So today was the start of cider season for us. The crabapples we picked from Orondo had finished sweating as had some dessert apples Tom had picked. Naturally the weather turned autumnal for us. This was the first time we had used Tom’s new cider press. Here’s a video of it in action:
Here’s the resulting crabapple juice, after grinding and pressing the apples:
This will be frozen and then blended with the apple that ripen next month. Here’s two blends in carboys ready to start fermenting:
We’ll get yeast, yeast nutrient, sugar and an airlock on and be ready to go! Here’s the resulting “apple cakes”:
These will be feed to the animals slowly over the next couple of days as fall treats.
It dumped rain all day, particularly on my “apple washing station”. But the new Correll press worked great (“bitching” per Tom), and the first step in hard cider production is completed. Now we’ll just need more apples to press.
oh yay! I have a beautiful old cider press (double barelled, motorized) and we haul it out every year and make cider – if I can find apples. We don’t have apples, so I have to put ads on craigslist looking for apples. Also, looking for homebrewers. I tried one year, but the result was totally undrinkable. I may try again.
I remember your last year’s cider failure. We could show you how we make cider if you want to come and help out. The next round will be in early October sometime.
VERY cool! Those ‘apple cakes’ almost look like hamburgers! I’m glad to hear that you’re going to feed them to your animals. MUCH too good to waste!
They love them too!
Apple cakes, what a great idea. Are the seeds in or out of the cakes?
The seeds are in the “cakes”.
I thought they were huge hamburger patties at first, too! I bet they smell wonderful. I was up in Birch Bay yesterday and today, and boy, you aren’t kidding about the rain up there. It was something.
Glad Tom has a Bitching Press now:)
They do smell good. Those would be huge patties! It dumped lard on me most of the day. I had to change three times but the rain was helping wash the apples too. I am glad it is over and I hope the next pressing day has nicer weather.
I so want a big apple press. For now, I’ll have to borrow my sister’s little one. I will be making wine out of some of our. I just love the apple based wines. I be the animals really love the apple cakes!
Thanks Teresa. We started out with a very little press and have slowly worked up to this one. They are not cheap though. Here’s hoping for great apple wine and cider!
Wow! Cool press. And all the critters are really going to enjoy their treats, I’m sure!
Thanks Denise. It is a cool press. Our old one sold within one hour of listing it so they are a hot item now. There will be more apple cakes soon too!