How do you clear cloudy cider?
Most cider clears on its own if you rack it off the sediment and let it mature for 2–6 months. To speed things up, cider makers use fining agents such as bentonite or gelatine, pectin-splitting enzymes, or filtration. A slight haze is normal in some styles, and perry is notoriously hard to clear.
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Options from simplest to most technical
- Settle and rack. PNW 621 lets pressed juice settle for 24 hours before racking it off the pulp sediment, then racks the finished cider off the lees and lets it "mature until it clears (2–6 months)". [1]
- Fining. HMRC's permitted fining aids for cider include bentonite, gelatin, isinglass and tannin. [2] The Herefordshire Perry PGI clears perry with "gelatine, bentonite or other approved fining agent". [3]
- Enzymes. Pectinase is on HMRC's list of permitted processing aids, and BJCP notes that enzymes may be used to clarify juice. [2] [4]
- Filtration. "Most ciders are filtered to make a clear, bright product and prevent sediment in the bottle"; sterile filtration also removes yeast. [1]
Why is my cider cloudy?
- Yeast and lees still in suspension, especially early on; see does cider contain yeast.
- Pectin. Stored apples produce soluble pectin, which can make the pulp slimy to press. [1]
- Fermentation not finished. PNW 621 warns that "Fermentable sugar in bottles is not only a safety hazard due to potential explosion of the bottles, but results in haze, sediment, and undesirable aromas." [1] It also says that "The SG reading should be at 1.0 or lower if fermentation is complete", so check the specific gravity with a hydrometer before bottling. [1]
- Perry. "Perries are notoriously difficult to clear; as a result, a slight haze is not a fault." [4] See how perry is made.
Do I have to clear it?
No. BJCP describes appearance ranging from "slightly cloudy to brilliant" for Common Cider. [5] Some makers keep cider unfiltered on purpose. Keeving, which BJCP describes as a French technique (défécation) that slows fermentation by depriving it of nutrients, is part of some traditional styles. [6] The turbidity scale describes how cloudy a cider is. The guide on how cider is made shows where clearing fits.
Related answers: does cider contain yeast · is cider vegan
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Questions
Is cloudy cider bad?
Not necessarily. BJCP accepts a range from slightly cloudy to brilliant in several cider styles, and a slight haze is not a fault in perry. [5] [4] For signs that cider has spoiled, see can cider go bad.
Why is my cider still cloudy after months?
Possible causes include pectin, unfinished fermentation or yeast still in suspension. PNW 621 notes that fermentable sugar left in bottles causes haze and sediment. [1]
Are fining agents vegan?
Not all: gelatine and isinglass are animal products, bentonite is not. See is cider vegan. [2]
Sources
- Hard Cider Production & Orchard Management in the Pacific Northwest (PNW 621) — Washington State University, Oregon State University and University of Idaho Extension
- Permitted ingredients for cider duty — HM Revenue & Customs (GOV.UK)
- Herefordshire Perry: PGI product specification — Defra (GOV.UK)
- 2025 BJCP Cider Style Guidelines (Introduction) — Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)
- 2025 BJCP Cider Style Guidelines: C1A Common Cider — BJCP
- 2025 Cider Style Guidelines: C1 Traditional Cider — BJCP