Nothing beats apple pie when it comes to traditional desserts.
Be it a fruity breakfast, a laid-back brunch, a special dinner, or a BBQ party, apple pie is the one dish you just can’t have enough of.
But what if you don’t want to use fresh apples when making your apple pie? You could be looking to save time, effort, or money – whatever the reason, you can always use frozen apples!
Today, we’re offering a complete guide on how to freeze apples for apple pie. So keep reading to learn all the tips and tricks for storing the star of the apple pie show!
How to Freeze Raw Apples for Apple Pie
When it comes to freezing apples for apple pie, you should decide whether you want to store the apples raw or in the form of filing.
In this section, we’re talking about raw apples. You can freeze these whole or cut them up into slices and then freeze them.
Whole
To freeze apples whole, follow the steps below:
- Wash the apples with water and scrub them with a clean towel until dry. This is to clean the apples and get rid of any debris on their surface.
- Place the apples on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet. Make sure the apples are not touching each other.
- Transfer the tray to the freezer, making sure the apples are laying flat. Also, don’t cover the apples in this step.
- Let the apples freeze for about 15 minutes until they feel firm when you touch them.
- Be sure not to leave your apples sitting in the freezer uncovered for more than 2 hours. Otherwise, the apples are at risk of getting freezer burn.
- Take the apples out of the freezer, move them to freezer bags, and then put the bags back in the freezer.
- Don’t forget to label them with the date.
This freezing method keeps the apples from sticking together into clumps that are both difficult to organize in storage and thaw as needed.
Sliced
It’s generally more convenient to freeze apples as slices because they’re easier to organize, won’t take up as much room, and will both freeze and thaw faster than whole apples.
To freeze sliced apples, follow the steps below:
- Wash the apples with water and scrub them with a clean towel until dry.
- Core the apples then chop them as desired.
- Choose a technique to prevent browning.
When we cut apples and expose their flesh to air, the natural enzymes inside the apple react with oxygen and cause oxidation that shows in the form of unappealing brown spots.
- Use lemon juice: in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to every 1 cup of water. Dip the apple slices for a minute or so and then place them on paper towels to dry.
- Use salt water: in a bowl, add 1 tablespoon of salt to every 4 cups of water. Dip the apple slices for a minute or so and then place them on paper towels to dry.
- After you process your apple slices against browning, place them on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet. Make sure they’re not stacked over each other so they won’t stick together.
- Transfer the tray to the freezer without covering the apple slices.
- Let the apple slices freeze for about 15 minutes until they feel firm when you touch them.
- Take the apple slices out of the freezer, move them to freezer bags, and then put the bags back in the freezer. Don’t forget to label the bags with the date.
How Long Do Apples Last in the Freezer?
Raw apples can last up to 1 year in the freezer.
How to Freeze Apple Pie Filling
You can freeze apples for apple pie in the form of filling, either uncooked or cooked. This will significantly cut down the preparation time; all you’ll need is pie crust when it’s time for baking!
Uncooked
To freeze uncooked apple pie filling, follow the steps below:
- Wash the apples with water and scrub them with a clean towel until dry.
- Core the apples then chop them as desired.
- Add the sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch according to your recipe.
- Mix well until the apple slices are well coated.
- Place them on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet.
- Transfer the tray to the freezer without covering the apple slices.
- Let the apple slices freeze for about 15 minutes until they feel firm when you touch them.
- Take the apple slices out of the freezer, move them to freezer bags, and then put the bags back in the freezer.
Cooked
To freeze cooked apple pie filling, follow the steps below:
- Let the apple pie filling cool down completely. Otherwise, it’ll turn very mushy upon freezing.
- Once cooled, transfer to one or multiple freezer bags depending on how much filling you’ve made.
- Seal the bag(s) tightly, label them with the date, and then stick them in the freezer.
How Long Does Apple Pie Filling Last in the Freezer?
Uncooked apple pie filling can last up to 1 year in the freezer, whereas cooked apple pie filling can last about 6 months in the freezer.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, a complete guide on how to freeze apples for apple pie.
You can freeze raw apples whole or in slices, and you can freeze apple pie filling uncooked or cooked.
Luckily, all of these options are easy to follow so none of those delicious apples will ever have to go to waste!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.