TC newb: 5 Litre Bottles

[196osh]

http://www.tesco.com/superstore/xpi/8/xpi52705798.htm

Could these bottles be used to ferment cider or would you need a glass demi?

If they can be used is there any difference in taste between cider fermented in these bottles compared to demijohns?

Cheers

[shandypants5]

yup you can use those... no taste difference at all.

But you will need to rig up some kind of air lock in the lid..

[196osh]

yup you can use those... no taste difference at all.

But you will need to rig up some kind of air lock in the lid..

Ive got a rubber bung, hope it will fit which ill just stick an airlock in.

if not ill try cutting a hole in the top of a lid and forcing one into that.

I take it you have to boil the apple juice to kill any nasties?

[shandypants5]

I didnt boil mine and it was fine, but I am no TC expert...

Some pisshea...ahem I mean experts will be along shortly I am sure.

[196osh]

I didnt boil mine and it was fine, but I am no TC expert...

Some pisshea...ahem I mean experts will be along shortly I am sure.

hahaha.

Indeed.

[b.all]

i was thinking of having and go with those bottles as well, particularly when i saw how cheap they were. the lids on that size tend to be pretty big so i imagine you'll have to cut a hole in it for the bung and airlock though i imagine the plastic is probably fairly tough to cut through.

[196osh]

i was thinking of having and go with those bottles as well, particularly when i saw how cheap they were. the lids on that size tend to be pretty big so i imagine you'll have to cut a hole in it for the bung and airlock though i imagine the plastic is probably fairly tough to cut through.

I have a few sharp instruments laying around

So im sure i will be able to get through it.

[edit1now]

I take it you have to boil the apple juice to kill any nasties?

Long-life AJ from concentrate is more-or-less sterile, so no need to boil it. I think it's like UHT milk, but lasts even longer. They pump it through a hot tube so it goes from ambient to 80 degrees in no time, and all the little nasties burst their cell walls and die
Wikipedia says 135 degrees for UHT milk.

Cloudy fresh AJ from the cold cabinet isn't, so you might think to boil that - but people make proper cider with raw juice from the pulp...

[RatboyOllie]

ya really dont have to fit an airlock unless you want to so you can see it working and see it slow down ready to siphon off etc

ive done a tc in those bottles and just left the top on the very first thread so its pretty much just sat on top, the air escapes and the worst thing that can happen is the cap pops off the top.

Up to you like, but ya dont need the airlock if ye cant be bothered drilling the hole, itll work just fine without

[Benson_JV]

As RBO said, it'll work like that.
Even with my beers, i just have a hole in the lid of hte FV, and lay a clean towel over it. Works every time.

[randomdave]

f*ck all the fancy airlock business. I got a bag of party balloons from my local shop for a quid, stick a pin in the end so it doesnt blow up, then stretch it over the top of the bottle.
Someone on here suggested that to me, ive not looked back since. Quite amusing to shake the demi an watch the balloon fill with c02 (which escapes slowly from teh pin hole) and prevents it stinking out the kitchen.

[mrbenbod]

I've used similar bottles for my wine, the only slight issue I have with them is that they have kind of ribs down the side
and I find the sediment collects in these ribs which makes siphoning more awkward.
However considering the price of them and the weight etc I think they are great.
I like the balloon idea, might try a whoopie cushion for the extra novelty effect.

[shandypants5]

I've used similar bottles for my wine, the only slight issue I have with them is that they have kind of ribs down the side
and I find the sediment collects in these ribs which makes siphoning more awkward.
However considering the price of them and the weight etc I think they are great.
I like the balloon idea, might try a whoopie cushion for the extra novelty effect.

If you get balloons with ribs down the sides you shouldnt buy balloons from the chemist.

[randomdave]

"If you get balloons with ribs down the sides you shouldnt buy balloons from the chemist."

HAHA
Ive just spat coffee all over my desk at work an the people i work with think ive gone mad. ahh that will keep me smiling all day that will. Small things n small minds an all that.

[FlourPower]

Put a pinprick in a balloon and stick it over the top. Found a journalist who'd tried to make TC but had a balloon explode overnight. Had knocked his bottle over onto the floor and forced apple juice to splash his ceiling. His mrs wasn't pleased with her new apple scented kitchen.