Lindy Loo Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 As we have loads of apples in the garden (5 trees, all fully laden) I am tempted to buy an apple press so that we can can have fresh delicious juice at will - well that's the theory anyway! In this month's Home Farmer magazine an article recommended a small apple press from Ascott supplies. Has anyone got one of these - either from Ascott or anywhere else and how good do you find them? Is this just another kitchen gadget which is a real faff to set up, clean etc and will not be used from one year to another or are they really good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieandnick Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Hi! We've got one of these (if it's the £68 one currently in their catalogue - the small metal 1.5 litre one). It's fab actually, with major bonus being you can use it for cheese pressing as well. We have an annual apple picking day at the allotment where there's a huge tree (communal) and we get lots of apple juice from that. We're dabbling with cheese making at the mo having bought some molds and other kit from Ascott. The press is very sturdy, and more importantly, very easy to clean. I'd say go for it if you think you'll use it! (oh yes, and read up on cider making too!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 Yep, that's the one I think they were talking about and certainly the one I am considering. I feel a purchase coming on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 That press is on my list too as we have lots of apples plus windfalls from the allotment and it would be handy for cheese making as my wooden cheese press isn't all that good . Of course it's also going to be handy for cider making too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Can you press pears too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieandnick Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Yep, any sort of fruit I would think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 I am so excited...my apple press arrived today! Now the question is how small do you chop up the fruit? The instructions say to grate the fruit in a food processor is that what you do Kate & Nick? Any advice welcome! Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Oops, sorry Katie and Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieandnick Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I think a food processor's a bit overkill (plus we don't have one!). We just chop em up by hand - bit laborious, but needs must and all that. Strangely for cider making some of the books I've got suggest chopping the apples up in a bin with a sharpened spade (eek ), so I don't think it's entirely necessary to mince the apples up a la food processor particularly! Plus I suspect it depends on what sort of apples you're using - some will be harder than others hence more difficult to get the juice out of. Have an experiment. I sometimes think instructions can be a bit over done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieandnick Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Ooo yes, forgot to say, do make sure you give the press a very good wash before use as it'll have oil and god knows what else on it if it's anything like ours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I have been wondering about getting a press, we have a juicer but I wondered if they are completely different in the juice they produce and if so why? Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieandnick Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hmmmm. Well, I think it's mainly down to the quantity of juice you want to extract - the press will do loads more than a kitchen juicer I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted August 26, 2008 Author Share Posted August 26, 2008 Well, it's been so long since I logged on - I have been too busy pressing apples! The novelty hasn't worn off yet! A friend and her kids came over today and they were so excited and helped press the apples for hours. At the moment we have SO many apples that I try to press a couple of large bucket fulls each day. I generally get about 1.5 litres of juice per bucket.I don't know how that compares to a juicer but it is fairly good going I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 How are you chopping up the apples first Lindy Loo? Fairly small or just quarters? We got a press at the weekend and are wondering if we have to crush the apples first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 At first I chopped the apples into small pieces, peel, cores and all and that was successful but it took a long time. Now, I use the co"Ooops, word censored!" slicer/grater disc on the food processor as it is much quicker and gives more juice. I hope this helps. Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 A couple of buckets of juice per day?! Wow. I am beyond jealous! You all sound like you're having immense fun with your presses! Do you know what to do to preserve the apple juice if you just want it as juice but you want it to last? Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy Loo Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 I don't get a couple of buckets of juice a day. I press a couple of buckets of apples per day! Any juice that doesn't get used that day I freeze. I am running out of plastic bottles to put it in, not to mention freezer space! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
