Can you can apple cider at home?
You can can apple cider at home by following the tested USDA method for apple juice: let the cider settle in the fridge for 24–48 hours, pour off the clear juice, heat it to boiling, fill hot jars leaving 1/4-inch headspace, and process it in a boiling-water canner, for 5 minutes for pints or quarts at up to 1,000 ft.
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Key facts
- Start fresh. The National Center for Home Food Preservation advises buying fresh juice "from a local cider maker within 24 hours after it has been pressed". [1]
- Tested method. The procedure is adapted from the USDA "Complete Guide to Home Canning" and uses a boiling-water canner. [1]
- Untreated cider. In the US, unpasteurized juice and cider must carry a warning label when packaged. [2]
How do you can apple cider, step by step?
- Settle. "Refrigerate juice for 24 to 48 hours." Then pour off the clear liquid without mixing, and discard the sediment. [1]
- Strain. Strain through a paper coffee filter or a double layer of damp cheesecloth. [1]
- Heat. Heat quickly, stirring occasionally, until the juice begins to boil. [1]
- Fill. Fill immediately into sterile pint or quart jars, or clean half-gallon jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace, and adjust the lids. [1]
- Process in a boiling-water canner for the time in the table below. [1]
| Jar size | 0–1,000 ft | 1,001–6,000 ft | Above 6,000 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pints or quarts | 5 min | 10 min | 15 min |
| Half-gallons | 10 min | 15 min | 20 min |
What should I avoid?
Use only a tested procedure and the processing times for your altitude, and read the canner instructions first. [1] Fresh cider left out starts to ferment; see can apple cider ferment itself. If you only need to keep cider for a while, the fridge or freezer is simpler; see how long apple cider lasts and can you freeze cider.
Related answers: how long apple cider lasts · can you freeze cider
Related on Cider Radar
We don't give health advice. For questions about your health, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Questions
Do I need a pressure canner for apple cider?
You do not need a pressure canner for apple cider: the tested USDA procedure for apple juice uses a boiling-water canner. [1]
Can I can hard cider?
The USDA procedure covers apple juice, not alcoholic cider. Hard cider is usually bottled instead, in pressure-safe bottles; see how to carbonate homemade cider. [1]
Sources
- Apple Juice (canning) — National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia)
- What You Need to Know About Juice Safety — FDA