Freezing apples is an easy way to preserve fresh apples for later use, such as to make smoothies or apple pies.
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How to Freeze Apples
You can freeze any type of apples, including Fuji, Granny Smith, Jona-Gold, and Golden Delicious. Freeze apples by following the tutorial below:
- 1. Core, peel, and slice the apples. Peeling frozen apples is a challenge, so if a recipe calls for unpeeled apples, peel the apples with a peeler before freezing. Slicing the apples before freezing makes them easier to use in future apple recipes. (You can also freeze whole apples, but you will need to thaw before use.)
- 2. Soak the apples to prevent browning. To keep the sliced apples from browning, soak the apple slices in a large bowl of water and lemon juice. Use four cups of water for every one lemon. Soak the apples for five minutes, then drain the water in a colander. Give the apples a quick rinse afterward and dry with paper towels.
- 3. Place the apples on a baking sheet. Lay the apples in a single layer on a baking sheet to keep them from sticking together. Freeze them for at least four hours.
- 4. Store the apples. Put the frozen apples in a freezer bag or an airtight container, and place them back in the freezer. Frozen apples will last for up to six months in the freezer.
How to Use Frozen Apples
Freezing apples changes the texture, making them soft after thawing. Thawed apples are not optimal for eating raw, but many apple recipes use frozen apples. Check out the following ideas:
- Pastries: You can use frozen to bake an apple pie, apple crisp, apple cobbler, or any other baked goods that call for apples.
- Apple purees: Place frozen apple slices in a pot or slow cooker with sugar for homemade applesauce. You can also use frozen apples to make apple butter.
- Smoothies: You can add peeled or unpeeled frozen apple slices to a smoothie.
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