How To Freeze Apples

This guide will help you find out how to freeze apples so you can use them in recipes year round.

Nothing beats the taste of fresh and juicy apples but freezing them is the next best thing.

Well, an easy way to make sure you never run out of apples is to think ahead and preserve whole or cut apples when they are in season. 

Before you get too far along here, I want to tell you straight up that freezing apples means your apples will NOT be the same thawed as they went in fresh.

To get all science-y about it, freezing breaks the cell walls in apples, so they are mushy after they thaw from the frozen state. 

Apples that were frozen are great in recipes like apple juice and apple cider, apple butter, apple sauce, in recipes, in preserves or jams, or but the crisp apple that went in is no more.

Can you freeze apples?

Yes, any apple can be frozen.
Freezing apples is one of the best ways to preserve them for later use. 

Just like fresh apples, you can use frozen apples in cooking, baked goods, apple sauce, and smoothies. 
It is essential to understand that while frozen apples may lose the crunchy texture, they offer the same taste as fresh apples. 

Frozen apples also tend to bruise (get brown spots that you see in the flesh and/or on the skin) after thawing, but that doesn’t affect the flavor.

When stored properly, frozen apples can last for up to a year in the freezer! 

Freezer burn is caused by exposure to cold, dry air that leads to dehydration, so remove as much air as possible from the wraps and packaging you use to freeze apples.

The longer something is stored in your freezer, the more likely it is that air is going to find its way in through the packaging and reach the food itself, so when you see a “best-by” for frozen foods, this is why.

Three easy ways to freeze apples

How to freeze whole apples with skin

Freezing whole apples without removing the skin is the easiest method to store apples. 

Also, this method just takes a few minutes.

So, if you are on a time crunch or want to freeze apples in bulk, freezing whole apples without peeling them is the way to go about it. 

How to freeze whole apples

1. Wash and dry fresh, unbruised apples.
2. Place dry apples on a cookie sheet without them touching each other.
3. Clear a place in the freezer so the cookie sheet can stay upright without tipping the apples.
4. Slide cookie sheet into freezer.
5. Once the apples are completely frozen (about six hours for them to be frozen solid), remove them from the cookie tray and transfer into a freezer-safe bag.
6. Store in the freezer for long term use.

How to freeze raw apples

Here’s how to freeze cut apples or apple slices:

1. Wash, dry, peel, and core the apples.

2. Cut the apples into slices or pieces. You can cut apples into eight slices or even thinner slices.

3. In a large glass bowl, prepare a lemon juice bath by adding 2 T of lemon juice in 2 cups of water.

4. Soak cut apples in the lemon juice bath to help keep the slices from browning and leave them undisturbed for 5 minutes.

5. Strain apple slices from the lemon juice mixture. Allow to drip dry for about 5 minutes.

6. Place apple slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

7. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until apple slices freeze completely. This should take about 5 hours.

8. Once frozen, transfer the cut apples to a freezer bag.

9. Remove as much air from the freezer baggie as possible.

10. Return the bags of frozen apple slices to the freezer immediately.

How to freeze apple pie filling

Instructions to freeze apple pie filling 

1. Use your favorite recipe to prepare apple pie filling while the apples are fresh.
2. Line a foil pie pan or pie plate with parchment paper or plastic wrap to help keep the filling from sticking.
3. Place the pie plate in the freezer.
4. Once frozen, remove from pie plate and transfer to a freezer bag.
5. Return to the freezer. 
6. When ready to use the pie filling, move the fully frozen filling to an unbaked pie shell and just add another 20-25 minutes of bake time.

Tips from the pros

Now that you know how to freeze apples, let’s take a look at some of these helpful tips.

• In most recipes, you can use frozen apples without thawing them first. This technique works well for preparing smoothies, crisps, muffins, pie, etc.
• Always soak cut apples or apple slices in a lemon juice and water mixture before freezing cut apples. Doing so will help keep them from browning.   
• Some spices lose their flavor or potency when frozen. Therefore, if you are using frozen apple pie filling, it is best to add spices right before baking the pie, or to tip in a bit more to freshen up the flavor.
• When frozen apples are used in baking pies, increase the baking time by around 20 minutes to make sure your pastry is baked to perfection.

The bottom line

Preserving apples in the freezer is the perfect way to enjoy your favorite fruits whenever you want.

When stored properly, frozen apples can last for up to a year in the freezer!