"sweating" apples

[DougBrown]

I get mixed opinions as to whether or not to sweat apples (let them sit for a week or two before pressing them). Some folks say 'yes' and others say either 'no' or '2 days maximum.' I am new at this and confused. What's the scoop?

 

[thecidergrove]

I,ve got some sitting in my shed at the moment and I,ve read about huge piles of apples just sitting in France waiting for pressing day. I,m guessing they,ll only get riper off the tree.

 

[reekbinary]

Apples will ripen off the tree but be careful. The natural yeast on the skins will begin to act and convert sugars to alcohol....Especially at high temperatures. After a while, the alcohols and fatty acids will turn to a soapy film on the skin. Once this occurs, you are sol...as your cider will literally taste likes liquid soap.

 

[DougBrown]

I'd like to maximize the juice output of the apples but, more importantly, maximize the quality of the cider. Do you think one or two weeks at autumn temperatures is 'pushing it'? Would you press them the same day?

 

[biojoe]

Doug, I have let apples sit for 1 1/2 weeks out of necessity (waiting my turn on the apple press) without any problem. I have also frozen my apples before juicing them which I have found to be the best method. Freezing them breaks the cell walls and allows the juice to be extracted easier and more efficiently (depends on the size of your freezer and batch, I have a chest freezer).

 

[gratus fermentatio]

I get mixed opinions as to whether or not to sweat apples (let them sit for a week or two before pressing them). Some folks say 'yes' and others say either 'no' or '2 days maximum.' I am new at this and confused. What's the scoop?

I've accidentally "sweated" Honeycrisp apples for about 2 weeks; untill the skins were just starting to wrinkle. They just sat on the shelf in a cool, dry environment, and air freely flowed around them. Those were the best tasting apples I've ever eaten. They were still sweet, but they were also "cidery" in flavour. I liked them so much, I've tried to repeat the process, but haven't quite gotten it yet.

Check out Greg Bathurst's post in this thread:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f32/what-best-way-process-fresh-apples-hard-cider-429634/
I think you may find it useful.
Regards, GF.