Aluminium v Stainless Boiler

[bigchris]

I can see large stock pots available in both Aluminium and Stainless Steel. Aluminium seems to be generally cheaper. I know that Aluminium will be generally softer and thus perhaps more likely to get bent. Can anyone give pros/cons of Aluminium or Stainless pots of around 40L capacity?

Thanks
Chris

[ajclarkson]

As I'm finding out the hard way with my heat exchanger made from an aluminium lined pressure cooker, copper + aluminium + water = electrolysis, the aluminium will corrode and plate onto the copper.

Worth bearing in mind!

[daddies-beer-factory]

Aluminium has "unproven" links with alzeimers disease

[alix101]

Basically I'd go with what you feel comfortable paying for.
They will all work. The health risk raised about aluminium is as stated unproven and there's also a risk from stainless leaching nickel which "could" be a cancer risk again unproven...just about any container copper stainless ,aluminum ,plastic is going to have some negative effect and a survey backing up its detrimental effects ,just like about everything else that's harmful to us everything!.... Buy something durable and fit for purpose the best quality you can, if your in for the long hall IMHO .

[pobrien20]

Aluminium has "unproven" links with alzeimers disease

Age has a much closer link to Alzheimer's disease, the only 'link' aluminium has is this regurgitated myth.

http://m.alz.org/myths.asp

[seymour]

Aluminium has "unproven" links with alzeimers disease

Age has a much closer link to Alzheimer's disease, the only 'link' aluminium has is this regurgitated myth.

http://m.alz.org/myths.asp

I've heard, even if using aluminum cookwear did contribute to alzheimers (which is a weak correlation), there are many more environmental sources of aluminum people aren't lambasting as much. For instance, taking a single antacid tablet for a stomach ache puts more aluminum in your body than decades of constant use of aluminum pots and pans...



Anyway, perhaps the OP is asking why exactly Stainless Steel is better? If so, well, it's just a better metal. It's harder, it's heavier, which makes it heat more evenly, it's easier to clean, it's less corrosive to other metal accessories, more dent and scratch resistent, fewer health concerns, etc. But it's more expensive for all the same reasons.

Basically, if you can afford stainless, go for it. If you can't, don't beat yourself up about it. Either is better than plastic. I bet all veteran homebrewers are on a slow journey to replace all our aluminum kettles with stainless, but we all probably still have a few of each.

[far9410]

Aluminium has "unproven" links with alzeimers disease

Age has a much closer link to Alzheimer's disease, the only 'link' aluminium has is this regurgitated myth.

http://m.alz.org/myths.asp

I've heard, even if using aluminum cookwear did contribute to alzheimers (which is a weak correlation), there are many more environmental sources of aluminum people aren't lambasting as much. For instance, taking a single antacid tablet for a stomach ache puts more aluminum in your body than decades of constant use of aluminum pots and pans...



Anyway, perhaps the OP is asking why exactly Stainless Steel is better? If so, well, it's just a better metal. It's harder, it's heavier, which makes it heat more evenly, it's easier to clean, it's less corrosive to other metal accessories, more dent and scratch resistent, fewer health concerns, etc. But it's more expensive for all the same reasons.

Basically, if you can afford stainless, go for it. If you can't, don't beat yourself up about it. Either is better than plastic. I bet all veteran homebrewers are on a slow journey to replace all our aluminum kettles with stainless, but we all probably still have a few of each.

[Kev888]

Aluminium doesn't like some cleaning chemicals. Hot water and detergent is usually enough for a boiler so no biggie, but for those once in a while deep cleans or (e.g.) de-scaling you may want to check compatibility with the chemicals you'd like to use. Stainless is harder and (though not invulnerable to everything) can be used with more cleaners and acid solutions etc.

Stainless is harder to drill and cut, and a worse conductor of heat if you use a gas burner, though its also usually much thinner which can help with both of those aspects.

I too feel stainless is a superior choice, but aluminium is fine if you treat it appropriately. Certainly much safer than many plastic ones I've seen.

Cheers
Kev