Description
Learn how to freeze apples properly with this easy, step-by-step guide. Preserve your fresh apples by peeling, coring, slicing, soaking in lemon water to prevent browning, and flash freezing to enjoy apples year-round for smoothies, baking, sauces, and more.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- Apples (any variety, quantity as desired)
- 4–5 cups water
- Juice of 1–2 lemons
Instructions
- Peel, Core, and Slice Apples: Start by peeling (optional depending on intended use), coring, and slicing the apples into recipe-ready pieces. For smoothies, you may choose to leave the skin on.
- Soak Apples in Lemon Water: In a large bowl, combine 4 to 5 cups of water with the juice of 1 to 2 lemons. Soak the apple slices for about 5 minutes to prevent browning. After soaking, drain and quickly rinse the slices in a colander.
- Dry and Arrange Apple Slices: Pat the apple slices dry with a clean towel. Lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet or cookie sheet, making sure the slices don’t touch to avoid clumping during freezing.
- Flash Freeze Apple Slices: Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about 4 hours or overnight until the apple slices are completely frozen. This step prevents the slices from sticking together.
- Store Frozen Apples: Transfer the frozen apple slices into gallon-sized freezer bags or airtight containers. Label with the date and return to the freezer. Optionally, portion into smaller bags or freeze with other smoothie ingredients in freezer packs.
Notes
- Any apple variety can be frozen; granny smith is great for smoothies, while Fuji apples work well for pies and baking.
- Leaving the skin on is fine if you plan to use apples in smoothies or blended recipes.
- Thawed apples have a softer texture and are ideal for baking, making sauces, or smoothies rather than eating raw.
- The lemon water soak prevents discoloration without affecting flavor.
- Frozen apples last up to one year in the freezer.
- Flash freezing helps keep slices separate and easy to use.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (flash freeze time)
- Category: Preserving
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: freeze apples, how to freeze apples, freezing fruit, apple preservation, frozen apples, fruit storage, apple freezing method
