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I don't know the first thing about making cider, but there's a local event this weekend where you can bring your own apples and use their old timey cider press to make your own cider. Which sounds like a cool thing to do.
Now all I need are the apples. We grow quite a few varieties here in Colorado.......anybody have any idea what kind(s) of apples make the best cider?
Tussiemussies
9-28-12, 9:58pm
I bet a mixture of different verities would taste good...
Tussiemussies
9-28-12, 10:01pm
On this Washington Dtate University Eztension they have a list of apples and the ones with the peach color block next to it are good for making cider...
http://extension.wsu.edu/maritimefruit/Pages/AppleUseChart.aspx
iris lily
9-28-12, 10:38pm
DH spent 2 Saturdays mashing apples and squeezing the juice out of them. He tried a soft cider with one of them but wasn't sure it was safe to drink. He ended up making apple juice and freezing them in gallon containers. It's pretty good, but 12 containers will last us a long time. I noticed this morning that he's got several 5 gallon buckets lined up on the patrio, so he may go at it again this weekend.
DH spent 2 Saturdays mashing apples and squeezing the juice out of them. He tried a soft cider with one of them but wasn't sure it was safe to drink. He ended up making apple juice and freezing them in gallon containers. It's pretty good, but 12 containers will last us a long time. I noticed this morning that he's got several 5 gallon buckets lined up on the patrio, so he may go at it again this weekend.
Hmmmm. What is he using to juice the apples? Does he have a press?
Mrs. Hermit
9-29-12, 9:21am
Usually a mix of apples will give a better tasting cider. The mix needs to include some tart apples like granny smith, pippin, macintosh, greenings, rhode islands, etc. Many places sell these as "cooking apples" because of their tartness.
That sounds like a fun weekend project.
Hmmmm. What is he using to juice the apples? Does he have a press?
yep he's got a press from his family farm.It's old.
I will also add that our Grannhy Smith tree has never produced apples, not one time. Even this year when there is a bumper crop of fruit, we've got none. They must not like this climate. DH planted that Granny Smith to make me happy, but it has not made me happy. Stupid thing. This is a tree that should be chopped down.
IshbelRobertson
9-29-12, 5:29pm
In the UK cider is an alcoholic drink, anything else is just apple juice!
We lived in Somerset for a while where locals pressed 'scumpy', which could be lethal stuff, causing excruciating hangovers!
Today was another apple juice making day. Our friend Sue came over with buckets of apples from our community garden. She and DH worked for 3 hours this afternoon to make a few gallons. Here they are:
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb111/kprp/cider004_zps655ed28b.jpg
You'll see the masher and the press in the photos. Here is the routine:
1) Wash the apples, cut out black spots
2) mash them in the masher/cutter
3) take that mashed stuff and press it, pour out the juice into a 5 gallon bucket
4) when all of it is in juice form, haul it into the kitchen and strain it through cheesecloth to get the bits out
5) pasteurize it by cooking on top of stove until temp hits 160 degrees
6) strain a final time
7) bottle it
It lasts for about a week in the fridge. OTherwise, freeze it.
Stupid thing. This is a tree that should be chopped down.
I sense a recurring theme here Iris.
OMG this reminds me of whne I juiced concord grapes that I just had to plant because I had seen them growing at someone else's house............it was just messier...lol
And, you can be sure I only did it once.
Gardenarian
10-3-12, 3:07pm
Hi - did you make the cider? Sounds like fun!
Hi Gardenarian,
I went to buy organic apples, and Mr. Pug made me sit down and do the math of "X pounds at $2.99/pound = Y gallons of cider...." and the cider came out to some astronomical amount! And so I chickened out. BUT as luck would have it, just yesterday a friend-of-a-friend casually mentioned that he has a tree in his yard that has hundreds of pounds of fruit on it, and he doesn't like apples. Sigh. There is another cider pressing event coming up in a week or two here, so I may try again with that free fruit!! :)
Hoping some year our apple trees will bear enough to try our own as well.
Don't forget to boil a gallon of fresh cider down to about 2 cups in a stainless steel or enamel pan and you will get a syrup that will make grown men weep!
Hi Gardenarian,
I went to buy organic apples, and Mr. Pug made me sit down and do the math of "X pounds at $2.99/pound = Y gallons of cider...." and the cider came out to some astronomical amount! And so I chickened out. BUT as luck would have it, just yesterday a friend-of-a-friend casually mentioned that he has a tree in his yard that has hundreds of pounds of fruit on it, and he doesn't like apples. Sigh. There is another cider pressing event coming up in a week or two here, so I may try again with that free fruit!! :)
Hoping some year our apple trees will bear enough to try our own as well.
We saw that cider was $6.99 per gallon at the store, and we fell very rich to have gallons and gallons of it in the freezer.
But really, in the end, I don't drink it much. It's unnecessary calories, I prefer water.
Gardenarian
10-4-12, 5:26pm
Free apples sound great!
I don't drink much juice either, but I love hot cider.
Tussiemussies
10-4-12, 10:26pm
Iris, you're so lucky that your husband enjoys doing this sort of thing and you get to reap the benefits! :)
Have you ever tried it hot with a dash of cinnamon on top? I noticed that Gardarian likes it also, really warming in the cool/cold weather:).
Iris, you're so lucky that your husband enjoys doing this sort of thing and you get to reap the benefits! :)
Have you ever tried it hot with a dash of cinnamon on top? I noticed that Gardarian likes it also, really warming in the cool/cold weather:).
I am doing a composting workshop tomorrow for our community, and I fear the only thing that's going to bring people out in freezing drizzle to talk about poop is that we've promised them all the hot spiced cider they can drink.... :)
Tussiemussies
10-5-12, 10:48pm
Hey Puglogic -- that is great that you are doing a composting workshop...let us know how it goes! Do you compost outside or in the turning barrels?
iris lily
10-6-12, 12:24am
Iris, you're so lucky that your husband enjoys doing this sort of thing and you get to reap the benefits! :)
Have you ever tried it hot with a dash of cinnamon on top?
We've got to have a chili/cider night soon and will add spices to the cider, including cinnamon.
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