Steel mash tun

[EricBrew]

Hi there

I'm looking to upgrade my mash tun. Right now I'm using the bucket in another bucket trick.

I'm considering using a steel pot with a false bottom and spigot. My concern is that heat retention will be difficult in this setup. Is there any problem in using this technique while possibly leaving a burner on low beneath the pot in order to maintain the heat temperature?

Thanks.

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Stainless steel isn't the best conductor so it works relatively well for keeping in heat (much better than Al for example). Many people wrap a layer of heat wrap around the kettle to help. You can also fire up your burner to keep your kettle up to your desired temp.

-SB

 

[JuanMoore]

Unless you have a pump to recirculate while doing this, the heat won't distribute evenly, and you can also have issues with scorching. It will probably work, but not very well. If you have a pump to recirculate, then it works great, and is known as a direct fired RIMS.

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Unless you have a pump to recirculate while doing this, the heat won't distribute evenly, and you can also have issues with scorching. It will probably work, but not very well. If you have a pump to recirculate, then it works great, and is known as a direct fired RIMS.

I will respectfully disagree with this. I'll let one of the 1000's of people that use Blichmann, Bayou or Spike stainless steel kettles as a mash tun to chime in.