Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

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teutonic terror
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Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by teutonic terror »

I have a Bayou Classic kettle I use for an occasional brew day.
I'm having a crowd over for the Super Bowl and wanted to do a
large batch of buffalo wings that afternoon. The pot came with the basket and other accessories.
I can't find any definitive info on line so I'll ask here if it would ruin
the pot for brewing to do this.
I would think if it was stainless it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but being aluminum, I'm not sure.
I plan on scrubbing with Dawn, then Oxi cleaning before reconditioning afterwards.

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russki
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Re: Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by russki »

teutonic terror wrote:I have a Bayou Classic kettle I use for an occasional brew day.
I'm having a crowd over for the Super Bowl and wanted to do a
large batch of buffalo wings that afternoon. The pot came with the basket and other accessories.
I can't find any definitive info on line so I'll ask here if it would ruin
the pot for brewing to do this.
I would think if it was stainless it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but being aluminum, I'm not sure.
I plan on scrubbing with Dawn, then Oxi cleaning before reconditioning afterwards.

Thanks BORG! :borg:
If you use Oxyclean on aluminum, it may strip the protective oxide layer (the pot will become nice and bright). You will need to rebuild the oxide layer before brewing by boiling water in the pot for an hour or so (until the surface is no longer bright). Other than that - you should be fine!
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John Sand
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Re: Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by John Sand »

I use an old canner cooker as a brewpot, I don't know if it ever had oil in it. But I believe I have read Amazon reviews of guys using pots for multipurposes, including brewing.
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Re: Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by Brewbirds »

I'm the opposite where I have a big aluminum that's been used for frying stuff and crawfish boils for years.

I thought there was a thread on the old Borg a long time ago that brewing in aluminum was not the best idea.

Other than that I think buffalo wing flavored beer doesn't sound bad in principle. :p
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Re: Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by gwcr »

I only used my 7.5 aluminum Bayou for brewing before moving to a 10 gallon SS, but you should be fine.

Not to derail the thread, but as long as you build up the oxide layer as russki stated, there are no issues brewing in an aluminum pot. The old rumors of metallic flavors and Alzheimers from cooking in aluminum have been debunked many times. My 2nd place APA was mashed and boiled in the same 7.5G aluminum Bayou pot. No worries. Brew on!
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Re: Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by philm00x »

Brewbirds wrote:Other than that I think buffalo wing flavored beer doesn't sound bad in principle. :p
I'd try it!!
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teutonic terror
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Re: Using my 7.5 gallon aluminum kettle as a deep fryer

Post by teutonic terror »

Thanks guys!
I am going to overly clean and recondition afterwards as I stated before.
I was just wondering if it was a problem with the porosity of the metal!

Brewbirds, if you fill the pot with water and boil it for about an hour it builds up an oxide layer on the interior, discoloring it
That's what I meant when I said something about reconditioning.
I have three aluminum kettles a 5, 7.5 and 10 gallon and have never had a problem with off flavors.
And the wing flavored beer does have some appeal!
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