Have more fresh apples than you know what to do with? Learn how to freeze apples with this easy method so they're ready for apple crisp, pies, muffins and other baked goods whenever you need them.
Freezing apples is simple: peel and core the apples, cut them into wedges, soak them briefly in lemon water to help reduce browning, then freeze the slices individually on a baking sheet before transferring them to freezer bags.
No blanching required!
Why I Love To Freeze Apples
One of the advantages of freezing apples is that even if you don't have time to turn them into all the baked goodies you've envisioned, you can do it when it works for you.
Truthfully, all the hard work is already done upfront.
Honey Hill is our local orchard, and we're lucky to have such a great orchard near us in Waterman, Illinois. My mom is always picking up bags of apples and dropping them at our home for us throughout the season.
Growing up, I always thought you had to "make" apples into something to save the fruit. From applesauce to apple butter, my Grandma canned and processed everything!
I'm guessing freezers weren't as reliable then, so canning was her main way of food preservation.
But when I realized you can freeze apples without a lot of fuss, it was a total game changer.
While I wouldn't recommend freezing whole apples, and these aren't the apples you'll want to thaw and munch on for a snack, they're perfect for cooking and baking.
Once you learn how to freeze apples, you'll probably find yourself doing it every fall.
Farm girl Tip
Portion Your Apples
Freeze apples in the amount you normally use for your favorite recipes. If your apple crisp takes 5 cups, make a 5-cup freezer bag and write the amount right on the label. That's one less thing to measure later.
What Are the Best Apples to Freeze?
You can freeze just about any variety of apple, especially if the goal is simply to save the apples you already have.
For baking, I prefer firm apples that will hold their shape better as they cook. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady and Braeburn are all good options.
You can also mix varieties. Using both sweet and tart apples can give pies and crisps great flavor. I love mixing varieties in my apple slab pie.
Ways to Use Frozen Apples
Frozen apples won't have the same crisp texture as fresh apples after thawing, so they're best used for cooking and baking.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use them:
- Apple slushies
- Applesauce
- Apple crumble bars
- Air Fryer Apple crisp
- Apple slab pie, pie filling & apple crumble bars
- Baked oatmeal
- Smoothies
They're especially handy when you want to bake something apple-y in the middle of winter and the peeling, coring and slicing is already done.
You can see my step by step full tutorial here.
How to Freeze Apples
Wash, peel and core the apples.
Wash your apples, then peel and remove the cores.
You don't technically have to peel apples before freezing. If you like the peels in your apple crisp or baked apples, leave them on. For smoothies and slushies, I recommend peeling them.
Save This Recipe For Later
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
Cut the apples into wedges.
Cut each apple into about 8–10 wedges, depending on its size.
Don't cut the apple slices too thin or small or they'll be more likely to turn mushy after freezing. That's why I prefer nice-sized wedges or eighths.
I keep an apple slicer in my kitchen drawer and use it often because it cores and slices the apple all at once.
Soak the apples briefly in lemon water.
Fill a large bowl with cold water and add lemon juice. Add your apple slices and let them soak for a few minutes.
We're not trying to make the apples taste lemony. The acid in the lemon juice simply helps slow oxidation, which is what causes cut apples to turn brown.
If you're working through a big pile of apples, drop the slices into the lemon water as you go.
Flash freeze the apple slices.
Line a jelly roll pan or baking sheet with parchment paper so the apples don't stick as they freeze.
Drain the apples well and arrange them on the parchment-lined pan in a single layer. Place the pan in the freezer for several hours, until the apple slices are individually frozen.
Package and LABEL your frozen apples.
Once the apple slices are frozen solid, transfer them to freezer bags and remove as much air as possible before sealing.
And label your bags!
Let me say that again for the people in the back.
Label your bags.
Trust me when I say you can learn from my mistakes.
Why freeze them on a pan first?
This is called flash freezing. It prevents all those apple slices from freezing together into one enormous apple brick. Once they're individually frozen, you can take out only as many as you need.
How Long Can I Store Frozen Apples?
Apples freeze well, and I recommend using them within 6 months for the best quality.
By then, it'll almost be apple season again anyway!
Do I Need to Thaw Frozen Apples Before Baking?
Not necessarily! For many baked recipes, you can use the apples straight from the freezer. Keep in mind that frozen fruit can release some additional moisture and may take a little longer to cook.
If the recipe would be affected by that extra moisture, thaw the apples in the refrigerator first and drain off any excess liquid.
Can You Freeze Apples Without Lemon Juice?
Yes. The lemon juice isn't required for food safety, but your apples may brown more quickly without it.
If you don't have fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice can also be used.
Do You Have to Blanch Apples Before Freezing?
Nope! Unlike some fruits and vegetables, apples don't need to be blanched before freezing. Treating them with lemon water, flash freezing and packaging them properly is all you need to do.
Can You Freeze Apples With the Skin On?
Absolutely. If you don't mind apple peels in your baking (for things like baked apples or apple crisp) you can leave them on.
If you're planning to use the frozen apples in smoothies or slushies, I recommend peeling them first.
Can You Freeze Whole Apples?
Technically you can, but I don't recommend it.
Whole apples take up more freezer space and aren't nearly as useful when you pull them out later. Peeling, coring and slicing them before freezing means you've already done the messy work when it's time to make something.
Apple Recipes You'll Enjoy
Now comes the good part: using them!
Freezing apple slices is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Give it a try and you’ll see!
Recipe
How to Freeze Apples
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash, peel and core 4-6 medium apples.
- Slice apples into 8-10 wedges, depending on their size. *Don’t cut your apples slices too thin or small or they’ll turn mushy after freezing. For this reason, I recommend nice slicing into eighths.
- Combine 4 cups cold water and 2 Tablespoons lemon juice in a large bowl. As you cut the apples into 8–10 wedges each, place them in the lemon water. Let the apples soak for about 5 minutes to help reduce browning.
- Line a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper to keep the apples from sticking to the pan as they freeze. Drain the apples and add them to the parchment paper lined pan. Place in the freezer for several hours until they’re individually frozen.
- Place in freezer bags, remove as much air as possible, and label.
Brock Lindemann-Reese says
So far so good. The apple slices are freezing now on a baking sheet. I won't be using the apples soon or I would've waited to review. I can review again once I've baked them in a pie 🥧😁
Deanne Frieders says
Can't wait to hear what you make your frozen apple slices!
Josephine McCommack says
how long do they need to soak?
Josephine McCommack says
I watched the video so question answered. 🙂
Deanne Frieders says
just a few minutes.
Norma Jensen says
Thank you, I love this idea on freezing apples. Now we can look forward to fresh apple crisp, apple tarts, applesauce etc. this coming winter.
Deanne Frieders says
So glad you like it!
Sue Richardson says
ca
Isabel Trosin says
Thank you very much I will do just that.