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Cider Making: Difference between revisions
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The cider making process has three main steps: | The cider making process has three main steps: | ||
# Acquire apples | # Acquire apples | ||
# | # Grind apples to pulp | ||
# | # Press the pulp to extract cider | ||
== Acquiring apples == | == Acquiring apples == | ||
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A good starting point for new cider makers is a mix of 50% sweet, 35% sharp, and 15% bitter apple varieties. However, feel free to experiment with whatever varieties and mixes you prefer. | A good starting point for new cider makers is a mix of 50% sweet, 35% sharp, and 15% bitter apple varieties. However, feel free to experiment with whatever varieties and mixes you prefer. | ||
It takes a lot of apples, about 14 pounds (or approximately 42 apples), to make 1 gallon of cider. While it is possible to buy apples at the store, it can be a lot more fun and a lot more affordable to buy local. A few apple orchards near Blacksburg include: | It takes a lot of apples, about 14 pounds (or approximately 42 apples), to make 1 gallon of cider. We recommend beginners start with about 4 pounds of apples to make a quart of cider. While it is possible to buy apples at the store, it can be a lot more fun and a lot more affordable to buy local. A few apple orchards near Blacksburg include: | ||
* Doe Creek Farm: Pick-your-own apples, Dwarf trees you can pick from the ground, $1/lb, Only 25 minutes from Blacksburg!, http://www.doecreekfarm.com/apples.php | * Doe Creek Farm: Pick-your-own apples, Dwarf trees you can pick from the ground, $1/lb, Only 25 minutes from Blacksburg!, http://www.doecreekfarm.com/apples.php | ||
* Johnson’s Orchard: Pick-your-own apples, $30/bushel, http://johnsonsorchards.com/index.html | * Johnson’s Orchard: Pick-your-own apples, $30/bushel, http://johnsonsorchards.com/index.html | ||
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Be sure to call ahead before visiting an orchard as not all varieties may be available and pick-your-own may be limited to certain days of the week. | Be sure to call ahead before visiting an orchard as not all varieties may be available and pick-your-own may be limited to certain days of the week. | ||
== | == Grinding Apples to Pulp == | ||
[[File:Cidermaking_scratter.jpg|thumb|Hacksburg's apple scratter for crushing apples into pulp|x300px|right]] | [[File:Cidermaking_scratter.jpg|thumb|Hacksburg's apple scratter for crushing apples into pulp|x300px|right]] | ||
Before the apples can be pressed, they must be crushed into a pulp called the mash. There are many ways to do this. | Before the apples can be pressed, they must be crushed into a pulp called the mash. There are many ways to do this. | ||
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A more recent method, and the one used at Hacksburg, uses an in-sink garbage disposal to create the mash. (The disposal was purchased new and was thoroughly cleaned before use!) We found this method to be cheaper than a purpose built scratter and much easier than other methods. The picture to the left shows the apple pulper in use at last year’s cider making event. | A more recent method, and the one used at Hacksburg, uses an in-sink garbage disposal to create the mash. (The disposal was purchased new and was thoroughly cleaned before use!) We found this method to be cheaper than a purpose built scratter and much easier than other methods. The picture to the left shows the apple pulper in use at last year’s cider making event. | ||
<br clear=all> | <br clear=all> | ||
== | == Press the pulp to extract cider == | ||
[[File:Cidermaking_press.jpg|thumb| | [[File:Cidermaking_press.jpg|thumb|Apple pulp being squeezed into cider on a DIY press|x300px|right]] | ||
Now the fun part! To extract the juice from the apple mash, it must be pressed with a large amount of pressure. To do this, we built a cider press out of 2x4 lumber and a 4 ton hydraulic bottle jack. | Now the fun part! To extract the juice from the apple mash, it must be pressed with a large amount of pressure. To do this, we built a cider press out of 2x4 lumber and a 4 ton hydraulic bottle jack. | ||