Apple Juice Recipe

1. Prepare the apples

Wash the apples thoroughly under cold running water to remove wax and residue. Cut each apple into quarters and remove the cores and seeds. You may peel the apples if you want a clearer juice, but leaving the skins on preserves flavor and nutrients.

2. Chop and weigh

Roughly chop the apple quarters into pieces small enough to fit your blender or juicer. You should have about 2 lbs (roughly 6–8 medium apples) of pieces. Place the chopped apples in a large bowl.

3. Blend

Add the chopped apples and 2 cups of cold water to a high-speed blender. Blend on high in 20–30 second pulses until the mixture is smooth and uniformly pureed. If your blender struggles, blend in batches to avoid overheating.

4. Strain

Place a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth over a large bowl or pour the blended apple puree into a nut milk bag. Allow the juice to drain by gravity, then gently press or squeeze the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible. For a clearer juice, strain the liquid a second time through clean cheesecloth or a fine sieve.

5. Sweeten and brighten

Taste the fresh apple juice. If it needs a touch of sweetness, stir in up to 1 tablespoon granulated sugar until dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to brighten flavor and prevent browning. Stir well.

6. Adjust consistency and chill

If the juice is too concentrated, stir in up to 1 cup filtered water to reach your desired intensity. Refrigerate the juice for at least 30 minutes or serve immediately over ice (about 1 cup ice per 2–3 servings).

7. Store

Transfer the apple juice to a sterilized bottle or airtight container and refrigerate. Fresh apple juice is best consumed within 48–72 hours. Shake or stir before serving as natural settling may occur.

8. If you prefer very clear, store-bought style juice, let the strained juice sit in the refrigerator for a few hours; any remaining pulp will settle to the bottom. Decant the clearer top layer into another container, leaving sediment behind. Alternatively, use a coffee filter for a slower, finer strain.