Apple Juice Starter

[MikeK117]

Hi All

I've got some spare yeast in the freezer which I intend to use for a small batch (1 gal) turbo cider. I've looked online and the process of making a yeast starter seems to always involve DME, but could I just use some apple juice?

Cheers! :

 

[graysalchemy]

yes use apple juice.

 

[MikeK117]

Thanks Grays. I take it frozen yeast can be pitched into room temperature juice and it will just do its thing over a day or so?

 

[graysalchemy]

I would thaw it out first then put it in the juice. It may some time as frozen yeast viability is usually somewhat depleted.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

I think that you need to do a quick check on the OG of the apple juice. Commercial Tetra pack apple juice contains a lot of sugar (very little apple, but a lot of sugar). For a starter your looking for approx. 1.020

 

[graysalchemy]

As long as it is 100% apple juice then it won't have any added sugar. But good call on dropping the abv. Personally I have always used straight apple juice but if the yeast has been frozen and not the best condition then using a weaker solution would be better. :thumb:

 

[rpt]

If making a starter from yeast that's been stressed then you definitely want to aim for 1.020 and not stronger.