Steep times for NB kits when making 5 gallon batches

Northern Brewer General
1

Curiious as I am new to homebrewing, I’ve only brewed three batches so far. Buying all my kits so far from NB.

All recipes are calling to make 2.5 gallons worts. However, I am brewing w/ a turkey fryer and 7.5 gallon kettle and have been making 5 gallon worts w/ little additional water added at the end (just enough to get to 5 gallons after boil).

Unsure if I should be adjusting the recipes at all. I haven’t so far and have been happy with the results, but am unsure if I should be steeping longer than in the recipe - recipe calls for 20 minutes or until 170, curious if I should be steeping longer due to additional water?

Also, for aeration I have been vigorously dumping the 5 gallons between the brew kettle and the fermenting bucket back and forth five times. Do you guys think that is enough?

2

No, the steeping times are the same whether you do partial or full boil. At most, while doing a full boil, you get better hop utilization.
I generally (when I do extract) is steep in 1 gal of water separately on the kitchen stove. Then add that to the water I have heating for the rest of the brew. Depending on a few factors (like alkalinity of your water) that doing it in more than that can leach tannin.

3

Just member to use what the AG recipe uses for the hop amounts not the extract when doing full boils.

4

Steep the grain in 1g of water in your kettle and then add your other 5-5.5g or so, or do it in a seperate kettle on the stove and add to the other kettle when done to save a little time.