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?

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

This post may contain affiliate links. See the disclosure policy for more information.

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

FAQs

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.

What's the best container to freeze applesauce in? ›

For long term storage, you can place your applesauce inside a firm, freezer-safe container, such as a mason jar, or a resealable freezer bag.

Can you freeze applesauce in Ziploc 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.

How do you store homemade applesauce long term? ›

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.

What's the best way to preserve applesauce? ›

If you're planning on making a large batch of applesauce, you might be wondering how best to preserve it. If you want to keep it around for years to come, go for canning the applesauce in jars. If you'd like to save it for up to 10 months, you can freeze your applesauce.

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.

How long does frozen homemade applesauce last? ›

Applesauce can easily be frozen! Pour it into a freezer-safe container or doubled freezer bags and store in the freezer for up to a year for best results.

How long does homemade applesauce last in the fridge? ›

And in case you're wondering, varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and McIntosh are the best apples for applesauce. How long will homemade applesauce last? It'll stay good for four to six days stored in the fridge. You could also can it to make it last longer, but that's a lesson for another day.

How do you freeze applesauce in a Mason jar? ›

Freezing Applesauce

Simply let your prepared applesauce cool to room temperature and store it in freezer bags or containers. We often use mason jars for storage as well. Leave a little space at the top to allow for expansion. Store in the freezer for up to 9 months (at least, that's as long as ours have lasted!).

What are the best apples for applesauce? ›

The best apples for applesauce are whatever apples you have on hand and need to use up. However, if you have a choice, we recommend using a combination of sweet and tangy varieties for the best flavor. Popular sweet varieties include Honeycrisp and Fuji, while popular tangy varieties include Granny Smith and Braeburn.

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.

Can you use Ziploc sandwich bags as freezer bags? ›

Can you put Ziploc bags in the freezer? Yes, but they will not preserve food for long in the freezer.

Is it cheaper to make applesauce or buy it? ›

Not only does the homemade version taste better, but it's way cheaper, too. We call that a win-win! Making homemade applesauce is a great way to use up that big bag of apples that's been sitting in your fridge for two weeks. (It's okay… we all do it.)

How do you keep homemade applesauce from turning brown? ›

Some recipes for applesauce include a tablespoon of lemon juice for each quart of sauce to preserve the color and to increase acidity. The addition of ground spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg adds natural color that may mask some of the oxidation.

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.

Can I freeze applesauce in jars? ›

Freezing Applesauce

We often use mason jars for storage as well. Leave a little space at the top to allow for expansion. Store in the freezer for up to 9 months (at least, that's as long as ours have lasted!). Unsweetened homemade applesauce is great to use as a substitution for butter or oil in recipes or just to eat.

How long does fresh homemade applesauce last? ›

And in case you're wondering, varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and McIntosh are the best apples for applesauce. How long will homemade applesauce last? It'll stay good for four to six days stored in the fridge. You could also can it to make it last longer, but that's a lesson for another day.

How long does homemade applesauce last? ›

After you have popped the seal and placed your opened jar of apple sauce in the fridge, it will stay fresh for anywhere between 7-14 days. Homemade apple sauce has a shorter shelf life, ranging from 4-6 days.

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