oxygenation?

[Klickitat]

How many oxygenate their ciders before they pitch yeast?

Do you use a bottle and wand and then just pitch yeast?

What about using a fish tank pump and air stones? Could you use that before you drop Camden?

How long do you oxygenate the cider for?

 

[bernardsmith]

I don't but then I make my ciders from orchard pressed juice that has not been pasteurized except by UV light, so there should be a fair amount of O@ in the must and then I tend to stir the must vigorously a couple of times a day while in the primary bucket... so far never had a problem with hydrogen sulfide or with stalled fermentations but your experience may be different (I am also close to sea level)..

 

[Maylar]

How many oxygenate their ciders before they pitch yeast?

Do you use a bottle and wand and then just pitch yeast?

What about using a fish tank pump and air stones? Could you use that before you drop Camden?

How long do you oxygenate the cider for?

I use unpasteurized orchard cider, so campden (k-meta) is the very first thing I do. I will oxygenate just before pitching the yeast using an O2 bottle and wand, but many folks use the fish tank pump you mentioned. Honestly, with cider I have no idea if it helps or not, and it certainly isn't "needed" but I do it anyway. A minute's worth of O2 while stirring with the wand. People who bubble with a pump I think do it for an hour or more.

 

[MarkKF]

I don't stir or agitate my 5 gal. of juice but I do use a starter. Yeast + 1/2 gal. of juice shaken every 6-8 hours for 24-36 hours.

 

[CKuhns]

I do not oxygenate per say - But do whip air in the juice prior to yeast pitch - Couple of minutes with a stir wand and electric drill. Also do a yeast starter for 24 - 48 hours on a stir plate with just a clean cloth over the flask top. No additional aeration or agitation beyond that.