Slices In sugar syrup Preparing puree Freezing whole
Is it possible to freeze apples for the winter? It often happens that autumn turns out to be a rich harvest, and there is a desire to stock up on fruit for the year ahead . But there is a danger that if the fruits are not properly treated with cold, the fruits will simply spoil .
Are apples and pears frozen? Freezing apples is somewhat different from freezing berries , so if all technologies are followed, autumn fruits will be stored in the freezer for a whole year.
Basic Rules
The most important item is a large capacity freezer , in which case the fruits will retain all the vitamins and nutrients in full.
Is it possible to freeze apples in the freezer? If the refrigeration capacity is weak, it will not be possible to produce the necessary preparations for a long time.
Apples for freezing must be ripe and undamaged .
When freezing overripe, rotten fruits, there is a possibility that after defrosting they will turn into an unappetizing puree . Preference should be given to recently picked apples, because the less time has passed from picking to processing, the better.
What varieties of apples are best?
Of course, the first question is which variety to choose. In fact, any sweet and sour will do, but there are nuances depending on the final purpose of freezing. If you want to preserve the sweet taste, then Gala or Fuji are best suited, while for making pies the Golden Delicious or Jonathan varieties are best.
As for the other options, it is very difficult to say which one will taste better frozen for a particular person. It’s worth trying different options to settle on one variety. However, even if a gardener grows only one sweet and sour variety of apples, then whatever they are, freezing will at least preserve their beneficial properties.
Even if the taste changes somewhat, you can easily find a dish where these fruits will be quite appropriate. Finally, the very variety of cooking methods eliminates the importance of choosing a variety, because depending on the variety of apples, you can choose the most suitable method.
Of course, not all apples are suitable for freezing. They prefer late (autumn or winter) sweet and sour varieties: Antonovka, Golden, Kutuzovets, Sinam and many others. The specific variety will depend on the purpose of further use.
For example, Jonathan and Golden Delicious retain their shape best, while Fuji and Gala retain their sweet taste. But remember, like most frozen foods, apples will change slightly in both texture and taste.
About the benefits
Is it possible to freeze apples for the winter? What's the use of them? Charlotte, apple pies, strudel, compote, various desserts and much more - all this will be available for preparation at any time of the year. Everything is clean, eco-friendly and pre-cut.
But the most important advantage is the retention of all the properties of a fresh apple. After all, it is freezing that preserves the maximum amount of vitamins in products, about 90%.
Is it possible to freeze apples and pears for the winter and why? Many fresh fruits lose almost all their vitamins by the end of winter, so frozen fruits provide an opportunity to support immunity .
How to freeze apples for the winter in the freezer at home with photos
Slices In sugar syrup Preparing puree Freezing whole
Is it possible to freeze apples for the winter? It often happens that autumn turns out to be a rich harvest, and there is a desire to stock up on fruit for the year ahead . But there is a danger that if the fruits are not properly treated with cold, the fruits will simply spoil .
Are apples and pears frozen? Freezing apples is somewhat different from freezing berries , so if all technologies are followed, autumn fruits will be stored in the freezer for a whole year.
Slicing methods
What is the best way to freeze slices, whole apples, or another way? You can freeze both whole fruits and slices . You can even freeze applesauce . When frozen, apples are cut into slices.
In this case, the shape can be any: slices, slices, pieces, circles. Removing the peel, stalk and seeds is a matter of taste for every housewife. It all depends on the purpose for which the preparation is made.
If for pies and compotes the presence of the peel is quite acceptable , then for fruit sauces, casseroles and similar dishes it is, of course, better to do without the peel .
Everyone knows the property of apples that darken after cutting, but this can be avoided.
It is necessary to prepare a solution (1 liter of water + 5 g of citric acid).
After cutting, immerse the slices for no more than 20 minutes in this composition, which will save them from darkening .
You can freeze apples alone or mix them with various berries and fruits.
Storing apples in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator
To create a good supply for the winter, you need to have certain knowledge and have a spacious freezer compartment in your household refrigerator, where you can set the appropriate low temperatures. Only undamaged ripe fruits are suitable for harvesting. When overripe apples with traces of rot are frozen, they often look unappetizing after defrosting and look more like puree. Freshly picked fruits are best suited for cooling; these are the ones that should be selected for harvesting for the winter.
It’s definitely worth freezing apples for the winter; this DIY preparation will provide the housewife with an excellent vitamin filling for charlotte, strudel, pies, the basis for compotes and all kinds of desserts. It’s great that in all seasons of the year, on weekdays and holidays, you can prepare delicious homemade dishes based on environmentally friendly cut, grated or whole fruits.
Frozen apples contain many useful elements, so they are as close as possible to fresh fruit. It is known that about 90% of all nutrients remain in chilled slices, compared to the product before processing. During the off-season and cold winter months, it is important to focus on natural food without additives in order to cleanse the body and improve the immune system.
Apples can be stored in the freezer; they can be frozen using shock and dry methods, whole, in pieces, in the form of puree, with sugar.
It is acceptable to place whole fruits, slices, and pureed pulp into a household freezer. Apples are cooled separately or together with other crops. You can choose absolutely any shape, for example, cut fruit into circles, even slices, or arbitrary pieces. When apples are frozen for later use in making compote or pies, you can leave the skin in place. If you plan to add fruit to casseroles, sauces and other delicate dishes for adults and children, then the seeds, peel and stalks should be removed.
We suggest you read: Selecting the best varieties of onions
As we know, apples have the inherent property of darkening when exposed to light; such a nuisance can be prevented by soaking the slices. For this purpose, an acidic solution is used; to prepare it we take the following components:
Immediately after cutting the apples, they are kept in the composition for about 20 minutes, this measure helps to prevent the product from darkening, the slices look appetizing.
You can choose from two options for cooling fruits:
The essence of blast freezing is the ultra-high-speed cooling process of apple slices placed in bags. In order to achieve this effect, you need a modern refrigerator; in its control system you need to select the “quick freezing” option. In order to prepare apples in the refrigerator using the dry method, you need to spread the slices on the surface of a tray, put it in the freezer, and set the temperature to at least 23 degrees.
Required temperature
How to freeze fresh apples at home? At what temperature can apples be frozen for the winter? There are several methods of freezing: dry and so-called shock.
Dry - the fruits are placed on trays and sent to the freezer. The temperature regime is not less than -23°C. 2-3 hours after freezing, the apples are placed in containers. After this, the frozen pieces can be stored in a regular freezer at a temperature of at least -18°C.
Blast freezing is the ultra-fast freezing of apples in bags.
To do this, you must set the “fast freezing” mode in the freezer operating mode.
What are the health benefits of frozen apples?
It is worth saying that it is worth freezing apples for the winter; this preparation will be an excellent filling for pies, pies, as well as for various desserts and compotes.
Now there are no problems with apples, they can be purchased at any time of the year on the market, but it is best to do this at the height of the season, they have more benefits than, for example, in December with their artificial cultivation and subsequent processing.
There is no point in talking about the benefits of frozen apples, because they are 90 percent preserved. This is justified by the fact that they do not first undergo heat treatment, during which about 40-45 percent evaporates.
During the preparation season, special emphasis should be placed on this preparation, especially since you can use them at any time to prepare puree for a baby, make a compote or make aromatic jam.
Frozen apples, as well as fresh ones, are used to diversify the diet menu after surgery, in the presence of problems with the gastrointestinal tract. They retain all useful substances: phosphorus, iron, magnesium, copper, calcium, zinc and potassium. In addition, there are vitamins of the group “PP”, “A”, “B”, “C” and others.
Freezing methods
What are the ways to freeze apples for the winter at home? There are several methods for freezing apples.
Slices
Cut the apples into slices, remove the seeds and stem (but you can also freeze them with seeds).
Place the sliced apples on dry cutting boards or trays.
The slices should not touch each other and lie in one layer . And immediately put it all in the freezer.
After 2-3 hours you can start packaging. Carefully removed slices are placed in small portions into plastic bags or containers .
When packing in a bag, you need to make sure that there is as little air inside as possible. If packaging occurs in plastic containers, then close them very tightly to prevent air and moisture from getting inside.
In sugar syrup
Boil the syrup (mix 750 g of water with 450 g of sugar and 1500 mg of ascorbic acid). Cut the apples into slices and soak them in cold syrup for a day . After this, blanch the pieces (pour boiling water over them), place them on baking sheets and cool them in the freezer.
Then put it into bags with a minimum amount of air . Apples prepared in this way have the aroma of baked apples and are a good dessert.
And the shelf life of such apples is increased due to the use of citric acid , which acts as a preservative.
Preparation of puree
Peel and chop the apples; you don’t need to add sugar; cook for 15–20 minutes over low heat . Cool, grind in a blender, pour into plastic containers or jars. So, ready-made pie filling is always in the refrigerator.
Product Application
Apples are used to prepare various dishes
In modern cooking, there are many original and delicious recipes made from frozen apples. They are used, like fresh fruits, to prepare:
- pancakes, pancakes;
- pies, bagels, buns (for filling);
- various drinks;
- fruit salads and jellies.
In addition, frozen fruits are baked whole in the oven and used to create sauces for meat and fish dishes.
Compote
Ingredients:
- 5 liters of water;
- 2 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
- 500 g frozen product.
Pour water into a saucepan, add sugar, and bring to a boil. After the sugar is completely dissolved, defrosted apples (whole fruits or sliced) are placed in the container. Cook for a few minutes over low heat, then leave covered for half an hour.
Charlotte
You can use frozen apples, cut into slices, to make charlotte. Housewives who have prepared such pastries claim that they turn out just as tasty as with fresh apples.
Required ingredients:
- chicken eggs – 4 pcs.;
- wheat flour – 1 tbsp.;
- granulated sugar - 1 tbsp.;
- frozen fruit pieces - 3 handfuls.
Beat eggs heated at room temperature with a mixer until foamy, gradually add sugar without stopping beating. After the dry component has completely dissolved, add flour, gently mixing everything with a spoon. At the end - defrosted apples.
The mass is poured onto a baking sheet lined with parchment and greased with a piece of butter. Then it is placed in the oven for 40 minutes, temperature – 180 °.
Pancakes
Pancakes with the addition of defrosted apples are healthy and very tasty. They are perfect for breakfast or a light snack.
Required ingredients:
- milk – 250 ml;
- sugar – 3 tbsp. l.;
- soda – ½ tsp;
- flour – 2/3 tbsp.;
- sour cream – 1 tbsp. l.;
- defrosted apple pulp - 4-5 tbsp. l.;
- egg – 1 pc.;
- vanillin (optional and to taste).
All products are combined in one container, mixed, and soda is added at the very end. Pancakes need to be fried in vegetable oil on both sides. They are served with sour cream.
Sauce
This aromatic product with a sweet and sour taste can be served with any meat or fish.
Ingredients:
- defrosted applesauce – 6-7 tbsp. l.;
- granulated sugar – 100 g;
- cinnamon - one stick;
- lemon (lime) – ½ citrus.
You need to transfer the puree into a saucepan, add cinnamon to it, and simmer over low heat under the lid for 10 minutes. Then transfer the product into a mixing bowl, squeeze out the juice of half a lemon or lime, and beat until smooth. Once cooled, the sauce is ready to serve with fish, pork, turkey or beef.
Frozen apples - general principles of preparation
The entire process will take from 20 minutes to one hour. You don't have to select the perfect apples. If the fruit is slightly spoiled, it will also be suitable for freezing, you just need to cut out all the defects. The fruits must be washed thoroughly and then dried no less thoroughly. You can freeze both whole apples and apple slices. It is advisable to remove the core from whole fruits, although you can freeze them along with the seeds.
Most often, apples are cut into quarters or slices: this way they will take up less space in the freezer. It is not necessary to peel the peel; you can freeze the apple slices along with it. But you will have to cut out the hard partitions and remove the seeds. If desired, you can cut off the skin using a sharp thin knife.
• cutting board or baking sheet;
• packaging bags or food plastic containers;
• powerful freezer.
Apples can be frozen plain or with the addition of homemade preservatives. The role is played by citric acid, lemon juice, ascorbic acid, salt or sugar. Frozen apples can be stored for a year.
Puree
Puree from fruits, vegetables and berries is an indispensable item on the children's and dietary menu. Even in the freezer, applesauce remains aromatic and nutritious, although it has a much shorter shelf life than whole and candied slices.
How to make and freeze applesauce:
- We will prepare sugar-free puree so that we can use it for baby food.
- Wash the apples, cut them, remove the peel and seeds.
- Place the slices in a saucepan and turn on low heat.
- Sweat the fruit a little so that it warms up and becomes soft. There is no need to boil it - this will leave very few vitamins.
- You can add a little lemon juice to preserve the color.
- Almost done. Now cool the mixture and then distribute it into containers or bags. Better yet, place in ice cube trays to use apple cubes to garnish ice cream or cocktails.
What to cook Mashed potatoes will be an excellent filling for pancakes, pies, and baked goods. Spread the mixture on a sandwich, serve with pancakes or desserts, including ice cream.
Shelf life of frozen apples
On average, frozen fruit can be stored for up to 1 year, but there are exceptions. For example, applesauce is best consumed within 9 months, and whole fruits - within 6 months. It is worth defrosting the workpiece gradually by placing it in the refrigerator. Such products cannot be re-frozen.
Find out if frozen apples are healthy.
Frozen fruits will always come to the aid of the housewife when she needs to quickly set the table. With their help it is easy to prepare a smoothie for breakfast, a compote for lunch or a summer pie for tea. Therefore, you should not miss the opportunity to preserve vitamins for the winter and diversify your menu in the cold.
How to freeze apples
There are several ways.
You can put whole fruits in the freezer.
There is a higher chance that the flesh will not darken. But you need too much space... Nothing better than this. Our usual late sweet apples are stored at the dacha until March, without any equipment.
Another popular storage method is pureeing and then freezing.
As for me, it’s easier to cook the same puree and roll it into jars than to fill the freezer with pectin mass.
The third way is to cut into slices.
Some housewives clean them, but I decided to keep the skin. A variation is to dip the slices in sugar before sending them to the cold, but my variety is already too sweet. I cut my box into quarters, removed the cores, and off I went. While I was processing it, I ate too much!
