Yet another starter question for the BN...

[MattK]

I have a 2 & 5L erlenmeyer, and I'm wondering how you all heat your starters. Unfortunately, I don't have a gas stove, so I place a nice pan (multi-layered with SS, copper, and aluminum) and let it heat like that.

This works fine for a 2L starter, but I did a starter for a traditional bock the other day and it took a really long time to heat up like this. I have a 210K BTU burner, but I worry that it would be way too intense and would crack my flasks, even at a low flame.

To any other electric stove users out there, how do you heat your starters/could I be doing this more efficiently? Would I be better off placing the whole flask in a larger pot with boiling water?

Thanks

[dstar26t]

I made a trivet out of an old clothes hanger. I use it for all sizes of flask up to 5L on our electric stove.

[spiderwrangler]

Would I be better off placing the whole flask in a larger pot with boiling water?

I feel like this would take a really long time to get it done...

[TheDarkSide]

I have a 2l flask and heat it directly on the burner ( electric, flat top glass ). Thiss past start I'm doing ( lager yeast stepped up 2 times ) I've been heating the starter wort in a pot and using a funnel to fill the 2l flask.

[EL TIZZO]

I use one of the cheap single burner butane camp stoves from walmart or amazon...I think you can find them on sale for less than $20 and the cans of fuel last longer than expected...be sure to open a door or window!...In the past I have also used the side burner on my propane BBQ...

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Butane-S ... camp+stove

Cheers!

[Beer_Baron]

Maybe some kind of diffuser?

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/8-1-4-f ... Smallwares

Don't know how big around the 5L is, this might be too small, but it's under $4.

[AndrewD]

What are these electric stoves I keep hearing about?


Anyway, I've heard this kind of question a few times. Out of curiosity, why can't a nice piece of Pyrex glass be heated on an electric stove?

[spiderwrangler]

I believe the general idea is that flame gives a more even heating across the bottom surface, while electric has numerous 'hot spots' where it is in contact with the bottom of your vessel. Even for glass that is built to take the heat, uneven heating may be a concern.