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If you want to freeze your apples to use later on, there's a super easy way to store them. Apples are generally peeled, sliced, and cored before being frozen, and they should be preserved using either lemon juice, salt water, or fruit preserver. By placing your apples in a freezer-safe container, your slices will stay tasty for up to a year.
Steps
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Wash the apples under clean running water. Turn on the faucet and place the apple underneath, using your fingers to scrub the apple gently to remove any surface dirt. Once the apple is clean, dry it off with a paper towel or clean cloth.- Remove any produce stickers from the apple as well.
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Peel the apples using a vegetable peeler. Be careful when using the peeler and go slowly, starting at the stem and working your way around the apple in a circle. Remove all of the skin so that the apple is ready to be sliced. Repeat this process for however many apples you’re using. [1] X Research source- If you don’t have a vegetable peeler, you can use a paring knife.
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Remove the core with a sharp cutting knife. Cut the apples in fourths with the cuts going lengthwise at the stem. Use the knife to carefully cut out the core of each slice so that there aren’t any seeds left. [2] X Research source
- Core the apples on a cutting board to make the process easier.
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Slice the apple sections into smaller pieces perfect for freezing. How many slices you have depends on personal preference, but cutting the apple into 8-12 slices is a good size. You can slice them using an apple slicer (which also removes the core), or you can use a knife and cut the apple into slices yourself. [3] X Research source
- Place the apple sections on a cutting board when you’re slicing them.
- Cut the apple into thin slices perfect for an apple pie, or cut them into square chunks to put in smoothies.
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Preserve the apples as soon as you peel and slice them. This prevents the apples from browning too quickly. Choose which way you want to preserve the apples, whether it's using lemon juice, soaking them in salt water, or using a fruit preserver. -
Use lemon juice to keep the apple slices from browning. Combine 4 cups (950 ml) of water with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of lemon juice in a bowl, stirring it thoroughly with a spoon. Put the apple slices in the bowl and let them sit in the lemon juice and water for 5 minutes. [4] X Research source
- Make sure all of the slices are submerged in the lemon juice mixture at some point.
- Soaking the apples in the lemon juice and water mixture shouldn't alter the taste very much.
- The ascorbic acid is what helps the lemon juice prevent browning.
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Soak the apples in salt water to keep the apples fresh. Pour 4 c (950 ml) of room temperature or warm water into a bowl along with 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of salt (table salt is fine). Stir the mixture until the salt dissolves, and then add the apple slices. Let the apples sit in the salt water for a few minutes before taking them out.
- Make sure to evenly coat each slice with the salt water to ensure they stay fresh.
- The salt acts as a preservative, prolonging the amount of time you can store the apple slices without them going bad or getting freezer burn.
- Once the apples are thawed, they may have a slightly salty taste. Rinsing the apples under clean running water may help with the salty flavor.
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Sprinkle the slices with a fruit preserver to ensure they store well. Purchase a fruit preserver from a grocery store and follow the directions on the container to cover the apples. These most often come in a powder form, so apply the fruit preserver in an even coat making sure to cover both sides of every slice. [5] X Research source- Fruit preservers should not alter the taste of the apples.
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Drain the apple slices in a colander if you soaked them. If the apple slices were put in a liquid to sit for a few minutes, pour the bowl of apples into a colander to drain out the liquid. Shake the colander lightly to ensure all of the liquid gets strained. [6] X Research source
- Don’t rinse the slices after they’ve been treated, as you don’t want to remove the lemon juice, salt water, or fruit preserver.
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Spread the slices out on a baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the slices from sticking to the pan. Place each apple slice on the parchment paper so that they’re lying flat and are evenly spaced out. [7] X Research source
- It’s important that the apple slices aren’t touching each other on the baking sheet, or they’ll stick together when frozen.
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Put the baking sheet in the freezer for 1-3 hours. Make sure the baking tray is put into the freezer lying flat so that the apple slices don’t slide off. Leave the slices in the freezer for a little over an hour if the slices are super thin, or for about 3 hours for thicker slices. [8] X Research source
- Freezing the slices separately helps prevent them from sticking together when you put them in a bag in the freezer.
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Remove the apples from the tray and put them in a sealed container. Once the slices are frozen individually, place them in a freezer-safe plastic bag or in a hard plastic container. Make sure you remove as much air as possible from the plastic bag or container to help prevent freezer burn. [9] X Research source
- Write the date on the container before putting it in the freezer, as well as something like “Apple slices” so you remember what the food is.
- Remove the apple slices from the parchment paper using your fingers or a spatula.
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Store the apple slices in a freezer for up to a year. With your apple slices sealed off in a freezer-safe container, they should last several months to a year. Try to use the apple slices before freezer burn starts to form for the best taste. [10] X Research source- To defrost the apples, place the sealed container in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or put them in a bowl of water for 1 hour or less.
- If you're only planning on using a portion of the apples, remove only that portion from the freezer so you're not thawing and refreezing them.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan the slices be frozen just like that, without any treatment?Community AnswerYes, I have always frozen them with no treatment. They are delicious for a pie for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
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QuestionDo apples have to be peeled before freezing or before being used in recipes?Community AnswerYou do not need to peel the apples for either. It all depends on the end result you're looking for.
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QuestionDo I thaw the apples before baking them in an apple crisp, or use them frozen?Community AnswerUse them frozen or thaw them slightly in the microwave. The crisp will take longer to bake with frozen fruit.
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Tips
- Frozen apples are perfect for making things like smoothies, apple pie, or muffins.Thanks
- The texture and taste of an apple will change when you freeze it, but some varieties hold up better than others. Sweet apples, like Fuji and Gala varieties, maintain their taste better than tart apples while pie apples, like Golden Delicious and Granny Smith, maintain their texture better than mealy apples, like the Red Delicious.Thanks
- Avoid freezing apples with lots of bruises or rotten sections in them.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Vegetable peeler or paring knife
- Sharp cutting knife
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cutting board
- Large spoon
- Large bowl
- Flat spatula (optional)
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Salt (optional)
- Fruit preserver (optional)
- Freezer-safe plastic bags or containers
References
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/preserving-canning/how-to-freeze-apples/
- ↑ https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/how-to-freeze-apples/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISnR3fUAzEw
- ↑ https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/how-to-freeze-apples/
- ↑ https://www.simplycanning.com/freezing-apples.html
- ↑ https://www.southernplate.com/freezing-apples-and-what-the-old-folks-taught-me/
- ↑ https://www.stemilt.com/stem-blog/freezing-apples/
- ↑ https://www.stemilt.com/stem-blog/freezing-apples/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISnR3fUAzEw
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you want to freeze apples, wash them thoroughly and peel the skin off with a peeler or knife. Then, cut the apple into quarters and remove the core and seeds from each of the pieces. Once you've removed the core, cut the apple into smaller pieces or chunks, depending on your preferences. As soon as they're cut, place the apples in a bowl with a mixture of 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. After about 5 minutes, drain the apples and arrange them in a single layer on a lined cookie sheet. Next, place the apples in the freezer for 1-3, and transfer them to a sealed container once they're frozen. For tips on using the frozen apple slices, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Finding out how to best prepare the apples for freezing, and how to stop them going brown. This is my first time having lots of home-grown apples to freeze. Thank you for the information. I don't need to guess and find out by the trial-and-error method!" ..." more
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"Finding out how to best prepare the apples for freezing, and how to stop them going brown. This is my first time having lots of home-grown apples to freeze. Thank you for the information. I don't need to guess and find out by the trial-and-error method!"
..."
more
"My neighbor gave me a huge bag of eating apples from the tree in her garden. We're a very small family and I couldn't bear to waste them, so I used some for a pie, some to eat, and froze the rest. Your article was the perfect solution, thank you!"
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"The specific steps done to freeze apples properly were very clear. I especially liked that options were given in the process, such as not being necessary to treat the apples before freezing if cinnamon is used in the recipe."
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"I had a disagreement with my husband, he said you cannot freeze fresh apples and I said you can. I got online and yes, I have been proved right. You can. My next job is to peel the apples and get them ready for the freezer."
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"I did a lot of food preserving when the kids were still at home, but haven't done much for many years now. This was a great refresher and actually taught me some things I didn't know. Whole apples anyone? Awesome! Who knew?"
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