How to Make Apple Scrap Vinegar (Frugal Homemade Vinegar Recipe)
Learn how to make apple scrap vinegar with peels and cores. A frugal, old-fashioned homemade vinegar recipe perfect for fall and simple living.
Every fall, after making applesauce, apple crisp, or baked apples, I’m left with piles of peels and cores. Instead of tossing them, I like to put them to work. One of the simplest old-fashioned skills you can learn this season is how to make apple scrap vinegar.
This frugal recipe turns kitchen leftovers into a tangy, homemade vinegar that can be used for cleaning, cooking, or adding to salad dressings. While it’s often called homemade apple cider vinegar, the truth is it’s technically apple scrap vinegar, since it starts with peels and cores rather than pressed apple cider. Either way, it’s a wonderful way to practice self-sufficiency and reduce waste in the kitchen.
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What Is Apple Scrap Vinegar?
Apple scrap vinegar is a naturally fermented vinegar made from apple peels and cores, sugar, and water. As the mixture ferments, natural yeasts and bacteria break down the sugars, creating acetic acid, the same compound found in store-bought vinegar.
It’s not identical to commercial apple cider vinegar, but it’s still full of flavor and incredibly useful around the home. Think of it as a frugal, old-fashioned alternative that our grandmothers would’ve been proud to make.
Why Make Apple Scrap Vinegar?
- Frugal & Zero Waste — uses apple scraps you’d normally throw away.
- Old-Fashioned Skill — a traditional homesteading recipe that connects you to simpler times.
- Versatile Uses — great for cooking, salad dressings, hair rinses, and natural cleaning.
- Seasonal — fall is the perfect time to make vinegar when apples are abundant.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Apple peels and cores (from 4–6 apples, more if you have them)
- 2–3 tablespoons sugar (white sugar, honey, or maple syrup all work)
- Filtered water (enough to cover scraps)
- A clean quart-size glass jar
- Cheesecloth or a coffee filter (to cover the jar)
- Rubber band or string
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Scraps
Place your apple peels and cores into a clean quart jar. Fill the jar about halfway with scraps.
2. Add Sugar and Water
Sprinkle the sugar over the scraps. Fill the jar with filtered water until the apple pieces are completely submerged. Stir with a clean spoon to dissolve the sugar.
3. Cover the Jar
Cover the jar with cheesecloth, a coffee filter, or a clean cloth. Secure with a rubber band. This allows the mixture to breathe while keeping dust and fruit flies out. You can see in the photos that I’m using my fermenting spring and lid for this batch. I’ve done it both ways successfully. No need to buy anything special if you don’t have a fermenting spring on hand!
4. Ferment
Place the jar in a warm, dark place (like a pantry or cupboard) for 3–4 weeks. Stir the mixture every few days to prevent mold from forming on the surface.
5. Strain and Continue Fermenting
After 3–4 weeks, strain out the apple scraps and return the liquid to the jar. Cover again with cloth and let the liquid sit for another 2–4 weeks until it reaches the level of tang you like.
6. Store Your Vinegar
Once it smells sharp and tastes like vinegar, transfer to a glass bottle with a lid. Store in your pantry. It will last indefinitely.
Tips for Success
- Keep Apples Submerged — any scraps exposed to air may mold. Use a fermentation weight or small glass jar to push scraps under the liquid.
- Sugar Feeds Fermentation — don’t skip it! The sugar is consumed during the process.
- Patience is Key — it can take 6–8 weeks for vinegar to fully develop.
- Use Clean Jars — sterilized jars prevent bad bacteria from taking over.
Ways to Use Apple Scrap Vinegar
- Cooking: Add a splash to soups, stews, marinades, and bones while making broth.
- Salad Dressings: Mix with olive oil, herbs, and honey for a tangy vinaigrette.
- Baking: Use as a substitute for vinegar in recipes like homemade biscuits or pie crust.
- Cleaning: Dilute with water for an all-purpose natural cleaner.
- Hair Rinse: Mix with water to use as a natural hair rinse.
Why Great Grandma Would Approve
This recipe is the kind of practical homemaking skill our great-grandmothers lived by. Nothing was wasted, and everything had a purpose. Apple scrap vinegar is more than a frugal recipe, it’s a reminder that simple, old-fashioned living is often the most satisfying.
More Cozy Fall Recipes and Skills
If you’re looking for more ways to use up fall’s bounty, try these simple recipes:
Conclusion
Making apple scrap vinegar is a rewarding way to stretch your resources, reduce waste, and practice an old-fashioned skill in your modern kitchen. With just apple peels, water, and sugar, you can create a useful homemade vinegar that connects you to the rhythms of fall and the self-sufficient skills of generations past.
So the next time you peel apples for pie or crisp, don’t toss the scraps, turn them into something valuable. Great grandma would be proud.
