Freezing Apples
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Here’s my easy step-by-step guide to freezing apples that taste fresh once thawed. All you need is fresh apples, water, and salt.
Did you know you can freeze fresh apples? If you end up with an overwhelming haul of apples from the orchard or your garden this fall, don’t think you have to bake lots of apple pies (although I also have an excellent frozen apple pie recipe). Instead, it takes just a few easy steps to freeze apples to use later.
The only things you need for freezing apples are fresh apples, salt, water, and some ziplock freezer bags for storage. I’ve included step-by-step instructions below and in the printable recipe card for easy access. This is the method my mama’s stepmother taught her back in the day. But blanching fresh apple slices in salt water prevents them from turning brown. So once they defrost your apples will still look and taste fresh. How good is that?
You can use whichever apples you have on hand. Keep scrolling for some recipes that would be perfect to make with these frozen apples. They make a great and can be used in muffins, cakes, and so much more.
Okay, who’s ready to learn how to freeze apples?
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh apples
- Salt
- Water
How to Freeze Apples
First, pour about a cup of warm water into a large bowl and add about 1/4 of a cup of salt.
Stir until salt dissolves.
Add the remaining water.
This water should be cold.
Now we’re gonna peel our apples and slice them up one at a time.
Cut apples however you prefer.
I usually do sections.
Be sure to remove the core.
There we go!
As you cut them, place all of the fresh apple slices in the salt water.
I left the skins on some of mine because I prefer my fried apples to have the skin on.
Push them down in the water a bit and make sure they all get submerged well at some point.
After they have soaked for a few minutes, drain them in a colander.
Then place the sliced apples in a freezer bag and label it.
Laying them out flat like this when you freeze them will keep them from sticking together and allow them to thaw more quickly.
Here is a bag of apples a few days later, frozen and still beautiful thanks to the wisdom of the “old folks”.
Storage
Your apples will last in the freezer for up to 12 months when stored properly. Thaw them at room temperature or in the fridge, but you can also use them in baking straight from frozen if you like.
Recipe FAQs
What are the best apples to freeze?
This method works for any type of apple, like or . Today I am freezing Jonagold and Fuji. If you’re going to be freezing them for an apple pie later, you might want to cut up a few Granny Smith apples and include some in each freezer bag.
Can you freeze whole apples?
You can. However, it’s much easier to freeze apple slices if you’re going to use them for baking purposes later on. It’s also easier to store apple slices in the freezer.
Can I freeze apples with the skin on?
Yes, you can either peel the apples or leave the skin on, the choice is yours.
Do frozen apples have a salty taste?
No, the salt water solution doesn’t leave the apples with a salty taste.
Is there another way to blanch apples?
Yes, before freezing apples you can blanch them in a lemon water solution instead. Substitute the salt for 2 tablespoons of lemon juice but follow the remaining directions.
What can you make with frozen apple slices?
Here are some recipes you can make with frozen apple slices:
- Apple Cake With Caramel Fudge Icing
- Apple Bran Muffins
- Homemade Apple Fritters
- Apple Bread
- Apple Butter in the Crock Pot
- Snickers Caramel Apple Salad
- Apple Crisp in the Slow Cooker
- Apple Snack Cake (Right From The Orchard)
Ingredients
- apples
- 1 gallon water
- 1/4 cup salt
Instructions
- Place one cup of warm water in a large bowl and stir in salt until it dissolves. Add the remaining cold water.1 gallon water, 1/4 cup salt
- Peel and slice apples (you can leave the skin on them if desired).apples
- Place each apple slice in the salt water as you go along. When done with all your apples, stir the water a bit to make sure all slices have been submerged. Drain in a colander.
- Place immediately in a freezer bag, label, and freeze.
“The wisest mind has something yet to learn.”
~George Santayana.
I truly love getting your newsletter and your chatter about life,you have the kindness gift,and so many yummy recipes..we are Northerners just loving all of your remarkable food..Our mom is 92,and her best advice is as always ” Get dressed,comb your hair,put on your make-up(especially lipstick),look in the mirror,to make sure all looks right to you….then walk out the door…and never once think about yourself again,all about others”….ps.make sure your lipstick is still on while doing all,for others!!! love that advice,and it really works..timeless!
First, I had no idea that you could freeze apples…so thanks for that! My grandmother has always told me that children need to smell good food cooking when they come home from school. Whether its the smell of cookies for a snack or supper cooking. It’s comforting to them. I love when they walk in the door and start trying to guess “what’s cooking”! I’ve slacked on this a bit lately because of crazy schedules…but, tomorrow I’m going to bake a big batch of cookies and wait for their noses to guess what kind:)
The two I have gotten the most use out of are, “Start out as you mean to go on,” and “Don’t go to bed mad at each other.”
Daddy (my step-dad) always told us, “The world doesn’t owe you a living”. He taught us that if we wanted to get anywhere, we had to do it ourselves.
I’m #5 of 6 girls; my Mom was widowed when I was 5. Mom married before she graduated high school, so she was left to support 6 girls. Without a high school diploma, she ended up working food service. . She met Daddy about a year later, serving him at the diner she worked in. He treated every one of us like we were his own children. He fed us, disciplined us, taught us to be good women and contributing members of society…in short, he loved us. He died 34 years ago but I still miss him every day.
My parents were very old fashion so to speak and we taught values that you don’t talk about people or things you have heard from someone else unless you know for sure that it is the truth. My Dad would say Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Mother taught me haw to cook, and she would have me help turing canning season( we did nit have a freezer until many years later). She canned apples, peaches and vegetables. Take peelings from apples and peaches and make jelly. This was so wonderful during the winter months with hot biscuits. They would say if you live by the Bible then their is not much that can go wrong. Miss my parents so much. Thanks Christy for you wonderful work.
My best friend’s mother told me just before I got married said “Don’t start anything you dont want intend to continue.” Sure wish I had listened to her.
🙂
My Mom always told me that if someone talks badly to you about someone else, you can rest assured that they will do it to you too! She also taught us that if you dig a ditch for someone else, you will be the first to fall into it. She had many words of wisdom, but that one always stuck in my mine…Still does today!