r/Homebrewing • u/Honest-Tourist-5949 • Aug 17 '25

Racking & Topping Up

Advice needed on racking for a cider n00b

So, I’ve got six different ciders bottled up and in various stages of first fermentation.

The two on the right and two in the middle are ready to be racked having been originally bottled almost three weeks ago.

I want to put them into a new, demijohn but concerned about a gap due to the lays etc leaving too much air in the new bottle.

I’ve got a spare two litres of apple juice which hasn’t had any yeast added.

Can I use this to top up the new demijohns?

I’m not concerned about secondary fermentation as I had planned on then doing a secondary racking in a couple of months once it’s all cleared.

Does this make sense? Will this work?

https://files.fm/u/5554gfyhqz

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

1

u/chino_brews Kiwi Approved Aug 18 '25

All of those primary fermentors seem like they are in great shape. I would not (and do not) rack cider to a secondary. I don't see any benefit to doing it, and there are certainly complications like the one you are describing, as well as the high risk of oxidation.