Apple Cider Press

[Mike'smeatshop]

I got this press a little to late for this years apples. Does anyone know of a machine to chew up the apples for the press?

 

[aShop]

I stuck all mine in the freezer and then thawed them.

Here is the press I made and the result of the frozen pears.

 

[cretedog]

I got this press a little to late for this years apples. Does anyone know of a machine to chew up the apples for the press?

Search 'Garbage disposal to pulp apples'

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I like both ideas. Some day I will have my own hard cider. Thanks.

 

[matthew]

There’s some projects on YouTube to build one out of wood. Used one like that with my brother - it worked, I know there were a few improvements we’d wished for but I can’’t remember what…

 

[RTM]

The purpose built stainless steel garbage disposal thing works well only hammed once over a day. My buddy rented one last time we made cider. An old Universal meat grinder worked ok, but was slow. Chopped apples mashed w a huge potato masher was labor intensive. Another neighbor had the true apple grinder like you may see at Lehman's, but we never got to see it work. The drum with nails or SS screws is supposed to work, but never took the time to make one. (edit: Mintgrun showed the drum I was mentioning)

 

[Mintgrun]

I made my own press and macerator. It's crude but very effective. There's a cutting board that goes on the stand and motor, plus a top section/cover for the macerator. (Two of the wrenches on the table are vintage).


The macerator has a cherry wood drum with three stainless steel blades that have notches cut in them and there is a row of stainless screws and nails in the end board that line up with the notches. It's powered by a 1hp motor, which is overkill.



(This year I set it up on the other side of the house, since the back deck has been stripped and is awaiting new decking).



I used to make a lot of hard cider, but now I just make apple juice. It keeps really well in the freezer and putting it in one gallon Ziploc freezer bags is a very efficient way to pack it in there. We're in the midst of cider-season here. The early red apples are done. Next up, Golden Delicious!

Tom

 

[WisJim]

We used a garbage disposal for grinding apples for years. I made a stainless steel press and sometimes made 100 gallons or more each fall. Lots of hard cider put up in Cornelius kegs. Now that we're in town with only one tree we just make cider with friends. Still have many gallons of canned juice and hard cider.

 

[WisJim]

I looked at the original post and that's a sausage or lard press, not a cider or fruit press, if the tub is metal and not stainless steel.