Yes! You CAN make your own apple cider vinegar. All you need are apple scraps, sugar, water, and a little bit of time. Here's how:
When making pies or even just eating apples as a snack, save the peels and core and keep in the freezer in a zip top plastic bag. When you have enough, fill a mason jar about 3/4 of the way with scraps.
Add sugar water—1 Tablespoon of sugar per cup of water—and cover the apple scraps. Be sure no pieces of apple are above the surface of the liquid or mold will develop. (If mold does form, don't worry, just throw out those pieces.)
Cover each jar with paper towel or a double layer of clean cheesecloth and secure with a rubber band. Place the jars in a cool, dark location for two weeks. If you think about it, stir the mixture every three days, making sure the apple scraps are completely covered in liquid. If you don't think to stir it, don't worry. It will still turn to vinegar, but may take a little longer.
After two weeks, you will have a cloudy liquid like this. Pour the liquid through a strainer or clean cheesecloth and throw out the scraps.
At this point, the vinegar is almost ready, but not quite. Store in a jar with a lid or, as I did, covered with foil and secured with a rubber band and allow to sit for two more weeks before using. Because of the acidic nature of vinegar, if stored properly (in a cool, dark location), the vinegar will last indefinitely. Start saving your apple scraps and put them to good use!
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