Video: How to Press Apple Cider
Every September, our family gathers around the farm and presses apples into delicious cider. Our farm has a small orchard of 10 mature apple trees, and over the years we have added about five new saplings to the mix that will provide us with even more fruit in the coming 5-10 years. This will be our fourth season making cider, and I cannot wait to try some new recipes like making hard cider and apple cider vinegar with our crop!
This year is technically an “off” season for our apples, as the smaller trees are the ones producing and our larger trees with larger, sweeter apples only have a few fruits on their branches. This still provides plenty of crop to supply our family of four adults and two children with plenty of cider and more to share with our friends and neighbors. We tend to usually only press the juice, bottle, and freeze it. Sometimes I let it ferment into cider, but this removes a lot of the natural sugar in the apples and gives it a yeasty taste; which is why cider is often sold with added sugar and mulled with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger!
how to make apple cider:
STEP ONE: Collect your apples. You can choose any apples you prefer! We have learned that the best tasting cider comes from a mixture of many different varieties of apples. It is best to mix them rather than use only one type, because they each have a distinct complexity of sweetness, tang, and flavor.
STEP TWO: Wash your apples. Dunk them in a solution of water and vinegar to kill off any insects or bacteria.
STEP THREE: Depending on your press, you may have to quarter your apples. Our press can handle or small-medium sized apples, so we put them through the press whole.
STEP FOUR: Place your apples through the press. They will first go through the grinder, which grinds the apples into small parts. Then they will land into a barrel. We line our barrel with a large mesh bag to make it easier for removing the apple piece, peels, and seeds.
STEP FIVE: When the barrel is full, press the apple pieces as tightly as possible. Place a sanitized bucket underneath the press to collect the juice.
STEP SIX: Place a large stockpot over the stove or fire and fill with apple juice. You may have to strain the juice to remove any large pieces. Bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes. This helps to kill off bacteria. You do not have to boil your juice, but I highly recommend that you do.
STEP SEVEN: Bottle your juice. This is the point where you can decide to leave the juice as is, or ferment it into cider. We usually freeze ours in plastic gallon jugs. This year, I will can some of it as well! I will share that process and the cider fermenting process in another post.
It is hard to believe that we are almost halfway through September. Soon, we will begin the spooky season, and everything will turn pumpkin. I am embracing this beautiful season of apples! What are your favorite things to make with apples? I made the most delicious apple cake with caramel icing the other day. I will have to share the recipe here!
A few questions I know that I will receive… My clothing is handmade by myself! I have been learning to sew, so I apologize that I do not have any links for you. My apron is from Little Women Atelier. Our cider press was found secondhand. I do not know the variety of our apples, I’m sorry!
xoxo Kayla
