On 2008-03-17, Mark Thorson > wrote:

> Beer brewers sometimes add a little vegetable oil
> to prevent boiling over.

Only totally inept dunderheaded brewers!

A boil-over, or hot break, can be knocked down with a couple blasts from a
water spray bottle or your garden hose, just until the hot break subsides,
which is in seconds, not minutes. There are also several "foam control"
agents which are completely inert that will accomplish the same thing and
negate the need to "watch the pot boil".

nb