How to Freeze Apples

Apples are a common fruit that is seen everywhere around the world. They can be eaten raw, made into applesauce or apple juice, and cooked in various dishes. Frozen apples have become a popular freezer product because they can be used later on for cooking and baking purposes, and you never have to worry about not having apples on hand when you truly need them! Learning how to freeze apples is great because you will be able to make frozen apples so you don’t have to worry about them going bad.

Freezing apples is one of the best ways to preserve apples as they still contain the same nutrient value even in their frozen form. There are several ways to freeze your apples, all depending on how you want to use them in the future. In most cases, the steps to freeze them remain the same. Buy the best possible apples from the market, clean them, prepare them into the form you plan to freeze them, treat them if necessary, and then freeze!

How to Buy Apples

Apples are one of the easiest fruits to buy because you can easily figure out whether the fruit is good or bad pretty quickly once you pick it up. Here are a few tips for buying a good apple

• Look for apples that feel firm when you pick them up. Press the apply slightly near its stem to check whether they are firm.
• Avoid any apples that have soft spots on them or are mushy.
• Avoid apples that have bruises because once bruised, the flesh inside the apple will start to brown very quickly.
• Give your apples a sniff to check their aroma. Fresh apples will give a light and pleasant fragrance. If there is a sour vinegar-like odor from the apples, they are probably decaying.

If you are buying apples with the sole intention of freezing them, look for apple varieties with a hearty and robust texture. Jonagold, Cortland, and Golden Delicious are some varieties that you can opt for. That being said, it does not mean that you cannot freeze the other apple varieties. You absolutely can. It is just that apples with a solid and snappy texture retain that texture better when frozen.

How to Freeze Apples in Different Forms

Whole Apples

While you can freeze your apple whole, they might not be the most practical to use. Storing them in the freezer and using them in the dish you want becomes difficult. However, this does not mean freezing whole apples is impossible.

• Wash your apples in plenty of water to get rid of any dirt and germs. A solution of water and baking soda works best for cleaning apples. For every 2 cups of water, add a teaspoon of baking soda and let your apples soak in this solution for 15 minutes before removing them and rinsing them in some plain water.
• Freeze the apples by using the flash-freezing technique. Use a nonstick baking tray or line a baking tray with parchment paper and place your apples on it. The parchment paper will stop the apples from freezing on your baking tray.
• Once the apples have frozen solid, you can transfer them to freezer bags for long-term storage.

Apple Slices

Another option to freeze your apples is to freeze them as apple slices. Freezing your apples this way offers you more flexibility for how you want to use them. You can use these frozen apples in desserts, smoothies, or even eat them directly.

• Start by washing your apples thoroughly in a baking soda and water solution. Let the apples soak in the solution for at least 15 minutes before rinsing them with clean water.
• Next, use a Y peeler or a swivel peeler to peel your apples. Cut the apples in half to core them, or use an apple corer to core them. Cut the apples into slices of your desired thickness.
• Soak your prepared apple slices in a lemon juice and water solution to prevent the apple slices from browning. Add about three tables tablespoons of bottled lemon juice to a quart of cold water. Always use bottled lemon juice as it has a stable pH level that makes it safer to use.
• Prepare a non-stick baking tray or line a standard baking tray with parchment paper for flash freezing the apple slices. Lay the apple slices in a single layer on the baking tray, taking care that none of the slices overlap or are touching each other, and this will stop the pieces from freezing stuck together.
• Place the tray in the freezer for 3 – 4 hours to allow the apples to freeze completely. Depending on the number of apples you are freezing and the freezer’s capacity, you may have to do this step in batches.
• Once the apple slices have frozen solid, remove them from the freezer and transfer them to freezer bags. Remove the excess air from the bag before you seal it shut. You can use a vacuum sealer to do this or use a straw to suck out the excess air.
• Label and date your bags with the freezing date before moving them to the freezer for long-term storage.

Apple Pie Filling

You can even make your apple pie filling and freeze it for up to nine months! Having frozen apple pie filling on your hand means you can have an apple pie heady in half the time!

Here is a simple apple pie filling recipe you can use:

Ingredients

• 4 lbs peeled and cored apples
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

• Dice your apples into big or small pieces and add them to a large bowl.
• Once you have your apples ready, add the lemon juice to the bowl and toss the apples so that they all are coated with the lemon juice.
• Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cornstarch to a large saucepan. Stir this mixture over medium heat.
• Mix in the apples and salt. Allow this mixture to simmer while stirring it continuously to combine all the elements.
• Lower the flame to low heat and let the apples cook for 20 – 30 minutes or until the apples are tender and the sauce is thick.
• Add the vanilla extract and turn off the flame.
• Allow the mixture to cool for 30 – 40 minutes or until it has reached room temperature.

Freeze

• Once the filling has cooled completely, transfer it to freezer-safe containers, leaving about 1 inch of headspace. You can also substitute the containers with freezer bags.
• Seal and label your containers with the freezing date before storing them in the freezer. You can freeze the apple pie filling for 9 – 12 months.

When ready to use the filling, transfer the container from the freezer to the fridge and let it thaw overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to freeze apples for smoothies?

Frozen apples come in very handy when you are making smoothies. Simply freeze the apple slices using the method described above and use them in your smoothies. You don’t even need to thaw the apple slices if you plan to use them in smoothies. Just remove them from the freezer and add as many pieces as you need to the blender to make your smoothie.

Can you freeze dehydrated apples?

You can also freeze your dehydrated apples to elongate their shelf life even more. Pack your dehydrated apples in freezer bags and seal them shut. Remove the excess air from the bags using a vacuum sealer or a straw to suck out the extra air. These apples can last in the freezer for 12 – 18 months. If you are looking for a reliable dehydrating guide for apples, we have the perfect post for you.

How long do apples last in the freezer?

Frozen apples can easily last in your freezer for 9 – 12 months, giving you plenty of time to use them before you freeze a fresh batch. Always remember to label and date your containers with the freezing date so that you can rotate the food accordingly. Always check the frozen produce before you consume it. In case of any mold or freezer burn, discard the container completely.

Conclusion

Frozen apples are one of the most convenient food items that you can have in your freezer. From making a variety of desserts, fruit salads, smoothies, and even apple sauce, they help cut down your meal prep time considerably. Freezing your apples at home is safe and straightforward since you know how and what was used to freeze them. Give this freezing recipe a try, and we are sure you will be using it to freeze your apples for a long time to come!