Frequently Asked Questions
Jump to a section:
Cider
What kinds of apples are used in apple cider?
We always like to use a mix of apples in our cider — some lend more sweetness, some are more tart, some make darker-colored cider, and some make lighter-colored cider. Some of our favorite apples for cider are Red Delicious, Gala, and Fuji. Our cider will taste different over the course of the season as different types of apples are available.
How many apples does it take to make apple cider?
It takes roughly 14 pounds of apples to make 1 gallon of apple cider. The number of apples can vary greatly — some of our apples are very small and some are very large — but on average it would be roughly 30 apples.
What happens to all the skins and seeds left over after pressing apple cider?
We have a local farmer who takes the leftover apple pomace (skins and seeds) and feeds them to his cows.
How long does apple cider last?
Because it contains no preservatives, our apple cider lasts 7-10 days and needs to be kept refrigerated. If you want to keep the cider for longer you can freeze it - use up the top 3 inches or so from the container to allow room for expansion in the freezer.
What time of the year do you carry cider?
We press cider from early September until late March. For the rest of the year, we carry frozen cider.
Apple & Fruit Butters
What are your favorite kinds of apples to use in apple butter?
For apple butter, we like to use some Winesap apples whenever possible. We avoid Red Delicious apples and try to limit the use of light-skinned apples like Golden Delicious since they will make the final product lighter.
How many apples does it take to make apple butter?
Apple butter requires roughly 5 pounds of apples for every 1 pound of apple butter.
How long does it take apple butter to cook?
It takes roughly 6 hours to cook one batch of apple butter. We add a lot of cider, so it takes a long time to cook off all the excess liquid and end up with a thick, dark apple butter.
How big is one batch?
Each batch of our butters uses 200–300 pounds of whole fruit. For apple butter, we use 250 pounds of apples along with 70–80 gallons of apple cider.
How is apple butter made?
We cook apples and cider slowly for several hours until thick and dark. You can read more about our cooking process here.
What is apple butter made of? Does it contain butter?
We offer 2 versions of our apple butter — one is sweetened only with cider, so its only ingredients are apples and apple cider. The other version is sweetened with sugar, so it contains apples, apple cider, and sugar. Apple butter doesn't contain any dairy and we don't process any dairy at our facility. It's called "apple butter" because it has a similar consistency to butter when spread on bread.
How long does fruit butter last? Does it require refrigeration?
Fruit butters are naturally shelf-stable due to their concentrated fruit content. Apple butter is cooked down to a very high concentration and, like honey, keeps exceptionally well. It does not require refrigeration, even after opening.
Other fruit butters will last for years unopened when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, they should be refrigerated and enjoyed within a few months. As with any preserved food, discard the product if mold is present.
Do you use any preservatives?
No, none of our products contain any preservatives. Our products are shelf stable because of their cooking process and the natural acidity of the fruits we use.
What do you use apple butter for?
You can spread it on toast, eat it with yogurt or cottage cheese, or use our large recipe library for more ideas.
Do you make tomato products?
Yes, we make ketchup, chili sauce, salsa, and pasta sauce for ourselves as well as for local farmers who sell it with their own label. Contact us if you find yourself with extra tomatoes that you would like to be processed.
Apples
How many apples do you use a day?
During the peak season (mid-September through late October) we use roughly 250 bushels of apples (12,500 pounds) a day.
Do you sell apples?
We sell apple seconds from mid-September through December — you'll find bins of apples lining our parking lot area.
We also have a limited selection available in January–March — we keep them inside our factory during the winter.
Our apples are "seconds," which means they aren't as pretty as what you would find in the grocery store, but they still taste good.
The varieties we have available change from day to day as we use apples up rapidly — call us if there's a specific variety of apple you are looking for.
Where do you get your apples?
We don't grow any apples ourselves — we buy them all from local orchards such as Frecon's, Shirey Brothers, and Pappy's.
Ordering & Shipping
Do you ship your fruit butters?
Yes, we ship nationwide. The easiest way to get a package shipped to yourself or a loved one is by ordering online.
Is there a store near me that carries your products?
We have a number of partner locations that retail our product, primarily in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Check our locations page to find the location most convinient for you.
Do you sell your products in bulk (e.g., for wholesale, resturants or a wedding)?
We do! Contact us for details and pricing - bulk pricing will be cheaper than our online order pricing.
About the Business
How long has Bauman's been in business?
Bauman's started making apple cider in 1892 and apple butter around 1900.
Is Bauman's a family owned business?
Yes — the Bauman family still owns and operates the business. You can read more about the family members on our history page.
