My Stove Sucks

[Gold_Robber]

My Stove Can't Bring 3.5 Gallon batch to a Boil. I tried using two burners but things started smoking. I can't use propane outside as I am in apartment building. Are there any suggestions for me? Please help.

 

[BrewChatter]

One of the All In One Electric systems like the BrewZilla might be a good fit. They have a small footprint, all electric, efficient, and it would upgrade you to full volume boils.

 

[Gold_Robber]

I will check it out. Thanks. Any suggestions for frugal brewers?

One of the All In One Electric systems like the BrewZilla might be a good fit. They have a small footprint, all electric, efficient, and it would upgrade you to full volume boils.

 

[BrewChatter]

If your pot is induction ready, you could switch over to an induction burner. Those you can run pretty well in small spaces!

 

[bkboiler]

Also, I did this for a while...
Split it into multiple pots! I was on a crappy apartment stove and had two or three pots going. It's not too bad and actually makes chilling easier too.

 

[MaxStout]

Use a bucket heater to assist in heating. I can easily heat 7 gallons of strike water to temp, and the wort to a boil on my electric stove using the bucket heater. Once I get it to boil, I shut off and remove the heater and the stove element maintains the boil.

 

[OG-wan Kenobi]

If your doing batches that small I would look into the Anvil Foundry 6.5

6.5 Gallon Foundry Homebrew System | All-Grain Electric Brewing (anvilbrewing.com)

If you really want to be on the lower end cost wise there is always the DigiMash

DigiMash All-Grain Electric Brewing System - 35L/9.25G (110V) | MoreBeer

But I would think an all in 1 vessel would work well in your situation as BrewChatter mentioned

 

[Gold_Robber]

Doesn't the pot have to affect a magnet when you put one near it? My pot has no affect. I don't think it will work on an induction.

If your pot is induction ready, you could switch over to an induction burner. Those you can run pretty well in small spaces!

 

[Gold_Robber]

Do you just measure the amount of wort in each pot and add the appropriate hops ratio? Thanks

Also, I did this for a while...
Split it into multiple pots! I was on a crappy apartment stove and had two or three pots going. It's not too bad and actually makes chilling easier too.

 

[BrewChatter]

Doesn't the pot have to affect a magnet when you put one near it? My pot has no affect. I don't think it will work on an induction.

Yeah, you have to have a pot with a tri-clad bottom like the Brewers Beast or something similar for induction.

 

[Gold_Robber]

I heard about those but not many people I read use it. I will need to research further. Thanks for your help!

Use a bucket heater to assist in heating. I can easily heat 7 gallons of strike water to temp, and the wort to a boil on my electric stove using the bucket heater. Once I get it to boil, I shut off and remove the heater and the stove element maintains the boil.

 

[cgoldberg3]

Making beer on an electric stove is absolutely terrible, only did that once. Even with my kitchen's new gas stove I need to run multiple burners under my 10 gallon pot to get it to a boil in a reasonable length of time. If I ever find a used turkey burner at a yard sale I think I'll switch to that.

 

[bracconiere]

i use something similar to this for boiling 6-7 gallons....

https://www.grainger.com/product/4Z...noX6oxLQc9JMgy1S9KoaApAMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[TwistedGray]

I will check it out. Thanks. Any suggestions for frugal brewers?

A bit less than some other other all-in-ones. A few of us HBT'ers use this one with success : )

https://www.northernbrewer.com/prod...n3zPKxjUQGaeotaAOwxVuXgliCjBQ-iEaAgxuEALw_wcB

 

[bkboiler]

Do you just measure the amount of wort in each pot and add the appropriate hops ratio? Thanks

yes, but what's more critical is the total hop amount. If need 0.5 oz total I'd just measure that and eyeball the splitting.

 

[Gold_Robber]

I don't think my brew kettle will work on it. I will look into this further. Thanks.

i use something similar to this for boiling 6-7 gallons....

https://www.grainger.com/product/4Z...noX6oxLQc9JMgy1S9KoaApAMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[TwistedGray]

I don't think my brew kettle will work on it. I will look into this further. Thanks.

At that price, pony up the subtle difference to get one of the cheaper all-in-one units.

 

[bkboiler]

yeah...the all in one units are fairly cheap now...
Years ago before those were around I got a 4 gallon triclad pot for $35 and an 1800W induction burner for $60.
plus a brew bag for $12 and I was set.
Check out Craigslist as well for used restaurant supplies!

 

[bracconiere]

I don't think my brew kettle will work on it. I will look into this further. Thanks.

it's not induction, just a 1500 watt hot plate....it will work with ceramic even....i jumped mine so it's full on always, and use a fan speed controller to control the temp.....

 

[Gold_Robber]

SO the stove can actually maintain the boil? I guess the process of heating the wort to boil is the tough part for crappy stoves. Thanks for this tip.

Use a bucket heater to assist in heating. I can easily heat 7 gallons of strike water to temp, and the wort to a boil on my electric stove using the bucket heater. Once I get it to boil, I shut off and remove the heater and the stove element maintains the boil.

 

[bracconiere]

if you want cheap, here's something that i don't know about quality of...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VIVOHOME-1...499db50f5a8aa69936ae|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524

 

[Gold_Robber]

I see. Very cool. I will look into this!

it's not induction, just a 1500 watt hot plate....it will work with ceramic even....i jumped mine so it's full on always, and use a fan speed controller to control the temp.....

 

[jrgtr42]

Making beer on an electric stove is absolutely terrible, only did that once. Even with my kitchen's new gas stove I need to run multiple burners under my 10 gallon pot to get it to a boil in a reasonable length of time. If I ever find a used turkey burner at a yard sale I think I'll switch to that.

|Watch for sales after turkey day holidays - especially |Thanksgiving. Burners that may be $60 or $80 before will be around $40 after.
|Also, check the homebrew sites for deals - MoreBeer has a deal of the day and |I'm pretty sure |I've seen burners there, and |Adventures in Homebrewing has sales ll the time with some pretty good deals on them.

 

[Gold_Robber]

Looking into this, I noticed that there is no hook. Do you just hold the heater with your hand? Just curious. thanks.

Use a bucket heater to assist in heating. I can easily heat 7 gallons of strike water to temp, and the wort to a boil on my electric stove using the bucket heater. Once I get it to boil, I shut off and remove the heater and the stove element maintains the boil.

 

[MaxStout]

Looking into this, I noticed that there is no hook. Do you just hold the heater with your hand? Just curious. thanks.

You just set it in the kettle, with the end pointing down. Don't immerse the handle.

Like this:

 

[Steveruch]

My Stove Can't Bring 3.5 Gallon batch to a Boil. I tried using two burners but things started smoking. I can't use propane outside as I am in apartment building. Are there any suggestions for me? Please help.

All-grain or extract?
High gravity brewing might be an option. Do a 2 gallon boil and top off with 1.5 gallons of cold water.

 

[hotbeer]

Or just do smaller individual boils in smaller pots and combine. Nothing to buy, no apartment fire to put out.

Do additions to the boil get divided up between each pot or just put in one boil? Might be something for you to experiment with and let us know.

edit...
Just wanted to add that the advantage in cooking to gas vs electric is response time when you change the setting and visually being able to see it. The coil and glass top electric stoves I've had could boil water as fast or faster than many gas stove tops. When I turn the heat down with a gas stove, the boil stops instantly instead of lagging.

 

[IslandLizard]

My Stove Can't Bring 3.5 Gallon batch to a Boil. I tried using two burners but things started smoking.

What kind of stove is it?
What started smoking?

Re: Induction

Doesn't the pot have to affect a magnet when you put one near it? My pot has no affect. I don't think it will work on an induction.

Some stainless pots a magnet won't stick to still work with induction. But there's only one way to find out... the hard way. I have a (cheap) 8 gallon Polar Ware kettle (single ply bottom, not triple ply) that works great on induction. I use it to heat sparge water, and also make stocks and large batches of soup in it.

Induction heating is a bit more efficient than an electric coil or a flat top, and you could insulate the kettle easier. But 1500W is still a bit skimpy.

My $200 IC3500 induction plate is 3500W, but runs on 240V. I love it, and for more than brewing.
It could be plugged into an electric dryer outlet using a different plug or an adapter.

 

[Gold_Robber]

All grain. I have always felt that high gravity brewing is kind of like cheating.

All-grain or extract?
High gravity brewing might be an option. Do a 2 gallon boil and top off with 1.5 gallons of cold water.

 

[Gold_Robber]

The stove is a Danby.

I don't know what started smoking...the element or the pot itself. I cannot have a fire here.

What kind of stove is it?
What started smoking?

Re: Induction

Some stainless pots a magnet won't stick to still work with induction. But there's only one way to find out... the hard way. I have a (cheap) 8 gallon Polar Ware kettle (single ply bottom, not triple ply) that works great on induction. I use it to heat sparge water, and also make stocks and large batches of soup in it.

Induction heating is a bit more efficient than an electric coil or a flat top, and you could insulate the kettle easier. But 1500W is still a bit skimpy.

My $200 IC3500 induction plate is 3500W, but runs on 240V. I love it, and for more than brewing.
It could be plugged into an electric dryer outlet using a different plug or an adapter.