To Stir Or Not To Stir...

[SirPublius]

I know this is probably a question for the cider room...but I'm a newbie, and there are far more people in here it seems. I currently have a few 1 gallon jugs of cider I just started. I should know this, but should I stir them everyday, or just let them sit? I thought I read somewhere that they should be stirred once or twice a day...I just want to make sure if I stir it that it won't mess with it fermenting. Is one way preferable to the other....stirring or not stirring?

 

[hbtasdfg]

Do not stir them. The yeast stir it themselves. Stirring adds oxygen and can affect the flavor negatively.

 

[BigFloyd]

Do not stir them. The yeast stir it themselves. Stirring adds oxygen and can affect the flavor negatively.

+100. If you stir after fermentation begins, you'll oxidize the cider (something to be avoided). If you pitched enough yeast, leave it alone and keep it in a favorable temp range, the yeast will have no trouble munching through the sugars in the apple juice.

 

[jro238]

Hide yo kids, hide yo wife (at least if you are fermentable) because the yeast will find you.

 

[bobeer]

Just let them sit. As others have said you will oxidize the cider and it wont taste right if you stir it. I make a hard cider every fall and I always just let it sit for about 3 weeks, back sweeten, bottle, let it sit for 3-4 days then check the carbonation. If it's carb'ed I throw all of them in the fridge so they don't explode (if you don't pasteurize)

 

[SirPublius]

I make a hard cider every fall and I always just let it sit for about 3 weeks, back sweeten, bottle, let it sit for 3-4 days then check the carbonation. If it's carb'ed I throw all of them in the fridge so they don't explode (if you don't pasteurize)

You say about three weeks? How do I know when its done without a hydrometer? Here's my deal, I have airlocks on all three gallons. I'll have to see if things change, but yesterday, the one gallon that had been sitting a full day after pitching the yeast would bubble into the airlock about every three minutes. Now...a few days ago a few posts said I would know when it was done when the bubbles slowed down to 1 a minute....well...hopefully the bubbles pick up in frequency, because like I said, right now its only 1 every 3 minutes. So I'm curious as to how to tell when its done since there seems to be so much variation in how long it should sit. I also read a lot of places it usually only takes a week or so, then you can rack, but you say wait three week? Maybe it depends on the recipe and yeast?

 

[bobeer]

You say about three weeks? How do I know when its done without a hydrometer? Here's my deal, I have airlocks on all three gallons. I'll have to see if things change, but yesterday, the one gallon that had been sitting a full day after pitching the yeast would bubble into the airlock about every three minutes. Now...a few days ago a few posts said I would know when it was done when the bubbles slowed down to 1 a minute....well...hopefully the bubbles pick up in frequency, because like I said, right now its only 1 every 3 minutes. So I'm curious as to how to tell when its done since there seems to be so much variation in how long it should sit. I also read a lot of places it usually only takes a week or so, then you can rack, but you say wait three week? Maybe it depends on the recipe and yeast?

Most of the actual fermentation is done within a week. We leave it for 2-4 weeks to let the yeast clean up after themselves. There's some byproducts that result from fermentation that yeast can clean up. The bubbles in the airlock don't really mean a whole lot. The head-space is under pressure due to the c02 the yeast create from fermentation so it can still bubble even though it's finished fermenting.
I don't take any gravity readings with my cider either. I just dump my juice and other ingredients in the carboy and pitch the yeast so I really don't have a clue of what my numbers are. By letting it sit for at least 3 weeks I can pretty much assume fermentation is done. If you're uneasy let it sit for 4 weeks and it will for sure be done.
Hope that helps!

 

[SirPublius]

bobeer, Helps a lot, thanks. As an aside, I guess it just took more than a day for them to really get going, but they all seem to be bubbling in to the airlock every 30 seconds or so, so they are all going pretty good I think!