's been used of course as it may taint the wort. I friend bought a new one and it works great. I use it when brewing. The gas heats quicker and when you reach the desired temp. Shut it down and drop in the cooling coil.

 

[mac_1103]

I put together a glorified turkey fryer - 44 qt bayou classic kettle on a 100,000 btu propane burner.

 

[Miraculix]

Upon further research, we Germans tend to use the following type of things:

https://www.hobbybrauerversand.de/WECK-Einkochautomat-Modell-WAT-14-Emailliert
29 litres capacity and about 105 Euros all in one solution. Not intended for brewing purposes but suitable for it.

 

[bwible]

Anyone ever use a turkey fryer? Not one that's been used of course as it may taint the wort. I friend bought a new one and it works great. I use it when brewing. The gas heats quicker and when you reach the desired temp. Shut it down and drop in the cooling coil.

People have done it for a long time. You just have to make sure you get a good one with a sturdy stand that won’t fall apart or tip over easy - there are a bunch of cheaply made ones out there.

Alton Brown has a video out there somewhere about deep frying a turkey for Thanksgiving and the hazards. Part of that he goes over buying a turkey fryer and what to look for.

I know many of the turkey pots are also aluminum and that used to be one of the old bugaboos that we should not use aluminum for brewing as it was thought at one time to contribute to Alzheimers. Many of us have SS brewpots.

 

[bwible]

Has anyone mentioned using an All-in-One brew kettle/system?
They all seem to run well on 110V.

By setting the timer you can get the strike water preheated ahead of brew time.

Although I don't own one some of my brew friends do and swear by them. That's all they use, and also win competitions.

Thats what I have and thats what I do. Or I can just turn it on to heat water while I go measure and grind grain.

I have the smaller Anvil Foundry 6.5 which works fine on regular 110v. If you get something bigger its probably a good idea to have a 220v outlet available.

 

[EleventyOne]

I use something similar to this. Plus a propane tank (if you don't have one) and this could be done for under $100.

 

[IslandLizard]

Anyone ever use a turkey fryer? Not one that's been used of course as it may taint the wort. I friend bought a new one and it works great. I use it when brewing. The gas heats quicker and when you reach the desired temp. Shut it down and drop in the cooling coil.

I use something similar to this. Plus a propane tank (if you don't have one) and this could be done for under $100.

Fine for brewing/cooking outdoors, sure. But gas burners cannot and shall not be used indoors!

Many homebrewers want to brew indoors, for different and legit reasons, hence their need for electric alternatives.

 

[EleventyOne]

Fine for brewing/cooking outdoors, sure. But gas burners cannot and shall not be used indoors!

Many homebrewers want to brew indoors, for different and legit reasons, hence their need for electric alternatives.

Yeah I brew in my garage with the door open...for sure a caveat for brewing the way I do.

 

[IslandLizard]

Yeah I brew in my garage with the door open...for sure a caveat for brewing the way I do.

Sure, in or near the door opening is safe, but not too far in there or all the way in the back.

 

[ohioan55]

Fine for brewing/cooking outdoors, sure. But gas burners cannot and shall not be used indoors!

Many homebrewers want to brew indoors, for different and legit reasons, hence their need for electric alternatives.

I would not be allowed to cook this inside. Fish is not allowed either. And I like both..