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If you’ve got a basket full of apples but you know you’re not going to eat them in time, you might be wondering what you can do with them. Can apples be frozen? Are they best stored in the fridge? Should they be cooked before they are stored? So many questions! Thankfully, I’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
Can Apples Be Frozen?
Yes, apples can be frozen.
You have lots of options when it comes to freezing them, too. As well as raw, you can also freeze apples cooked, in dishes (such as apple pies or crumbles), as leftovers, and even in different formats – pureed, cubed, sliced, etc.
What’s the Best Way to Freeze Apples?
The best way to freeze apples will depend on what you plan to do with them when you take them out of the freezer.
Ideally, you will freeze your apples in the way that best works for what you plan to do with them when you defrost them.
You could puree the fruit first if you’re planning on making baby food, smoothies, etc.
If you have an apple pie planned, on the other hand, you might find that dicing or cubing the fruit before you freeze it is a better idea.
Photo by Nikolai Chernichenko on Unsplash
If you’re not sure what you’re going to do with them yet, larger slices might work best, or whatever you prefer/have space for. You could also just cut them into halves, or quarters.
Alternatively, if you have enough freezer space, you can freeze the apples whole and un-cut.
Can Apples Be Frozen Raw?
Yes, apples can be frozen raw.
Many people (myself included) prefer to freeze apples raw, but there’s nothing to stop you from freezing them after they’ve been cooked. You should pick the method that works best for you.
Can You Freeze Cooked Apples?
Yes, you can freeze cooked apples.
In fact, this is a much-preferred method of freezing apples for a lot of people.
As previously mentioned, cooking apples are most likely going to be cooked when removed from the freezer and defrosted. Because of this, you could peel, slice, and then cook the apples before you freeze them. Stewing the apples first is one of the easiest and quickest ways to do this.
Recommend Reading: How to Make Stewed Apples
To freeze cooked apples or stewed apples, you simply need to let them cool down after you’ve cooked them. Once cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and pop them in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Whole Apples?
Yes, you can freeze whole apples.
Freezing whole apples will take a considerably longer time than freezing sliced, cubed, or pureed apples, however. The larger the apple/apple pieces, the longer it will take for them to fully freeze.
How to Freeze Whole Apples
The best way to freeze whole, uncut apples is to first wash them, then place them in a single layer on a baking/oven tray (or similar). None of the apples should touch each other. You can prevent the fruits from sticking to the tray by adding a layer of parchment paper.
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Put the baking tray of apples into the freezer so it is flat. You may find that jiggling your frozen food around to give yourself a completely free shelf or drawer helps.
Leave the apples in the freezer until they have completely frozen. This will take several hours.
Once the apples are completely frozen, you can take them out of the freezer, remove them from the parchment paper-lined baking tray, and then put them in a more appropriate and space-friendly container for the long-term.
How to Stop Apples Turning Brown When You Freeze Them
Just as with other fruits, oxidation will happen when the flesh of the fruit is exposed to air, so you will need to ensure that it doesn’t go brown by rubbing lemon juice (or similar) over the inner flesh before freezing.
Everyone has their own ‘favourite’ tip for stopping the oxidation process of apples, avocados, and other fresh produce. You’ll likely find several suggestions if you trawl the internet for a few minutes.
Here are a few of the best methods I’ve found for stopping apples turning brown: How to Stop Apples Turning Brown.
Photo by Shelley Pauls on Unsplash
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