Can You Make Apple Cider In An Instant Pot?

Apple cider is one of those beverages that gets really popular once autumn hits. It also enjoys some relevance straight through the winter months. While you should be careful if you're buying it unpasteurized from a farm stall, most store-bought ciders are totally safe and delicious to boot. Want to know something even better? You can make apple cider in your own kitchen on the stove. You could also let it simmer for hours in your slow cooker. Or, have you ever considered making apple cider in your Instant Pot? Is that even possible?

Yes, you can make apple cider in your Instant Pot, and it's so incredibly easy. Just gather all your ingredients including the apples, a peeled orange, brown sugar, and spices — like cloves and cinnamon sticks — and place them in your Instant Pot. Cover everything with water or apple juice, pop on the lid, and set the manual time to 15 minutes, with an additional 15 to slow-release the pressure. Then you can let your Instant Pot do its thing. 

One nice thing about Instant Pot apple cider is that it will pasteurize the drink for you by getting it well above 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Strain the liquid and, once it's cooled to a mouth-friendly temperature, enjoy.

Like store-bought apple cider, the homemade variety should be refrigerated and will last up to one week if kept in an airtight container. However, before stashing your cider in the fridge you should wait for it to cool completely so that it doesn't hover at an unsafe temperature and make surrounding items warm inside the refrigerator.

You can also extend the shelf life of your homemade Instant Pot cider by freezing it. Again, you'll want to place it in an airtight container, but make sure this one is freezer-safe. Leave a little space at the top of the bottle or tub so that if the cider expands it won't overflow or break the seal. Frozen homemade apple cider is good for up to three months, so be sure to write the date on it somewhere. To thaw, just stick it in the fridge overnight, or you can warm it up in a saucepot. In addition to all the things you can do with liquid apple cider, there are also many uses for frozen apple cider, too, like making slushies or flavored ice cubes.