Beer Forum

I want to try brewing for the first time. I am having trouble figuring out how to boil in my kitchen. I don't want to spend the money for an outside propane burner just yet. I have a glass top electric stove with the biggest heating element about 9 inches across. I am trying to find a 5 gallon pot narrow enough to fit on my stove. I figure about 10 inches would fit. Does anyone have suggestions for where I can find a 5 gallon pot about 10 inches wide or could I just boil with the pot off center?

I don't think you'll get a 5+ gallon volume of liquid boiling in a timely manner on an electric stovetop, if at all. You might try using a heatstick to augment your single burner and get it over the hump.

Just my thoughts, I could be wrong.

You can also straddle a wider pot over two burners to get more btus. I brewed many batches using a 10 gallon pot over 2 electric burners.

I use a gas stove (all 4 burners on!) to boil 6 gallons of wort. Doesn't take too long to reach the boil and works very well.

get yourself to a walmart and pick up the 22 quart stainless steel (with a tri-clad bottom for even heating). $49.95 -- I have a ceramic top stove also. Put it on one of the big burners and you can boil about 3.25 gallons max. Still makes damned good beer. My last batch, I took it outside on the propane burner and boiled 4.5 gallons without a boilover. This batch tasted scrumptious going into the fermentor. Supports the thought that the more you can boil the better your beers. I figured I could always use this pot as a hot water supply when I migrate to all grain.

I plan to only boil 3 gallons of water and add the last 2 gallons in the fermenter. I will cool it all down with ice. I need to see if I enjoy brewing beer (or the result) as much as I enjoy drinking beer, before I invest more money.

You could also buy a really inexpensive aluminum pot at a Smart 'n Final or other restaurant supply store. Just remember to 'season' it by boiling water in it first. That way you don't have to mess around with the partial boil thing.

You could also go over too the classifieds and buy the wort chiller I've got on sale so you don't have to mess around with the ice. I'm just sayin'


Welcome to the hobby. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I started with a cheap 4 gallon SS pot from Big Lots($16), and bottled 2.5 gallon batches.

If you find yourself addicted to the hobby like the rest of us, then upgrade to the outdoor burner and large pot. I found a set for $50, 7.5 gallon aluminum pot and burner stand after thanksgiving.

Also you can insulate the outsides of a pot to increase the boil volume if you are restricted to a stove top. Place the towel/insulation a couple inches above the burner so it doesn't torch.

And don't forget the foam control. Cleaning burned/charred wort off a stove top sucks and smells bad.

Cheers,
The Fool.