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Author Topic: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.  (Read 4380 times)

Offline bluefoxicy

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Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« on: August 11, 2012, 03:26:18 pm »
I got the 10 gallon Megapot but because my stove is weak the boil kettle is ridiculously hard to get to boil (you have to cover the pot, mostly, pried one end up with the thermometer).  It won't go above exactly 200F somehow.

Anyone have any insightful ways to handle this?  Is it just a matter of throwing the lid most of the way on?

Offline punatic

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2012, 03:32:55 pm »
Larger heat source.
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Offline tubercle

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2012, 03:40:47 pm »
Larger heat source.
+1

 Or find a way to insulate.
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Offline bboy9000

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2012, 03:59:27 pm »
Get a turkey fryer and cook outdoors.  You can get them alone or with accessories such as a 30 qt stock pot.  Retailers such as Bass Pro, Cabela's Galyan's etc. usually have good deals.  Amazon, EBay and Craigslist would probably have good deals too.
Brian
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2012, 04:24:15 pm »
Holy s***, you brew?!
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Offline kgs

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2012, 04:32:04 pm »
If brewing outdoors isn't an option, you could scale down to a four-gallon batch and see if you can get that to a boil. If that works, then you can either brew smaller batches or do split boils for part of the brew session.
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Offline kramerog

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2012, 04:49:08 pm »
If you are only making 5-gal batches, get a smaller brewpot.  A bigger brewpot than necessary only wastes energy.  I hear people use fermcap to prevent boilovers.  It may allow you to minimize your brewpot size.

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2012, 04:51:33 pm »
If it is am electric stove I'd seriously consider insulation around the pot.
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Offline Pinski

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2012, 05:37:24 pm »
Holy s***, you brew?!
;D ;D ;D
Good solutions have already been covered. Good luck.
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Offline Mark G

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2012, 09:15:38 pm »
Is this the first ever brewing-related BFI thread?... If so...

I like turtles.
Mark Gres

Offline euge

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2012, 06:53:05 am »
Can your pot straddle two burners? And +1 on the insulation. Once you get it boiling while completely covered you can crack the lid with a spoon to let steam and any DMS escape.
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Offline denny

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2012, 10:16:46 am »
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline Alewyfe

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Re: Boil kettle too big, not enough fire.
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2012, 10:46:51 am »
Is this the first ever brewing-related BFI thread?... If so...

I like turtles.

W2F
Diane
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