aluminium stock pot

[johnyp]

hi guys daft newbe question coming I have been given an aluminium stock pot and I am thinking of trying a biab...so is it ok to brew with this or has it got to be stainless steel ???

 

[MyQul]

Yes. Aluminum is fine. I have one for BIAB. If yours isnt galvanized (mine isnt) dont be alarmed if the inside goes black. Its just aluminum oxide and wont harm/do anything

 

[Razor]

I have an aluminium stock pot that I've used for 2 BIABs now. I think it's teflon'd on the inside I assume this won't cause any problems, will it?


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[terrym]

Aluminium is a cumulative poison to humans. Some say it is a contributory factor in the onset of Alzheimers.
When you use an aluminium saucepan a very tiny amount is leached out from the base metal into your food.
Normally there is not a serious health risk since ingested aluminium is usually in very low concentrations (and not the mega doses like in the Camelford incident in Cornwall).
However, acknowledging there might be a potential health problem it appears that the aluminium industry changed the type of aluminium metal used for saucepans a few years ago to reduce the quantity of leached aluminium released into food.
So if your stockpot is an old one, it may not be made from the latest material.
Certainly the best sort of aluminium saucepans are those that are coated, since there is virtually no or nil leaching of aluminium.
Out of choice and based on recognition of the small risk we have no aluminium saucepans in our house; we use stainless steel since its cheap enough nowadays. That said when I first brewed beer years ago, my stockpot was made of aluminium and, like it or not, I am still here :thumb:

 

[johnyp]

thanks for the advice terrym it is a fairly new "pot" so I will assume it will be ok I am starting of brewing kits but I will have a go at some point of biab just to see the difference ........many thanks.

 

[Dutto]

I agree with terrym above.

With the exception of a single coated frying pan we also don't use "coated" pans ...

... instead we use stainless steel or cast iron pans originally tempered with beef suet.

The secret of "non-stick stainless steel and cast iron pans" is to never wash up using a detergent such as Fairy Liquid or a dishwasher capsule like Finish. Both of them remove the non-stick qualities of tempering.:nono: :nono:

 

[MyQul]

Aluminium is a cumulative poison to humans. Some say it is a contributory factor in the onset of Alzheimers.
When you use an aluminium saucepan a very tiny amount is leached out from the base metal into your food.
Normally there is not a serious health risk since ingested aluminium is usually in very low concentrations (and not the mega doses like in the Camelford incident in Cornwall).
However, acknowledging there might be a potential health problem it appears that the aluminium industry changed the type of aluminium metal used for saucepans a few years ago to reduce the quantity of leached aluminium released into food.
So if your stockpot is an old one, it may not be made from the latest material.
Certainly the best sort of aluminium saucepans are those that are coated, since there is virtually no or nil leaching of aluminium.
Out of choice and based on recognition of the small risk we have no aluminium saucepans in our house; we use stainless steel since its cheap enough nowadays. That said when I first brewed beer years ago, my stockpot was made of aluminium and, like it or not, I am still here :thumb:

Thanks for the info on this terry. I might need to change my pot based on this. Mines about 4 years old now

 

[MrRock]

Is there any evidence for this aluminium risk?

Not according to the Alzheimer's Society:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/services_info.php?serviceID=6
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=169

 

[IainM]

I wouldn't worry about it. For sure the alcohol in the beer is more detrimental to your health than any aluminium.

 

[terrym]

Is there any evidence for this aluminium risk?

Not according to the Alzheimer's Society:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/services_info.php?serviceID=6
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=169

That's good to hear :thumb:
However I feel sure that there will be others who continue to say the opposite.
There are alternatives to aluminium that don't carry this risk, real or otherwise, so its entirely a personal choice.
And as IainM has astutely observed, the alcohol content of the stuff we drink is far more dangerous than a few nanogrammes of aluminium, just like people on here have 'worried' about leaching of plastic from PET bottles (which ironically I use!) when at the same time they are regularly brewing and consuming beer above 5% ABV.

 

[mabrungard]

Aluminum is not corroded by wort at it's typical pH. There is virtually no chance of aluminum getting in the wort.

http://www.pfonline.com/articles/aluminum-surface-finishing-corrosion-causes-and-troubleshooting

 

[terrym]

Well, that's also good to hear.
However we won't be chucking out our stainless steel cookware just yet.

 

[MyQul]

Aluminum is not corroded by wort at it's typical pH. There is virtually no chance of aluminum getting in the wort.

http://www.pfonline.com/articles/aluminum-surface-finishing-corrosion-causes-and-troubleshooting

Phew! That's saved me having to go out an replace my brew pot

 

[terrym]

Phew! That's saved me having to go out an replace my brew pot :thumb:

'One swallow does not make a summer'
Suggest you look through the paper.
Metal corrosion is a complex subject.
pH is only one of many mechanisms that contribute to aluminium corrosion, including chloride concentration, and surface condition.

 

[Rodj]

With the exception of a single coated frying pan we also don't use "coated" pans ...

... instead we use stainless steel or cast iron pans originally tempered with beef suet.

The secret of "non-stick stainless steel and cast iron pans" is to never wash up using a detergent such as Fairy Liquid or a dishwasher capsule like Finish. Both of them remove the non-stick qualities of tempering.

I ditched all my aluminium cookware when the health risks became known. Similarly I ditched all non-stick-coated pans (Teflon etc.) when the connection to cancer became known. I use one ceramic "non-stick" pan, which is not very non-stick; the rest is stainless steel.
Dutto, how do you temper your pans with beef suet? Will you give a bit of guidance please. Thanks.

 

[MyQul]

I ditched all my aluminium cookware when the health risks became known. Similarly I ditched all non-stick-coated pans (Teflon etc.) when the connection to cancer became known. I use one ceramic "non-stick" pan, which is not very non-stick; the rest is stainless steel.
Dutto, how do you temper your pans with beef suet? Will you give a bit of guidance please. Thanks.

I think dutto is in France at the mo for a few months

 

[Rodj]

I think dutto is in France at the mo for a few months

You're right, I'd forgotten.
However, if he survives the wine, Ricard, French beer and garlic he might get round to seeing this when he comes back.

 

[MyQul]

You're right, I'd forgotten.
However, if he survives the wine, Ricard, French beer and garlic he might get round to seeing this when he comes back.

Should do

 

[foxy]

I think there is a mix up between tempering and seasoning, you can season pans with oil, but in the case of aluminium pans for brewing I believe it was Palmer who advises that aluminium is fine as long as the oxidisatation is left in tact, as that will form the skin. So just a rinse and a wipe over with no scouring and they are fine.

 

[Druncan]

We changed over all the old aluminium stock pots we inherited. Upcycled to plant pots. Thankfully not one of the plants has developed Alzheimers. What is more worrying is this article;
https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news...ums-in-husbands-search-history-20181024178626
I'm leaving now,,,,