Can You Freeze Apples?: Apples are healthy; just as the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are a superfood that you can buy in bulk. Then you may think: Can you freeze apples? Freezing is a great way to store edibles and keep them fresh for different uses. Can frozen apples stay fresh for months without going bad, drying out, or becoming bitter? Let’s find out.
One thing to be cautious about is that frozen apples do change in texture, and thus they will not be suitable for snacks, but they are perfect for everything else! If you are wondering what is the best way to freeze your apples and how to prepare them for the freezer so they don’t go brown, keep reading as we have answered all your apple freezing questions!
- Can You Freeze Apples?
- How To Freeze Apples?
- How To Freeze Sliced Apples?
- Can You Freeze Cooked And Stewed Apples?
- How Long Do Frozen Apples Last?
- Do Apples Freeze Well?
- What To Do With Apples Going Bad?
- What To Do With Leftover Defrosted Apples?
- Is it necessary to thaw frozen apples before using them?
- How long are frozen apples good for?
- Will frozen apples turn brown?
Can You Freeze Apples?
Yes, you can definitely freeze apples. Freezing your apples is one of the best ways to prevent them from going bad. Generally, any apple variety can be frozen, but the ones that are hardy with a firm and snappy texture fare very well in the freezer’s extremely cold environment.
Frozen apples can be used in multiple ways. You can freeze cooking and eating apples using the same method, or you may freeze them sliced or whole on a baking tray, then transfer them to freezer bags for long-term cold storage.
How To Freeze Apples?
The simplest way to freeze apples is whole—skins and all. Apples frozen by this method can be used for blending into juice once defrosted, as the taste and texture can change during the freezing process. Ready to get started? Here’s how to freeze whole apples:
Step 1: Wash the apples
To get rid of any dirt on the surface of your apples, gently give them a rinse under the tap.
Step 2: Let them dry
Then scrub the apples dry with a clean tea towel. It’s important to let apples dry completely before freezing.
Step 3: Freeze
Lay the apples, not touching each other, on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Then place them in the freezer. Don’t leave them like this for more than 2 hours, or you may face the risk of your apples getting freezer burn.
Step 4: Bag it up
When your apples have frozen solid, tip them into a freezer bag, labeling it with the contents and the date you froze it.
Whole apples can be frozen for many months without any fear of quality loss. They’re perfect for prepping a delightful smoothie whenever you get a craving but don’t have fresh fruit on hand. Just remember to defrost the frozen apples first.
How To Freeze Sliced Apples?
Freezing sliced apples requires a little more prep, but makes them quick to use in recipes; for example, you can take them out of the freezer bag and pop them straight into a batch of muffins. Let’s see the steps to freezing
Step 1: Wash, peel and slice the apples
Prep them as you would for snacking. Wash the apple, peel it, then chop. On a freezing, sliced apples can be used for pastry fillings, smoothies, apple sauce, chutney, and mash.
Step 2: Prevent the apples from browning
When a sliced apple is exposed to the air, it may turn an unattractive brown color. It’s still safe to eat, but you can stop this from happening with a simple solution. Mix 1 tbsp of lemon juice with around 250ml water, dip the apple slices in it for a few moments, then leave them to dry on a sheet of kitchen roll. This should help prevent the apple slices from going brown for several hours.
Step 3: Freeze
Spread the slices out on a baking tray (leaving them uncovered), and freeze for a few hours until solid. Don’t let them touch each other, as the fruit’s natural juices will make them stick together.
Step 4: Bag Up
Now put your slices into a freezer bag, label it, and store it. When you’re ready to use them, take the quantity you need, and add them straight into pie fillings, or on an apple tart.
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Can You Freeze Cooked And Stewed Apples?
Yes, you can even freeze cooked apples. You can also freeze stewed apples with ease, this will help you make a quick dessert with apple crumble. For this, once your apples are cooked, they need to cool completely. Divide them into small plastic containers, or individual freezer bags, then place them in your freezer.
This way, you’ll be able to store them for up to 6 months. Then, when you wish to consume them, all you need to do is fit the frozen cooked apples into a dish, sprinkle some crumble mix and sugar on top, and pop them in a preheated oven until the apples are cooked and the top turns beautifully golden.
How Long Do Frozen Apples Last?
Apples have different shelf lives, depending on how you’re going to store them. Here’s a bit of info on how long they’ll be good for:
- The counter will provide apples with a shelf life of 5 – 7 days.
- The pantry will provide them with a shelf life of 3 weeks.
- The refrigerator will provide apples with a shelf life of 4 – 6 weeks.
- The freezer will give the apples a shelf life of 8 months.
As you can see, freezing your apples provides them with the longest shelf life. So worry not and simply freeze your extra apples.
| Apples | Shelf Life |
| On counter | 5 to 7 days |
| In Refrigerator | 4 to 6 weeks |
| In the freezer | About 6 to 8 months |
For more interesting articles like Can You Freeze Bananas refer to our quick guide and clear your concerns.
Do Apples Freeze Well?
While freezing won’t ruin the apples, the texture might change. The texture of frozen apples won’t remain crispy like that of fresh apples, but it’ll rather turn strong and snappy. Hence, you may not get the same satisfaction from eating defrosted and thawed apples compared to fresh apples, but freezing is still the best way to store them for a long time.
What To Do With Apples Going Bad?
If you find that your apples are going bad and no one is eating them, you may want to consider a few of the options mentioned here. One of these options is, of course, freezing the apples. We’ve already covered the best ways in which you can freeze your apples.
Another option to use the apples is to juice them in your processor. Then, you can freeze the apple juice so you can serve it to your guests or use it in cooking. Of course, you can also make a bunch of recipes like apple pie, custard, salad, etc with your apples before they go completely bad.
What To Do With Leftover Defrosted Apples?
Check out the following recipes that use frozen apples:
- Apple & blackberry pie: You can make the most of scrumptious seasonal fruit in this apple and blackberry pie, topped with an ultimate sweet shortcrust pastry.
- Apple crumble: The traditional apple filling topped with crispy, buttery crumble provides classic comfort food at its best.
- Sausage & maple swede traybake: The seasonal traybake with roasted red onions, apples, and swede is very colorful and simple to prepare.
- Chorizo & apple sausage rolls: To get puff pastry bites with a spicy kick, team Spanish paprika sausage with sweet apples and top with poppy seeds.
- Apple, cream & spiced rye crumble pots: Combine layers of stewed apple, cardamom-flavored rye breadcrumbs, and whipped cream in this Scandinavian-inspired sweet dish.
FAQs On Freezing Apples
1. Is it necessary to thaw frozen apples before using them?
No, for most recipes that frozen apples can be used in, you do not need to thaw them; in smoothies, muffins, pies, and crisps, the frozen apples can go right in frozen.
2. How long are frozen apples good for?
So long as you do a good job of draining the apples and removing as much air as possible from the freezer bags, frozen apples are good in the freezer for 8 months or up to a whole year!
3. Will frozen apples turn brown?
As long as you soak your apple slices in the lemon juice/water mixture, your apples will not turn brown. Salted water also works well in preventing the browning of apples.
Wrapping Up
Apples are wonderful fruit loaded with vitamins and minerals. They are also versatile and super cheap, so it is not surprising that most of us end up with huge stocks of apples during their season. Follow our freezing guidelines, and there will be no need to throw away those extra apples that no one had a chance to eat.
So what are you waiting for? Abide by our tips and freeze the apples; whole, sliced, with or without skin, and utilize them for a variety of cooked/baked meals. For more interesting wellness updates like Can You Freeze Oranges keep checking out our latest articles.