Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Nitrogen is used for multiple purposes in the cider making process and it plays a big role when it come to the final product’s taste. In this article we will look at the 4 different uses of nitrogen in the cider production and the the benefits of having an on-site nitrogen generator.
How is nitrogen used during the Cider production?
1. Nitrogen is used to clean out the tanks, in which the cider is produced, between each batch. Because of its inert, colorless, and odorless characteristics, the nitrogen prevents the oxidation of any remains of fruits or cider that might be left in the tanks once they are empty. The use of nitrogen is therefore crucial to avoid an unwanted sour flavor in the next batch produced.
2. Nitrogen is being injected into each keg before shipping or storage to ensure that the cider found inside doesn’t oxide. It allows to conserve the quality, color, and flavor of the cider.
3. A cider production plant can choose to put nitrogen into the cider itself during the production process. By using a combination of 70% nitrogen and 30% carbon dioxide to create the cider’s effervescence, the cider will be more pleasant to drink and taste better.
4. Nitrogen is a vital element for the fermentation of the cider. The fermentation being the transformation of the sugar into alcohol and the natural malic acid into carbon dioxide. It is a crucial element because without fermentation you simply get apple juice since cider is basically fermented apple juice.
The benefits of having an on-site nitrogen generator
As nitrogen has multiple purposes in the cider production process, having a nitrogen generator is much more beneficial for cider plant. This alternative would save you the hustle of renting pressure bottles, refilling them, scheduling deliveries as well as wasting a portion of gas in the process.
Having a nitrogen generator would considerably reduce your operating costs since you wouldn’t have to rent equipment, pay recurring purchasing charges for inert gas in bottles nor pay for delivery.
Aside from saving money, it would also save you time. Generating nitrogen on-site will save you the trouble of being faced with delivery delays. Avoiding delays also means avoiding putting the production on hold until your nitrogen supply is available for use. With an on-site nitrogen generator, you will never have to disrupt your production unexpectedly since you can schedule maintenance when the time is right for you. This also allows you to stay on top of your production schedule without any delay.
Ultimately, having an on-site nitrogen generator will enable you to generate the appropriate gas quantity and purity that you need for your cider production.
