how much yeast to use???

[countrygirl]

ok, gonna be in a position to pitch the yeast tonight on my apple/pear spice. i have split up everything in 2 buckets, (will be racking into my 6.5 gallon carboy). i would like to use cotes de blanc. should i use one packet in each bucket, or split a packet?
(the fluid level is up to about the 3.5 gallon line on the buckets, and that's with the squished apples/pears/cinnamon sticks floating in it)

 

[Wade E]

You can use one packet but Id probably use 1 on each bucket especially if you are not making a yeast starter.

 

[countrygirl]

You can use one packet but Id probably use 1 on each bucket especially if you are not making a yeast starter.

i've had such good luck with my fermentations, i haven't really considered a starter...yet. i'm sure my day will come. i have plenty of yeast, but i didn't want to "overdo" either. i tried luc's freezing method on my apples, but still wound up kmeta my hands and just reached in the bucket and still had to bust some pieces up. i think i could have used a little bit more pectin, but it was kinda fun squishing those apples, lol
my s.g. is 1.074...do you think the fruit will release anymore natural sugars?
i would like this to be lower than average abv, due to the nondrinking nature of alot of family members who would still try some at christmas.

 

[Wade E]

I dont think the apples will give much fpor sugar. Apples can be a real ber as far as breaking up hence why they maker a seperate tool for this called an apple crusher and its pretty heavy duty. Ive seen on another wine forum where someone made one by taking a in sink disposal and have a bucket underneath it and crush the apples into juice this way, I would recommend cutting the seeds out for this method though.

 

[countrygirl]

ok, used one packet for each bucket, cote de blancs...happily fermenting away tonight. just wanted to confess...fermenting fruit stinks
now that i'm smelling these apples, the peaches were just doing their thing. i feel so silly, but i'm learning....yep, i'm learning