How to Make and Freeze Homemade Applesauce | Recipe (2024)

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How to Make and Freeze Homemade Applesauce | Recipe (1)

How to Freeze Applesauce

Apple season is just getting good so head to your local farmers’ market, produce stand, or apple orchard and get in on this year’s harvest.

With our apple haul, we do four things: eat, bake, and can and freeze applesauce.

We eat apples fresh until the thought of eating another apple in January is like the thought of picking another zucchini in August. If the“apple a day” motto is accurate, then we are in good shape.

I also bake several apple pies or crisps. Whenmy husband walks through the door after a long day or the bathtubfaucet is leaking or I accidentally run over something with the car that should not have been run over, I soften the blow by casually mentioning, “Oh,by the way, I baked an apple pie today.” His eyes light up, and everything that happened before that sentence is forgotten. Trust me, it is like magic. I speak from experience. When I’m in a tight spot, I just whip out an apple pie. Make sure you check out our Simple Fruit Pie from Scratch tutorial.

If you do not consider yourself a baker, then buy a pre-made crust in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I used to do this when I worked full-time; the crustsare easy to assemble and don’t taste half bad either.

I have also started canning applesauce at our readers’ suggestion. Check out our step-by-step how to can applesauce guide here.

Finally, freezing applesauce. My littlefamily of four goes through a crazy amount of applesauce. I like to keep our freezer stocked with the homemade stuff because it is super simple to make, and it tastes better than anything you’ll find on the grocery store shelves (see below).

This year, I bought a NorproAppleMate 2 Apple Peeler (Amazon). This baby attaches to your countertop andpeels, slices, and coresthe apples with the crank of the handle. Growing up, my mom had one of these. We just called it the Apple-Peeler-Slicer-Corer. Creative, I know.

How to Make and Freeze Homemade Applesauce | Recipe (3)

Ihave no ideawhy it took me so long to get one of my own. They are a brilliant little invention andmoney well-spent because they are such a huge time saver. Even my toddler got in on the action, cranking out spirals of peeled apples. If you have the time and patience, it’s a great way for little hands to help out.

We used Gravenstein apples because they are a soft variety sothey break down quickly as they cook. Simply toss the peeled, cored, cut apples into a large pot. Add enough water to keep the apples from scorching on the bottom. It doesn’t take muchliquid because theapples will give off quite a bit oftheir ownas they cook. You can always stir and check, adding water as needed.

Let the apples simmer on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. I cook and stirthe applesfor around 30-45 minutes, giving them more time to break down because I like a smoother applesauce. If you like it perfectly smooth, you could even run it through a blender, food mill, or food processor.

For chunkier applesauce, remove it from the heat a bit sooner or mix in other firmer apple varieties that won’t cook down as easily.

This year I froze several small bags of unsweetened applesauce to use as baby food and as an oil-substitutefor baking. I sweetened the rest with some sugar to taste. You could use the sweetener of your choice. I keepthe ingredientspretty simple, but you could also add some cinnamon or other spices, if desired.

You can freeze the applesauce in freezer bags, plastic storage containers (like Ziploc or Rubbermaid), or in ice cube trays if you’re making it for a baby.

Looking for more delicious ways to preserve produce?

Check out our Canning Applesauce Step-By-Step Guide here.

Make sure you also check out our other preserving and canning posts here.

  • Canning for Beginners FAQ’s
  • Canning Peach Vanilla Bean Jam
  • Canning Peaches
  • Canning Tomatoes
  • Water Bath Canning Guide
  • Water Bath Canning Equipment
  • How to Can Pears
  • How to Can Apple Pie Filling

Looking for more ideas for stocking up that don’t require canning?

How to Make and Freeze Homemade Applesauce | Recipe (10)Follow Frugal Living NW on Pinterest!

Fantastic range of boards from best recipes and tips for frugal living to gardening and budgeting help.

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How to Make and Freeze Homemade Applesauce | Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to freeze applesauce? ›

Transfer applesauce to Souper Cubes tray of choice. Ensure the applesauce is fully cooled before you add the lid (to prevent condensation build up and freezer burn). Once frozen (minimum 6 hours in the freezer), transfer the applesauce cubes to a labelled, freezer safe container for up to 6 months.

Can I freeze applesauce in ziplock bags? ›

Cover and place over low-med heat, stirring occassionally. When apples are soft and still hot, run through a food mill placed over a bowl. (It is now ready to eat hot or cold.) To Freeze: Cool Place in quart ziplock bags and freeze.

What is the best way to store homemade applesauce? ›

Package applesauce in freezer-safe containers, such as freezer-safe plastic that won't crack at freezing temperatures, canning jars or other tempered glass jars with straight rather than tapered necks that won't crack in the freezer, or thick zipper-style plastic bags designed for freezer use.

What is the best freezer container for applesauce? ›

Freezing Applesauce

Rigid containers (glass jars and hard plastic containers) are especially good for freezing foods with liquid. Vacuum packaging removes more oxygen than other freezing methods (Refer to manufacturer's instructions.)

Does homemade applesauce freeze well? ›

Make sure you use a good cooking apple like Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Jonathan, Mcintosh, or Gravenstein. Ready to serve as soon as you're done, either hot or refrigerated. Delicious with vanilla ice cream or vanilla yogurt. Freezes easily, lasts up to one year in a cold freezer.

Is it better to freeze applesauce or canning? ›

Making your own applesauce is quite easy and doesn't take much time if you choose to freeze it. Canning applesauce takes about twice as long but if you're limited on room in the freezer- it's the better option.

Does applesauce taste good frozen? ›

Applesauce

Frozen applesauce requires a few minutes to thaw, but once it hits its sweet spot, you'll be quickly convinced there's no other way to enjoy it. The apple flavor stays pure and clean, while the icy texture is like a fresh, homemade granita without any effort.

How do you freeze applesauce in a Mason jar? ›

Because this is a freezer recipe, the jars don't have to be sanitized prior to housing the applesauce. Just give them a good wash with hot soapy water. Once the jars have cooled, seal them with lids and rings and then pop them into the freezer. Do your best to use them within the year.

Does applesauce expand when frozen? ›

Cool the cooked sauce quickly; you can set a larger pot of sauce in a sink of cold ice water changing the water frequently. Stir the mixture while it is cooling. Pack it into rigid containers leaving adequate headspace. It will expand when frozen.

How to keep homemade applesauce from turning brown? ›

Take a bowl of water and add the juice of half a lemon to it. The acid will prevent the apples from browning. You can also buy apples that are more acidic, and they will resist browning on their own. Granny Smiths, Golden Delicious, and Cortlands are all eating apples that brown more slowly than other varieties.

How long will homemade applesauce last in the refrigerator? ›

Homemade applesauce can be refrigerated for a week to ten days; it can also be frozen or canned for longer-term storage. Mott's recommends its applesauce to be used within ten days of opening. First let me introduce our panel.

How do you know if applesauce has gone bad? ›

Mold is an obvious sign of spoilage, and the applesauce should be discarded immediately. What does it smell like? A quick whiff that gives off a sweet scent of applesauce means it is probably still good. If there is an unpleasant odor, you're likely smelling spoiled applesauce, so go ahead and toss it out.

Do frozen apples make good applesauce? ›

If you've got apples to freeze, but no plan for their use, this is the way to go. Use later by the handful or bagful in any cooked recipes. Pies, muffins, cobblers and even applesauce can be made from frozen apples.

Are Mason jars freezer proof? ›

Jars with tapered sides or straight sides are freezer safe; shouldered jars are not.

How do you freeze applesauce in a bag? ›

I have found that using freezer bags is a very easy and space saving way to store applesauce in the freezer. I used quart freezer bags since this was a reasonable amount for our family to eat. When the applesauce is completely cooled simply lay the bags flat and you can stack them on top of each other in the freezer.

Can I freeze applesauce in jars? ›

Glass jars are great for reusing! When freezing in glass jars, you need to take a few precautions so you don't end up with cracked jars. Only fill the jars ¾'s full so the applesauce has room to expand as it freezes. If you don't give it room, the jar will crack.

Can you freeze Mott's applesauce? ›

Perfect tasting Apple

I freeze the small cups in the freezer which my kids love! There are only 3 ingredients Apples, Water, and vitamin C. The No Sugar Added Apple Applesauce is also perfect for baking.

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