Y’all may remember my applesauce recipe I shared last week about slow cooker chunky applesauce. And while it was super yummy, I wasn’t able to eat all of it. So I decided to freeze the rest. Which brought up the question, can you freeze applesauce in mason jars?
I know you can use mason jars obviously to can applesauce. But I don’t have a pressure canner or a boiling water canner or basically any canning equipment.
So I figured I would test out this method for freezing applesauce instead to see if it worked. It’s a great storage method to use if you have any leftover apple sauce.
That way you don’t have any food waste either! So, if you’re curious as to how you can freeze applesauce in some glass jars, come check this post out!
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The Best Homemade Applesauce
If you missed my recipe, definitely go check it out! Especially if you like a chunkier applesauce like I do. It was also super easy to make, and didn’t require any special equipment like a food mill or anything like that.
If you like a chunky applesauce, the key is to use a potato masher to mash down the cooked apples instead of an immersion blender.
But, use that if you prefer a smooth applesauce too. Really, it’s all up to your own tastes and preferences! I also used sweet apples, such as honeycrisp apples to make my applesauce since I had some leftover from a visit to the apple orchard.
But even tart apples such as Granny Smith Apples will do the trick too! You really can’t go too wrong when making your own homemade applesauce!
How to Freeze Homemade Applesauce
After making your applesauce, you are definitely going to want to let your hot applesauce cool down to room temperature before doing anything with it.
While waiting, you can clean jars to make sure they are all ready to go. After the warm applesauce has cooled down, you can then start the process.
I used quart jars, but you can use smaller jars if you prefer. Whatever jar size you have on hand will do just fine. To add the applesauce into the jars, carefully spoon it in.
You can also use a canning funnel to make this process easier and prevent spillage. However, I didn’t so I just spooned it inside the jar.
But, before sealing with the canner lid, I made sure to give the rim of the jar a good wipe down in case I got any applesauce there accidentally.
If you leave some on the jar rim, it will be hard to open after being frozen. When filling up your jars, it is very important not to fill them all the way full to the top of the jar.
Glass expands when it is frozen, so if you do this, it will cause the jar to crack. Be sure to only fill the jars about 3/4 of the way full instead.
Once you have the applesauce inside, place jars in the freezer. And that’s it! How easy is that?!
What Is The Best Freezer Container For Applesauce?
So after turning all my cooked apples into my own applesauce, I needed a quick and easy way to freeze the leftovers. Now, there are several ways to freeze applesauce, not just with mason jars. There are a few different ways to do it.
You can use any kind of freezer-safe containers or even freezer bags. I often use freezer bags when freezing larger quantities such as spaghetti sauce.
However, since I didn’t have that much leftover, I didn’t think a freezer bag would be necessary for this.
But, if you’re using a container, it’s best to use square or rectangular, rigid plastic containers. That way, it gives you more freezer space and you can stack other items on top too.
It’s always nice when there is plenty of room leftover in your freezer without it being overstuffed with food. And if you’re looking for some good quality mason jars, I will link some below for you:
Does Frozen Applesauce Go Bad?
While freezing applesauce definitely expands its shelf life, it doesn’t last forever unfortunately. When frozen in mason jars, applesauce will last about 8 months to a year.
So this is a great option if you want to preserve your homemade applesauce to last longer! Especially since it only lasts about 4-6 days in the refrigerator instead!
How To Thaw Frozen Applesauce
Once you’re ready to use your frozen applesauce again, simply place overnight in the fridge to thaw it out. If you’re using it quickly, you can also let the frozen applesauce sit out on the counter and come to room temperature. It should thaw pretty quickly that way as well.
Enjoy Your Frozen Applesauce
Well, I hope this post helped answer your question of if you can freeze applesauce in mason jars or not. As you can clearly see, not only is it possible, but it is a good way to store leftovers! So if you have extra applesauce during this apple season, now you know exactly what to do!
Molly | Transatlantic Notes says
I really must give making my own applesauce a try as it’s quite a versatile thing to use. In the past, I have used a store bought version in baking and it has always been so delicious but I think homemade would be even better. I like that it can be frozen too as it can be batch made and saved. Great!