How To Make Waste-Free Apple Cider This Fall Season

It’s finally time for autumn spice and everything nice, and nothing is nicer than drinking apple cider in the fall. Apple cider is refreshing, unpasteurized, unfiltered, and has the perfect amount of spice to make you feel the fall air – not to mention it can be made sustainably! Learn how Central Florida Lifestyle makes waste-free apple cider.

What you’ll need:

Roughly ten apples

One orange

1 tablespoon Cinnamon

1-2 tablespoons Ground Cloves

½ cup Sugar

Cheese Cloth

How to make:

1. Cut the apples into quarters and peel the orange.
2. Combine the apples, orange, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1-2 tablespoons of cloves, and half a cup of sugar in a large stove pot.
3. Stir the mixture over medium heat for 3 minutes.
4. Add water to the pot. The pot’s contents should be covered by 2 inches of water. 
5. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to low-medium heat.
6. Cover the pot and simmer for 2 hours.
7. Once the mixture has simmered for 2 hours, remove the remaining orange.
8. Mash the apples in the pot.
9. Cover the pot and simmer for 20 minutes.
10. After simmering, remove the cider from the heat and set aside to cool.
11. Once the cider is cool, use a cheesecloth to strain the cider into a pitcher.
12. Strain the cider one more time before drinking.
13. Serve and enjoy!

**Your homemade waste-free cider can be enjoyed warm, chilled, or at room temperature. Keep the cider refrigerated and store it in a closed reusable container for up to a week.

Why Make Waste-Free Cider?

When we buy pre-made things, like apple cider, we must be aware of all the ingredients used. ZeroWaste.com found fewer potentially damaging chemicals in waste-free shopping and recipes due to less plastic and more organic goodness. 

Going waste-free can also establish overall better well-being, according to ZeroWaste.com. Embracing a lifestyle of thoughtful purchasing can significantly reduce unnecessary clutter in your life. By becoming a discerning shopper and paying close attention to what you’re investing in, you’re making a purchase and a statement for a more mindful lifestyle!