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Making your apple cider vinegar is easy, and it’s a great way to use up extra apples from your harvest. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making vinegar at home.
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Introduction
Making your own apple cider vinegar is easy, inexpensive, and it gives you a chance to reuse your apple scraps. You can use any type of apple, but a sweeter apple will give you a sweeter vinegar. I like to use Honeycrisp apples for my cider vinegar.
You’ll need:
-2 quarts of apple scraps (peels and cores)
-1 cup sugar
-1 liter non-chlorinated water
-1 tablespoon champagne yeast or bread yeast
-1 wide mouth glass jar or plastic container with a lid (at least 2 quarts)
-Cheesecloth or coffee filter
The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has long been touted for its many benefits. From aiding in weight loss to improving heart health, there are many reasons to add this staple to your diet. Here are just a few of the benefits of apple cider vinegar:
Weight Loss: Apple cider vinegar has been shown to help with weight loss. One study showed that those who consumed apple cider vinegar daily lost more weight and body fat than those who didn’t.
Heart Health: Apple cider vinegar has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can improve heart health.
Blood Sugar Control: Apple cider vinegar can help to stabilize blood sugar levels, making it a helpful tool for those with diabetes.
Digestion: Apple cider vinegar can help to improve digestion and alleviate digestive issues such as constipation and heartburn.
Immunity: Apple cider vinegar is high in antioxidants, which can boost the immune system.
How make apple cider Vinegar
Making apple cider vinegar at home is an easy process that anyone can do. All you need is a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time. The end result is a delicious, healthy vinegar that you can use in all sorts of recipes. Here’s how to make apple cider vinegar at home.
Step One: Gather Your Supplies
In order to make your own apple cider vinegar, you will need the following supplies:
-Fresh apples – You can use any type of apple you like, but firmer apples such as Granny Smiths will give you a higher yield of finished product. Avoid using apples that are bruised or overripe.
-Sugar – This can be regular granulated sugar or brown sugar. The sugar is used as fuel for the fermentation process, so more sugar will yield a more rapid fermentation.
-Water – You will need water to dilute the apple cider before adding the yeast.
-Yeast – Wine yeast or champagne yeast is best, but you can also use baking yeast. The yeast is what causes the fermentation process to occur.
-Airtight container – This can be a glass jar with a plastic lid or a plastic bucket with a tight fitting lid. Be sure that your container is clean and sterile before using it.
-Cheesecloth – This will be used to cover the container and allow air to circulate while keeping out dirt and fruit flies.
Step Two: Cut the Apples
The next step is to cut the apples. You can use a apple slicer/corer for this, or you can do it by hand. If you are doing it by hand, make sure to cut the apples into small pieces so they will fit into the jar.
Once the apples are cut, add them to the jar. You want to fill the jar about ¾ of the way full with apples.
Step Three: Add the Apples to the Jar
After you’ve sterilized your jar and gathered your ingredients, it’s time to add the apples to the jar. You can do this one of two ways:
-The first way is to quarter the apples and add them to the jar. This is the quickest way to make apple cider vinegar, but it also results in a less flavorful final product.
-The second way is to cut the apples into thin slices and add them to the jar. This will take longer, but the resulting vinegar will be more flavorful.
Once you’ve added the apples to the jar, it’s time to add the starter culture.
Step Four: Fill the Jar with Water
Fill the jar with filtered water, leaving about an inch of headspace at the top of the jar. Stir in the honey (or sugar), until it is completely dissolved. Cover the jar with a coffee filter or a piece of clean cloth secured with a rubber band, and set it in a warm, dark place.
Allow the mixture to ferment for 2-3 weeks, stirring occasionally. The longer it ferments, the more tart the vinegar will be.
When the fermentation process is complete, strain out the solids and transfer the vinegar to another container. It will keep indefinitely if stored in a cool, dark place.
Step Five: Add the Sugar
After the apple cider has been fermenting for 2-3 weeks, it’s time to add the sugar. This will help create the vinegar’s distinctive tart flavor. Adding sugar is also known as “back-sweetening.”
To back-sweeten, simply mix 1 cup (200 grams) of sugar with 1 cup (237 ml) of water in a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then let it cool. Once it’s cooled, pour it into the apple cider and stir well.
Step Six: Cover the Jar
Once you’ve added the ingredients to your jar, it’s time to cover it. You can use a coffee filter or a clean cloth secured with a rubber band.
Whatever you use, make sure it’s breathable. You don’t want to completely seal the jar because fermentation is a process that produces carbon dioxide gas. That gas needs to be able to escape, or else your jar could explode.
Step Seven: Wait
After bottling your cider vinegar,find a cool, dark place to store it. Allow the bottles to sit undisturbed for four to six weeks so the fermentation process can complete. You may see sediment settle at the bottom of the bottles; this is normal.
At the end of the fermentation process, you should have a tart and slightly acidic vinegar. To test it, use a pH strip or digital pH meter to measure the acidity. The finished product should have a pH between 2.8 and 3.4. If it’s below 2.8, allow it to ferment for a few more weeks. If it’s above 3.4, your cider vinegar has spoiled and you start over.
Step Eight: Strain the Vinegar
Once the fermentation process is complete, it’s time to strain the vinegar. Place a coffee filter or a doubled layer of cheesecloth over a clean bowl. Slowly pour the vinegar into the strainer, allowing it to drip through into the bowl. Once all the vinegar has been strained, discard the solid pieces of fruit. You can now transfer your homemade apple cider vinegar into bottles or jars for storage. Be sure to label your bottles with the date so you know when it was made.
Step Nine: Bottle the Vinegar
Once the fermentation process is complete and the apple cider vinegar has reached the desired strength, it’s time to bottle it. Use a funnel to pour the vinegar into clean glass bottles or jars, leaving about an inch of headspace at the top of each container. Be sure to sterilize your bottles or jars before using them.
Cap the bottles or jars tightly and label them with the date. Store the vinegar in a cool, dark place for up to two years. Once opened, it will keep indefinitely if stored properly.
How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a popular natural remedy for a variety of different health issues. It can be used to improve digestive health, lower cholesterol levels, and even help with weight loss. Making your own apple cider vinegar at home is easy, and it only requires a few ingredients. In this article, we’ll show you how to make apple cider vinegar at home, and how to use it for various health benefits.
In Your Diet
Acid reflux and indigestion are treated by vinegar not just in the natural health community, but also in mainstream medicine. Apple cider vinegar seems to be especially helpful with indigestion, heartburn, and gas.
If you have any of these conditions, you can try taking 1 tablespoon of ACV in water 5-10 minutes before a meal to help prevent symptoms. You can also take it after a meal if you already have heartburn or indigestion.
Just be sure to dilute the vinegar well with water, as undiluted vinegar can erode tooth enamel (x).
Another way to use ACV is to add a couple of tablespoons to a large glass of water and drink it throughout the day. This is a great way to prevent indigestion before it happens.
On Your Skin
Apple cider vinegar has a long history as a home remedy, used to treat everything from colds to skin conditions. You can use it as a toner, moisturizer, or acne treatment. It’s also effective in treating dandruff and itchiness.
use apple cider vinegar on your skin, start by mixing one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water. Apply the mixture to your skin with a cotton ball or clean cloth and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water and pat your skin dry. You can do this once or twice a day, depending on your skin type.
If you have sensitive skin, make sure to do a patch test using apple cider vinegar on your face. Put a small amount of the mixture on an inconspicuous area of skin and wait 24 hours to see if there’s any reaction.
Around the House
Here are some ways use apple cider vinegar around the house:
-Dissolve a teaspoon of sugar in a cup of water, add 1/4 cup of vinegar. This makes a great window and mirror cleaner.
-Add 1/2 cup to a load of laundry as a fabric softener.
-Mix one part vinegar with two parts water in a spray bottle for an all-purpose cleaner.
-Soak toothbrush bristles in vinegar overnight, then rinse in the morning to clean and disinfect them.
