Making Apple Cider Vinegar (Part 2)

[@helenfox8579]

Hi Hugh, I am a retired scientist and worked in a number of disciplines of analytical chemistry throughout my career. I am a wine and beer maker, chilli grower and just getting into vinegar making. I really enjoyed these two videos (as well as all the others!) they have been very helpful. Its also great to see the flat lands around Boston where I grew up and don't get time to visit much these days as I live in Nottingham. All the best. (PS Always a nice pint in the Kings Head)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@helenfox8579 Hi Helen! So glad that you enjoyed them 🙂. I did once make home made litmus solution to titrate vinegar against - something a real scientist like you might enjoy but too "niche" for a mainstream video I think. We do love this area - the people are wonderful!

[@alanmuddypaws3865]

I love the bigger picture, interconnected nature of your self reliance videos! Also looking forward to you demonstrating mustard making, something that I'll definitely want to have a go at.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I need to thresh the mustard, its ready in the barn but its finding time!

[@johnamriding6862]

@@EnglishCountryLife Another request for mustard making, please.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Shall be done sir

[@jacquiehahn4910]

Another lovely video. Defo looking forward to the mustard one.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sounds like I need to get on that!

[@B3RG3RS0N]

This channel is so under rated. I'm trying to share as much as I can. Keep on the good job👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks so much Robert - Merry Christmas 🎄

[@BudgetJett]

This miniseries was absolutely fascinating, thank you! Not sure I can bear to part with that much of my home made wine just yet but perhaps later in the season!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I confess that I make wine & specifically to turn into vinegar. Great vinegar makes wonderful pickles, chutneys & salad dressing

[@srlawnlandscape48]

Just starting my self reliance journey and your videos have taught me so much, thank you.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm so glad that they have helped. If you gave any questions, do ask!

[@scarletpeate]

Love your videos. I'm away at the moment so too ups from you keep me sain. I also make vinegar

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Wonderful! So few people seem to do it & yet they spend a fortune on ACV while letting windfalls rot! Hopefully between us we can revive some of these old skills as they are still so relevant 😉

[@scarletpeate]

I have a oh meter it's brilliant. If I get a very strong vinegar I use it as a washing additive for laundry or washing up. I also clean surfaces with it.

[@scarletpeate]

pH meter that was supposed to read

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I must do videos on home made cleaning products! Citric acid is brilliant fir toilet cleaner!

[@scarletpeate]

@@EnglishCountryLife yes that would be great. I save all the years wood ash to make lye from. Or use as various cleaners. I do missing operation well ring whilst away I think hubby is distracted helping others at the moment so I won't miss too many vital steps. I'm making saddle soap soon. But using a glycerine soap as the soap base rather than a usual soap.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Interesting with glycerine soap, not tried that

[@ApiaryManager]

Were you a chemist in a former life? lol My wife has an M.Sc in Medicinal Chemistry and she's always doing home chemistry like this. I love your channel. I'm probably watching your content all out-of-sequence but it doesn't matter. I'll get through it in the end!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I wasn't but my father was a PhD chemist. Whilst I love all the self reliant crafts, it helps me to understand the underlying science. Hugh

[@ApiaryManager]

@@EnglishCountryLife Ahhh. That explains a lot. It is obviously in your genes ;-)

[@qualitylife5350]

If no more feeding in vinegar and preserve vinegar without use or adding wine anymore the mother will still be alive ?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The mother will live for a very long time, but will eventually fie if it isn't fed

[@B3RG3RS0N]

I followed your way of making cider and then turning it into vinegar and now I'm wondering how do you know when your vinegar is ready? I would like to bottle it but dont want mother to form on top as this may look unpleasant if I give it as a gift(I would like to avoid pasteurization).

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Robert, you really need the mother on top for the vinegar culture to work effectively - it's an aerobic (oxygen requiring) process. Many people pay a premium for live vinegar with the mother present but if you want to avoid it, producing in an open jar with mother there and then siphoning, filtering and pasteurization is the only effective way to avoid it 🙂

[@B3RG3RS0N]

@@EnglishCountryLife Will it not form new mother if process isn't over? I would like to keep it alive however I know some people in my family will not like it

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@B3RG3RS0N I keep a main colony in a jar with visible mother. I siphon off completed vinegar from time to time & add more cider. You can then filter & pasteurise the vinegar that you have siphoned off to prevent new mother forming when you bottle it

[@WayneDavis-rf4ps]

Hi,ok your using the paper to give a guide of percentage from a bought vinegar that has a percentage,what is the math used to arrive at the percentage number.I’m just curious to know how this is done,hope that makes sense.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@WayneDavis-rf4ps It's possible to use titration to measure an exact percentage. It's even possible to make the litmus solution using bicarb & red cabbage. It's easier to just measure visual pH against commercial vinegar which is c. 5% acetic acid

[@WayneDavis-rf4ps]

@@EnglishCountryLife .have you made a video of this,and if so,what is it called.thanks in advance,been I’ll today and I stumbled upon you,and have had a delightful unwell day watching you,thanks

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@WayneDavis-rf4ps Get well soon! I wrote some articles on it 20 years ago but haven't videoed it. Since cheap digital pH meters appeared on eBay most people aren't interested

[@WayneDavis-rf4ps]

@@EnglishCountryLife .yeh i have one or two,ok ill google it,thanks again,thanks for talking it’s been nice.

[@joannecrofts3794]

Hi Hugh. Thank you for another informative video. A couple of questions if I may. Firstly the vinegar you bottle in this video, had you pasteurized it? Does pasteurization make a difference to how long it will keep? Did you do anything to seal those bottles or are they just screw tops, and finally how long can you keep the vinegar for? Thanks. Jo

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Joanne 🙂 I didn't pasteurise the vinegar but you can, it will not affect how long it keeps for. If you don't pasteurise, mother will form in the bottle Just a cork in the bottle is fine. It will keep for many years (pretty much indefinitely as the vinegar is a preservative). Hugh

[@qualitylife5350]

I created vinegar but turned alcohol after a month and I thought it is spoiled and can’t get vinegar out of it again so, this alcohol now was sweet taste though less sugary taste in it even after a month so, I lid tight alcohol... In days later turn little acidic than sugary so I am now adding tea spoon sugar to maintain wine from to maintain it’s alcoholic level... So, now 2 tea sugar in it I stored in a refrigerator...? ?!! .... I don’t know what I am doing...?? I should have let that alcohol turning slowly acidic.... So, acidic means it now turned into vinegar? Can I use that same alcohol lid slightly open to make a vinegar or it will be a spoiled one?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Acidic does mean it's vinegar. Honestly after sugar & the fridge I would probably start again.