How to make Apple Cider
Did you ever want to make apple cider? I did! The past few years I kept thinking to myself we’re going to make it. Then, I kept putting it off. Well. This is the year for apple cider at our house. Read on to see how we made it.
I’m glad that I was able to be a part of an autumn blog hop. In this blog you will also find more great apple recipes by my fellow blogging friends. Please be sure to check out their apple recipe blogs too! Links for them are at the end.
Also, while your hear. Check out my YouTube video tutorial on how we made home made apple cider. Plus, a bonus video on how we (actually – my dad) made the table for the press and crusher.
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What is apple cider?
Apple cider is a fresh unfiltered, unsweetened, nonalcoholic beverage made from pressing mashed up apples. Unlike, apple juice which is filtered and strained to remove pulp and is pasteurized to extend its shelve life.
What apples are used to make apple cider?
Well, there’s a few ways about this. Depending on what kind of flavor you want as the outcome. For a sweeter cider you can use gala, Paula red, Fuji, red delicious and Cortland. For a tarter cider you can use Pink lady, Macintosh, golden delicious, and Johnathon. Or you blend the sweet and tart apples together to get a good blended, well rounded cider. Those are just some of the apples.
What do you need to make apple cider?
It’s a simple process.
You need:
- Apples
- Apple crusher
- Apple press
- Filter cloth
- Jug to catch the cider
The Apples
For my cider in this tutorial I used a gala apple and a Paula red apple. I bought them from my local grocery store. Because I wanted to make a sweeter cider this time around. Next time I think I will try adding in some more tart apples.
Wash your apples!
So, these came from the grocery store. I wanted to make sure they were all squeaky clean for the press.
Prepare the apples
After washing all of them I went ahead and cut all of them in half. Thinking of cutting the apples in half might make crushing them a little easier. I meant to save a couple whole apples to see how they would work in the crusher but I forgot. I got too excited about thinking about using the fruit crusher. Next time I’m going to try out using the whole apple in it and see if it can handle it.
Crushing time
I threw a few of the apple halves into the crusher and started to turn the handles. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. So, when crushing the apples I left them in tact by not removing any skin or seeds from the apple.
Inside the fruit crusher it has little metal teeth that grab and break up the apple. It actually breaks it up into pretty fine pieces.
Here is the apple mash coming out of the fruit crusher. You can see what a good job it did breaking up the apple.
The apple mash falls into the fruit press that is lined with a straining cloth.
Putting the press together
After I worked all the apples through the fruit crusher I started to assemble the press. I started by adding these two wooden pieces to cover the majority of the top.
Then you stack these wooden shims on top of it.
I added the last wooden block piece and attached the piece that screws on to turn the handle on the press.
Press, press, press!
OK, this is getting exciting now! The ah-ha moment!
Actually some of the cider was already coming out even before we started to press it. Just from the crushed apples sitting in there.
Here’s the golden liquid in all of its beauty!
In the end, when we got done pressing the apples I ended up with about a gallon of cider. It was my first time using the press so I only bought a few apples to try. I bought four 1/2 pecks. I want to say that was probably around 40 apples.
Cider
At this stage the cider is all done and ready for drinking!
For some reason, when I look at this picture that I took I keep hearing in my head Hollywood movie music. Like a regal soundtrack playing in the background. Silly I know. But, looking up to this beautiful masterpiece we created in admiration of natures beauty. The exquisite but yet so simple food that is available to us.
I was very impressed with the fruit crusher and press. If you would like to try it too.
Weston Apple and Fruit Crusher
4.75 Gallon Fruit Press
Watch my YouTube video tutorial here:
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Please consider looking through these other apple recipes by my fellow blogging friends.
How to Make Apple Cider by Life On Leetown, Apple Pie Jam by Farmhouse Basic Collection, Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp by St. Martha’s Lens
Apple Cider Vinegar by Our Gabled Home, Instant Pot Apple Sauce by Hearty Sol, Apple Pie Filling by Our Future Homestead
Apple Turnovers by Vintage Kitchen Vixen, Salted Caramel Apple Pie by The Blue Bonnet Homestead, Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal by Be Well Healthy Life
Some other of my posts that you might like:
The best flourless gluten-free chocolate quinoa cake
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I love apple cider! I never thought about making my own, but it’s now on my kitchen caper bucket list.
This looks like so much fun!! We have a local apple orchard locally and get the apples at a good price. Hmm, I may have to look into getting a press. We had an antique press from NY years ago and sold it when we moved. Great video!
This makes me so excited for fall!! I LOVE apple cider. I reminds me of fall time back when I used to live in upstate NY!!
I definitely want a cider press to make our own cider! We have done this once before with family and its such a fun activity to do when its cool out and fall is in the air.