Q&A for How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar

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How can I mix apple cider vinegar with water?

Community Answer

You should add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water.

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Question

What are the differences between store bought apple cider vinegar and naturally prepared apple cider vinegar?

Charlie Scheele

Community Answer

Most store bought apple cider vinegar is distilled. It does not have the "mother" bacteria, which gives the vinegar its healthful qualities.

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Question

Is apple cider alcoholic?

Community Answer

There are two types of apple cider. One is alcoholic, and the other is not.

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Question

Do we need to add any preservative to increase its shelf life? If so, how should this be done?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

Not at all! One of the great things about apple cider vinegar that is homemade is that it'll last almost forever. Keep it in a lidded jar in the refrigerator and it will last longer than you could ever need it to.

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Question

Is it normal for the apple cider vinegar to form a circular opaque film at the top of the jar and then sink toward the bottom and reform another layer at the top? Should I stir it up or remove it?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

It sounds like you've got a vinegar "mother" forming. You can leave this in the jar of vinegar, or take it out and store it. This will help jumpstart the fermentation of other batches of apple cider vinegar if you add it to the mixture when you first leave it to ferment.

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Question

How do I store apple cider vinegar to keep it from getting spoiled?

Community Answer

Keep it in the fridge, and close the lid tight. It's best to put a paper towel around the jar.

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Question

Should my container have small white bubbles on top of the water?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

Absolutely! Bubbles are a sign that fermentation is happening. If you see bubbles forming on the apples or on the top of the jar, it just means that your cider is turning into vinegar.

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Question

How do I make coconut vinegar?

Community Answer

You can make vinegar by fermenting coconut water with yeast and sugar.

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Question

Can I make vinegar from tomatoes?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

Making vinegar from tomatoes is absolutely possible, but will take much longer than apple cider vinegar. Mix 500 grams of chopped tomatoes and 1 liter of white vinegar in a glass and jar and let ferment for around 5 days, covered tightly with cheesecloth. Strain into a saucepan and add in 115 grams of caster sugar, cooking until combined. Leave the mixture to ferment for a further 3-6 months in a sealed glass jar. It should last for around 2 years.

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Question

Where can I buy apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

You can buy apple cider vinegar at any local grocery stores.

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Question

Can I consume undiluted apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

Drinking it raw can damage your esophagus, so you must dilute it.

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Question

This recipe is alcoholic or non alcoholic ACV?

WikiContributor124

Community Answer

Since this recipe calls for fermenting the apples for 6 weeks, it will definitely contain some alcohol. Fermentation is what causes alcoholic beverages like beer and wine to contain alcohol so the same is happening here with the apples. However, the alcohol content will be very low, like the alcohol content in kombucha.

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Question

Can I make vinegar using yeast?

Chandra Sanyal

Community Answer

You may use yeast. It makes cider quicker, but not as effectively as the natural method. Again, you cannot use bread yeast, it has to be the alcoholic brewer's yeast.

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Question

How do I use apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

Apple cider vinegar has dozens of uses! It can serve as a cleaning product, facial toner, hair product, etc. You can do some online research to find out everything that ACV can be used for.

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Question

Do the apples have to be organic?

Community Answer

No, but organic apples will produce a healthier vinegar, as non-organic apples may contain pesticides that will stay in your vinegar.

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Question

Is it proper to add sugar to my apple cider vinegar?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

Sugar will help the fermentation process happen much faster, but it isn't absolutely necessary. If you leave the apples to ferment for long enough without sugar, they will eventually make apple cider vinegar.

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Question

How much water do I need to make apple cider vinegar if I use 10 apples?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

The amount of water you'll need will vary based on the size of the jar you are using to ferment the vinegar. For 10 apples, use around 2.4 liters or 2.5 quarts.

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Question

Is the layer of mold that forms on the water harmful? What color should it be?

Joseph Hendren

Community Answer

A layer of gelatinous layer of bacteria may form over the top of the vinegar as it ferments. This isn't harmful. If any mold that is brown, black, grey or green begins to form on the top of the water, cider or vinegar, you should discard the whole jar and start again.

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Question

Can I use green apples to make apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

Yes. The taste of your apple cider vinegar depends on what apples you use, and you can use any type. Unripe apples have less sugar than ripe apples, so the process may take a little longer (or you can just add more sugar).

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Question

What amount of apple cider vinegar should I drink daily?

Community Answer

Mix 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar with a glass of water (more than 1 TBSP can cause nausea); you can do this up to twice daily.

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Question

Is it necessary to just use cheese cloth?

Community Answer

It shouldn't be strained using anything metallic, but any other fabric will do as long as it's clean and doesn't allow any bits of apple into the jar.

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Question

Can I use a plastic jar for the apple cider vinegar if I don't have a glass jar?

Community Answer

No. you want to ferment in glass or ceramic, as ceramic is also glass. If you ferment in plastic, the plastic will leach into the fermentation as the acid from the vinegar eats away at it.

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Question

Can I blend the apple to get more surface area for the fermentation process?

Community Answer

Yes, you can cut the apples any way you choose, but the more surface area that is exposed, the faster the apples will ferment.

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Question

Is making apple cider vinegar profitable at a small business level?

Community Answer

Yes, but better to sell it yourself at a craft stall or foodie hall to get a good price. To give yourself a variety of products, try adding different herbs such as sprigs of rosemary or oregano after you have finished fermenting, and leave them to infuse for another two or three months.

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Question

What type of container should I use when storing large amounts of apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

Glass or ceramic is safe. The acid can corrode metal or plastic.

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Question

Should I add more sugar to my apple cider vinegar after 2 to 3 weeks?

Pete Storli

Community Answer

No. The sugar added initially is used to help the yeast get going faster. After things get 'cooking' (you should see bubbles rising) the sugar in the apples is used by the yeast (in the air). To ensure that the right yeast prevails, I add 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar to batch at the start. (This can be store-bought apple cider vinegar or from a previous batch.)

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Question

Do apples start fermenting automatically?

Pete Storli

Community Answer

You can "ferment' them using only the water that they are submerged in, but it usually helps to add some sugar and apple cider vinegar.

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Question

Is it normal for vinegar to be very yeasty?

Community Answer

If by yeasty you mean bubbles are forming, or the apples appear a bit foamy, then yes. This is part of the process.

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Question

Should apples be submerged to make apple cider vinegar?

Community Answer

Yes, they have to be completely submerged. Or else, they will rot and spoil the whole process.

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Question

How important is darkness to fermentation?

Community Answer

It is not very important, it just has to not be in direct sunlight, so put it in a sunlight-free place.

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