Apple Shredder

[Runningwolf]

I add crab apples to the cider for acid and flavor. It also blends well with several other wines like Chardonnay.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Are the crabs you use astringent? Dolgos right, their tannin might be helping out your final flavor with tannins more. We have planted about 6 different kinds this year for making cider, it easy to get sweet cider, freeze the crabs and run them thru a scratter and press and add it to the sweet cider. Have you thought about talking to PI and asking if they were interested in trailing a piece of equipment for all the cidermakers in your area? There are some that look like a grape crusher but with teeth, just dont know of anyone who got one and says wether they actually make the pieces small enough. WVMJ

 

[Runningwolf]

... We all know you're going for broke....

Smart A$$

Considering the Italian Zambelli apple crusher that I really want starts at $1500, I think $110 for the chipper/shredder is a steal. I ordered it and we'll see. If it doesn't work at least I have a small wood chipper I can use on the farm.

Greg did you get a chance to look at the shredder yet to see if it might work. I know things are pretty busy right now. I did spring for the motor kit I showed earlier for the Happy Valley Cider press I own. It's still sitting in the box till I have the patience to sit down and put it together.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

We got a 3/4 inch drill with an on lock, crank it down tight, wrap a piece of tape around the handle and let it go, buzzes right through as long as you go slow feeding them in. Interested in the motor rig though, cant even find drive wheels to fit the shaft anywhere. WVMJ

 

[GreginND]

I bought two of those little chipper shredders - one for wood and one for fruit. I have not tried it with apples yet. But it does a pretty good job with the stick. Just a pain to get the sticks into the little hole.

It may require cutting the apples. But I think this will be PERFECT for chopping rhubarb!

 

[Runningwolf]

It may require cutting the apples. But I think this will be PERFECT for chopping rhubarb!

Greg, I wonder if you'll have to freeze it first due to the stringy matter. I tried green plant material once and all it did was mash up and clogged the machine up. Similar to what a garbage disposal does with the wrong material in it.

 

[GreginND]

It does a great job on sticks so I would bet rhubarb would be chopped up pretty good. But I'll check with a few stalks this weekend and see if it comes out in small pieces or mushy piles of strings.

 

[GreginND]

For the record - not a good idea! I finally got around to trying it with my rhubarb. It got through about 20 pounds before the rhubarb juices shorted out and fried the machine. DO NOT USE A WOOD CHIPPER for anything that is not dry.

 

[Runningwolf]

Nothing fibrous will work on those. I found that out trying to put long leaf plants through it. But are you sure apples won't work?

 

[GreginND]

No - it is not water tight. The apple juices will short it out.

 

[Runningwolf]

Got it. Thanks.

 

[GreginND]

The fibers were a little bit of a problem, but the real problem was the loud pop and smoke when it blew.

 

[knifemaker]

Greg, I've been using a garbage disposal for about eight years, and every year I run about ten bushels of apples and pears through it, the stems and seeds have never caused a problem if you press right away, they don't really get chopped up that much. I like you, didn't like having to cut up the fruit before running it through, but I had a large lever operated french fry cutter, and mounted it above the grinder tub. Just drop in an apple or pear, pull the lever, and fruit fries! One person running the cutter, one running then through the disposal, and another pressing. Having a few chilled bottles of wine or cider from the previous year really seems to attract help. Plus I fill cleaned gallon milk jugs full of extra juice, and freeze them. they either get drank as fresh cider, or fermented. I hope this helps a little bit. Dale.

 

[Runningwolf]

LMAO, a French Fry Cutter, I've got the same thing. I saw it at a garage sale and bought it in a heartbeat for $3.00 and they cost around $100 new. What a great idea for cutting apples!

 

[vacuumpumpman]

Dan
Why not just freeze the apples first and let them thaw - then run them thru the press.
I filled a small chest freezer and yielded approx 21 gallons of fresh juice

 

[Runningwolf]

I do freeze my Crab Apples before shredding. Pears I just shred before pressing. They are too big and take up to much room to freeze. With regular apples, I just go to a local farmer and buy unpasteurized cider at bulk price. He already did the blending and most of the filtering.

 

[knifemaker]

LMAO, a French Fry Cutter, I've got the same thing. I saw it at a garage sale and bought it in a heartbeat for $3.00 and they cost around $100 new. What a great idea for cutting apples!

Dan, I got really tired of cutting up the apples, I even tried using one of those hand held apple corer/cutters, way too time consuming, and then I remembered I had a french fry cutter; WOW! way too easy now. I'd have frozen them first but all of my freezers are full of that good Nebraska Angus beef. And $3 for a commercial cutter is a steal, didn't you feel just a little bit guilty? Try it you'll like it! Dale.

 

[Runningwolf]

I would have so appreciated this advice 3 years ago when I was smashing them with a 2x4. This is what I am using now for Crap apples and pears. I still prefer to buy fresh cider for apple wine. There are a lot of cider mills around me.

 

[spaniel]

I've posted this on here before, but this is the homemade job I use -- made for me by my father, constructed from memory off a magazine ad he saw in the 50s....the screws are stainless. Works like a dream...

 

[Runningwolf]

Spaniel, I remember you posting this before. I think about it everytime I pull mine out. This is really cool.