How to Build a Steam Kettle

Steam kettles are similar to stock pots and are used for similar tasks. Steam kettles have two walls with a hollow space in between. This space is filled with raw steam when the steam kettle is in use. They can be used to cook wide range of foods including pasta, stews and stocks as well as to simmer sauces. Modern steam kettles are installed with a thermostat to control the inside temperature. The circulation of the steam between the kettle walls provides heat to cook the contents of the steam kettle. The steam kettle is a convenient energy efficient way to cook.

Things You'll Need

• 1 G-28 cm stainless steel cooking pot
• 1 E-24 cm stainless steel cooking pot
• 1 B-18 cm Stainless steel cooking pot
• Welding torch
• Pipe coupling
• 1 ¼ inch brass screw plug immersion heater with in-built thermostat
• NPS 1 Pipe coupling with corresponding thread pipe
• Electric cord with plug
• Power drill
• Hack saw
• Pair of dividers
• Ruler
• Philips screw driver

Instructions

1. Remove the handles on the stainless steel cooking pots using a screw driver.

2. Turn the G stainless steel cooking pot upside down and place the B stainless steel cooking pot face down on the bottom of the larger stainless steel cooking pot. Trace out the mouth of the smaller pot on the bottom of the larger pot using a pair of dividers. Drill a hole with the electric drill anywhere on the traced circle and saw along the circle with the hack saw.

3. Mark a 1.5 inch diameter circle on the side of the B stainless steel cooking pot 2 inches from the bottom of the pot using the dividers. Drill a hole on the line and cut out the circle.

4. Place the pipe coupling on the outside surface of the B stainless steel cooking pot so that the hollow part of the coupling and the hole in the stainless steel pot correspond. Weld the coupling onto the pot using a welding torch.

5. Pass the elements of the immersion heater through the thread pipe so that the immersion heater fits tightly into the thread pipe. Screw the thread pipe into the pipe coupling using a Philips screw driver.

6. Place the E cooking pot into the G cook pot and weld the top of the cooking pots together using a welding torch. Fill the B stainless steel cooking pot ¾ with water. Place the welded cooking pots on top of the B cooking pot and weld the bottom of the G cooking pot to the top of the B cooking pot.

7. Connect the wires of the electrical cord to the screw plug of the immersion heater.

References

• Fish Nick: Steam Kettles
• Alcat :Capdan Steam -- Jacketed Kettles and Cookers/Mixers
• Plumbing Supply: How to Install Your Universal 4 Bolt Flange Type Immersion Element
• Omega: Threaded or Screw Plug Immersion Heaters
• Canvil: Standard Merchant Couplings
• Intec-Enterprises: Kitchen Utensils