There’s no substitute for the amazing taste of fresh, homegrown apples – so, of course, I always start craving them right when the growing season’s over. What do you do when it’s freezing outside and those insatiable taste buds demand a serving of apples? Reach for a jar of applesauce or butter! Just a little bit of work and planning ahead, and you’ll be able to enjoy your apple harvest well into the winter.
Canning is one of the simplest, most popular ways of preserving large quantities for long periods. If you like applesauce, you can prepare jars full at home in a matter of minutes, help yourself to as many servings as your tummy permits and preserve the rest to be savored for months afterward.
Here’s how you go about making the applesauce:
- Step one, wash the apples thoroughly in clean water.
- Next, slice each apple into four.
- Pick the largest kettle you can find (a smaller one will do if you aren’t using a lot of apples) and fill it with half a cup of water. This will prevent any risk of burning the apples.
- Place the kettle on the stove, fill in with the quartered apples and set the burner on high heat.
- Allow the apples to cook until they are mushy to touch. This will take some 20-30 minutes.
- Time to puree! Blend the cooked apples with an immersion type blender or simply mash them with a potato masher or a fork if you prefer your applesauce chunky.
- Add sugar/cinnamon/salt, allow it to cool.
- Serve alone or with waffles, pancakes, roasted potatoes or ice-cream.
Want to can your applesauce? Just a few more steps:
- Reheat the sauce to a boil, and stir often to prevent sticking.
- Fill jars with hot applesauce, leaving about a half inch at the top.
- Place your lids – use our Canning Tool Set for best results.
What’s your favorite way to use your apple harvest? Tell us in the comments!