Canning Apples

Canning apples is one of my favorite activities every fall! Having canned apples at my fingertips during the winter months allows me to put together an apple pie, crisp or cobbler in just a few minutes! Let me show you how simple canning apples is!

What Are the Best Apples for Canning?

Great question!

Jonagold, Braeburn, Granny Smith, Gala, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Pink Lady all make great choices to can!

You want a nice, firm apple that will hold up to the processing!

What Supplies Will I need??

Apples are a high-acid food and require a water-bath canner for processing.

10-12 pounds of fresh apples
Water-bath canner
Quart jars, lids and rings (wide-mouth will be easier to work with)
Canning utensils
Sharp paring knife or peeler
Large pot to boil syrup and apples
Sugar
1 tbps. Lemon juice

First, you’re going to need some fresh apples to can, whether you pick them yourself from an orchard or buy them from the store.

These were purchased from Meijer at .88 cents a pound on sale, so I bought a bunch!

Wash, peel and slice fruit.

Slice apples into 1/4-1/2″ thick slices, whatever you prefer, but small enough to get into your jars.

Treating the slices with a little lemon juice while you’re peeling (a tablespoon or two should be plenty, just mix the apples around) will keep them from darkening.

How to Can Carrots in a Pressure Canner

Combine the sugar, water and lemon juice in a large pot, on medium-high heat and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.

Bring this mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat.

How to Can Dry Beans

While the syrup is hot, drain the apples and gently place them in the syrup to boil for 5 minutes.

Pack hot fruit into hot jars, leaving 1/2″ headspace.

Then, carefully ladle hot syrup over the fruit, leaving 1/2″ headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe jar rims with a clean cloth.

Place lids and rings on jars, and then proceed to process quarts in a water-bath canner for 20 minutes.

Then, remove jars carefully with a jar lifter and set on a kitchen towel to cool.

I love canning apples without any spices so that they can be easily used in almost any apple recipe, especially apple pie!

How Can I Use Canned Apples?

You can use these canned apples in just about any recipe that calls for apple!

Personally, I like to use them right out of the jar!

As a side dish, of sorts, I’ll empty a jar or two of apples in a frying pan, add a teaspoon of butter or ghee, a dash of cinnamon and let them fry. Talk about glorious!!

How to Make, Use and Store Ghee/Clarified Butter

But there’s a lot more you can do with these canned apples…