How long to carbonate? 5 days and no bubblies....

[cjeanean]

Yes, I'm posting again with yet another n00b question. I backsweetened my cider with a little table sugar and frozen apple juice concentrate (no additives, other than vit. C). I've got some that I want to keep pretty dry, so I didn't add a lot of sugar, and some that I wanted to be pretty sweet that have more sugar. It's been 5 days, and I checked my plastic sample bottles and there's no fizz. I thought maybe the sample bottles were leaking the carbonation, so I cracked open one of the glass bottles to check. Nothing. Info/questions:

How long does it usually take to carbonate?

Should I put a single drop of activated yeast (yeast mixed with warm water) into each bottle to aid the process?

When should I be scared of bottle bombs?

Temps are around 65 to 75 in the room, cider was extremely clear and extremely dry when I bottled (before sweetening).

No additives in my cider or sugar source, only vitamin C.

Thanks!

 

[bigbeergeek]

It normally takes 2-3 weeks for beer/cider to fully carbonate.

As far as adding new yeast goes, first a question: how long has the cider been fermenting before you primed your bottles?

 

[cjeanean]

Cider fermented in primary for about 2 weeks, and secondary for 2 weeks, for a total of 4. There is little if any activity in the airlock (I still have some in the carboy, since I didn't have time to bottle it all). Maybe one bubble every 10 minutes, if that. If it takes 2-3 weeks, how often should I check for bottle bombs? Once a week? I only made three sample bottles, thinking I wouldn't need very long for carbonation.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

It's the temps, trust me, it needs to be kept at at least 74* depending on yeast used at a steady temp, fluctuation will just keep it from doing its thing. Try keeping an eye on it and put it some place stable, should work.

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Also once it achieves it's "firmness" usually 2-3 days and sample bottle gets rock hard, place in fridge.

 

[cjeanean]

So if I put it in a warmer place (74F) how long should it take? Should I add a drop of yeast or just leave it for now?

 

[HAREEBROWNBEEST]

Just leave it, it should take 2-3 days if you keep the temp in that range. I did the same thing by leaving my bottles outside in a box and was not getting any results. I moved them inside and in 2 days wham! Stuff was firm, I left it one more day and place them in the fridge.

 

[Joeybean]

I'm having the same issue but my temperature isn't the problem. I'm using glass bottles and they've been sitting for about seven days covered and in the correct temperature. I cracked one open and there was a tiny tiny bit of fuzz but that was it .... Any ideas ??

 

[RPowell]

I had a similar experience with my first batch. I believe my caps were not on tight enough. S8me had mild, very very mild, fizz, most stayed flat. Untill i got to my last 5 bottles of a 15 bottle batch. The caps were much tighter and they were all very over carbonated. I opened one that I still cant believe did not explode in my hand . The cap flew across the room and I could feel a thumping in the hand holding it.

Never had a problem since. The soda bottle trick is awesome. I use 12oz soda bottles to keep it closer to the 12oz beer bottles I use for the cider. Using a 20oz soda bottle didnt work for me on the first batch....