Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

Fresh apples or apple scraps

Ideally, you will be able to use mostly apple scraps for this recipe. Because we are including the peels, organic varieties are preferred. But, with conventional or organic just be sure your apples have been well-rinsed. If you are starting with fresh, whole apples it might be more beneficial to go through the process of making true apple cider vinegar. Being able to use your scraps from other homemade apple goodies is where this recipe shines.

You can even collect apple peels/cores in a plastic bag in your freezer and then take them out to thaw when you have enough to make a jar of vinegar! Cold is not beneficial to fermentation, so thawing out your scraps before beginning will help the process. I always throw in a little bit of fresh apple into my vessel to ensure there are living bacteria ready to go to work. You can even use bruised or browning apples as long as there is not any mold growth or rotting.

If you can, try to collect a variety of apples for your vinegar! The flavor will be more well-rounded.

Sugar

You’ll need 1 TBSP of sugar for every cup of water you use. It’s easiest to measure out your water in a measuring glass, and then you’ll know exactly how much it took to fill the jar. Then, you can add in the correct amount of sugar and give it a good stir until it has dissolved.

You can use honey as an alternative but know that it might take longer as the fermentation process takes more time. It’s also useful to note that the beneficial bacteria growing consume the sugar during the fermentation process (yes, sugar is necessary), so there will be little to no sugar left in your final product anyway.

Water

You’ll want filtered or non-chlorinated water for this recipe. We are dealing with fermentation, and chemical additives like chlorine can inhibit the process and be harmful to your culture. If all you have is chlorinated water, leaving your tap water out in a bowl overnight will allow enough of the chlorine to evaporate for use.

Large glass vessel

You can easily use whatever size jar(s) you want for this recipe, but make sure they are glass. Vinegar doesn’t react well with metals.

Breathable material

I have several squares of an old pillowcase cut up for use in some of my ferments. Another option would be a coffee filter. I’ve heard cheesecloth can still let fruit flies in, so you might want to steer clear of that. The jar needs to be open to the air, but we don’t want bugs making their way in. You won’t want to use a fermenting lock in this recipe, because we actually need some of that bacteria from the air (the acetic acid bacteria) entering to create our vinegar.

Fermenting weights (optional)

The easiest (and most hands-off) way to ensure a healthy ferment is to use fermenting weights to hold your apple scraps below the surface of your liquid. Mold can quickly develop on solids exposed to air above the surface of the water.

If you don’t have access to fermentation weights, there are a other few methods you can try. If you have another smaller glass jar that can fit inside, use that as a weight. You don’t want to use metal or a material you aren’t quite sure of. Your ferment can be affected.

Fill a Ziploc bag with water, seal the bag, and place it at the top of your ferment. It should have enough weight to keep the solids submerged. If you are worried about plastic leaching into the contents from contact with vinegar, avoid this method. When I found out it was a possibility, I made the investment in some fermentation weights.

A more hands-on method is to give your jars a stir 1-2 times a day. This will keep the apples rotated so the same areas are not exposed to the air for too long.

Raw apple cider vinegar (optional)

Using a couple of splashes of finished raw apple cider vinegar can help innoculate your batch. It isn’t necessary since the cultures are naturally present in the air, but it can give the ferment a boost.

Prepare your apples

Wash and cut any apples you plan on using that aren’t scraps. They can be chunks or slices of any size. Apple cores and seeds can be included. Add your apples and defrosted scraps to a clean glass jar, filling it halfway. The amount of apple scraps you have will determine the size of the jar you should use. Remember that cleanliness and sterilization of tools and containers are key when fermenting. Unwanted bacteria can ruin your ferment.

Add water & sugar

Fill your jars, leaving about 2 inches of headspace, with filtered water. Keep track of how much water you are adding. I do this using a large glass measuring cup. For every cup of water used, add 1 TBSP of sugar. Stir your concoction until all of the sugar has dissolved. If you are adding any raw apple cider vinegar (we add a couple of splashes), now is the time.

Prepare for fermentation

Set your fermentation weight on top of the contents. If you choose a more hands-on method, you can alternatively stir your jar(s) 1-2 times a day for the initial fermenting period to prevent mold growth on any apples exposed to the air. Cover your jar(s) with a breathable cloth (we use a piece of a pillowcase) and hold it in place with a rubber band around the jar’s rim. Place your jar(s) in a dark, cool location. If you want to leave them close, you can cover them with a black pillowcase to shield them from the light.

First stage of fermentation

This initial ferment will last about 2 weeks. During this time the natural yeast found on apples will be converting the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. If you see streams of bubbles inside your jar, you are fermenting!

It is completely normal for your apples to start to brown and the liquid to begin shifting in color toward the cloudy, light brown/yellow we recognize as apple cider vinegar. It is also normal for sediment to build up in the bottom of your jar(s). If you notice any greyish scum forming at the top, skim it off. As long as there is not an unremovable amount of mold, continue your ferment.

Straining

After about two weeks, you’ll be straining the contents of your jar(s). At this point, it will have a pleasant apple cider flavor/scent, but it still needs to develop the tang of apple cider vinegar. Use a fine mesh strainer over a bowl to strain your apples out of the liquid. Return the liquid to a clean glass jar (it can be smaller since your apples are strained out), and cover the jar with your breathable cloth of choice and a rubberband holding it around the rim. Place once again in a dark, cool location.

Second stage of fermentation

This next stage could take anywhere from 4 weeks to 12 weeks (depending on how vinegary you like it). Periodically check your ferment for any signs of mold. If a thin, gelatinous membrane begins to develop on the top, this is good! It is a byproduct of fermentation and is just an accumulation of beneficial bacteria and yeast called “the mother” of the ferment.

Give your vinegar a taste test after 4 weeks and continue to ferment until it’s to your liking. You want to give your batch plenty of time to ferment as it will go through stages of converting the sugars into alcohol and then into vinegar. The acetic bacteria will be at work. Technically, a finished ACV should have a ph between 2 & 3, so you can always check that with a ph tester.

Finished apple scrap vinegar

When it’s time to bottle, use a funnel to fill your chosen jars/bottles with the finished vinegar. These are my favorites for this kind of bottling. Make sure they seal. If it has formed, you can remove and discard the “mother” before bottling, keep it in your vinegar bottles, or set it aside in a separate jar in the fridge to help innoculate another ferment.

Since it is raw vinegar, it will continue to ferment very slowly and strengthen with age. It will keep indefinitely at room temperature, but if you want to maintain the same acidity and don’t plan on using it within a few months I recommend keeping it in the fridge.