Applesauce!

Applesauce! Not just 1920’s slang to express disbelief, it’s also a delicious, inexpensive, and delightfully old-fashioned way of rounding out a meal.  You can also use it to replace (some) fat in baked goods, which is handy. Commercial applesauce is not expensive, so this isn’t necessarily a case of saving money via DIY. I do think it’s cheaper to make your own organic, though. And I like supporting local farms when I can.

A couple of weeks ago, I made a bunch of applesauce. I headed down to the Glenwood Sunday Market to pick up a bushel of apples seconds from Earth First Farms. Earth First is an organic orchard in Southwest Michigan. They had a nice price on seconds–apples that aren’t pretty enough for regular sale, but are still plenty useful. I hauled my bushel home, and began a mad afternoon of applesaucing.

Applesauce is a good beginner canning project, as it does not require much special equipment and the process is simple. Over the years, I have acquired some equipment that definitely makes large scale projects simpler, but it’s not strictly necessary.

Of course, you don’t have to make a bushel’s worth of sauce, and you don’t need to can it. You can just make enough to enjoy as a side dish, if you’d rather.  The directions are the same, whether you’re making a bowl or a bushel.

 

You will need:

  • Apples. I used Jonathans, but you can use whatever kind you like, or a mixture.
  • A big kettle to cook the apples in.
  • Something with which to squish the apples. I use a foodstrainer-saucemaking-great big cranky thing, but you can use a hand held food mill, or, if you are really dedicated (I’m not) squish your apples through a sieve. Do not make a bushel’s worth of sauce if you plan to use a sieve. This way madness lies.
  • You can use sugar. I don’t.
  • Water for cooking the apples.

If you are canning the sauce, you will need.

  • Canning jars. You can get these at the hardware store, or in the seasonal section of your grocery store. These can be reused.
  • Canning lids. You have to use brand new lids every single time. Every. Single. Time.
  • Canning bands. These are metal bands that hold the lids on during processing.
  • A big kettle. Really big. A canner is ideal, for obvious reasons. However, you can use a giant pot if you can figure out some way to keep the jars off the bottom.
  • A jar lifter. These are insulated tongs that are shaped to pick up jars. They are not expensive, and I have used them ever since my dad bought me one for Christmas, after fielding a phone call during a canning session in which I said, “I dropped a jar using barbeque tongs and splashed myself in the face with boiling water. What are the chances I am scarred for life?”
  • Nice things to have include: a nifty little magnet for pulling lids out of hot water, a nifty little scraper to push the air out of the canned product, and a jar funnel. Everyone should have a jar funnel anyway, they are the best.

The steps are simple:

1. Wash the apples. I fill the sink with water and slosh them around. Don't get carried away and bruise the apples, though.
1. Wash the apples. I fill the sink with water and slosh them around. Don’t get carried away and bruise the apples, though.
Quarter the apples. No need to peel or core.
2. Quarter the apples. No need to peel or core. If you’re using seconds, cut out anything that looks gross or suspect.
Me and my new best friend, the Food Strainer-Saucemaker.
3. Me and my new best friend, the Food Strainer-Saucemaker.
Smushing the cooked apples into the hopper.
4. Smushing the cooked apples into the hopper.
5. Applesauce! Its naturally pink, from the peels.
5. Applesauce! Its naturally pink, from the peels.

 

And there you have it. You can add sugar if you want, I don’t.

To can the applesauce, this is what I do. You should probably use more official instructions:

  1. Heat the applesauce to boiling.
  2. Put the lids in hot, but not boiling, water. This will soften them to promote a good seal.
  3. Ladle the hot, hot, oh-so-hot applesauce into clean, hot canning jars. Leave half an inch of space at the top. This is called “headspace” and it helps jars seal and not explode.
  4. Wipe off any applesauce from the rim of the jars with a towel. Or a paper towel. Whatever.
  5. Put on brand new lids.
  6. Screw on the bands tightly.
  7. Process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes. This means you put the jars into boiling water with your jar lifter, making sure the water covers them completely, and comes at least one inch over the tops. Once the water returns to boiling, start your 20 minute timer.
  8. After they’ve been in the bath boiling away for 20 minutes, remove from water with jar lifter, and allow to cool. Listen for the satisfying “ping” of the lids sealing.
  9. After 24 hours, if all have sealed, remove the bands.

NOTE: These are “boiling water bath” instructions. You can’t can everything safely via this method. Many foods require a pressure canner. Applesauce can be canned this way because apples are high enough in acid to not promote botulism and other nasties that can thrive in a jar.

 

 

 

 

7 thoughts on “Applesauce!

  1. Thanks Megan! Yum! My mom used to put all the apples in the simmering water just cut in half…she had this cone shaped sieve with a cone shaped wooden mallet to force the sauce through…there was a little aluminum tripod arrangement to hold it all steady over the bowl – not peeling the apples is essential for flavor! Also excellent for riced potatoes, divine comfort food. Her depression era kitchen was filled with clever devices that you didn’t need to plug into anything, like a solid, sturdy orange juice squeezer with a big levered handle/presser, or a hinged, painted, wooden hamburger patty press…I adored my mother’s kitchen, still have her miniature lazy suzanne for extracts and spices…every once in a while I give it a spin and sniff the almond extract…

    1. Thank you so much for sharing, Janet. Those clever devices powered by person are my favorite. That it turns out they’re “green” is even better. And nothing compares to the scent of almond extract.

  2. This post makes me really happy. I love, love, love making applesauce! I am dying to make it right now since I saw this post. I probably will have to go find me some apples… Some of my favorite memories are canning quart after quart of applesauce with my sister. Your instructions are great! Clear and easy to follow, (although easy and big pots of hot boiling apples may not go well in the same sentence…), and would be perfect for someone just starting to try out applesaucing. Long live the homemade applesauce!!

    1. Debbie! Homemade applesauce is pretty great. I’m glad you find the instructions clear. I bet canning with your sister is fun!

  3. Hi Megan! So, you are doing commercials now?!! You are to cute! I will try to keep up with your blog…don’t want to miss your mom on here!! heehehee.

    1. Hi Marlene!
      Ha, ha, no commercials, yet. Thanks for reading! Yes, my mom has no idea what is in store for her when she comes to visit me.

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