Can applesauce be frozen?

Applesauce is a common ingredient in pastries and is widely consumed as a healthy snack. It’s a great alternative to heavy desserts and a delicious way to change your diet for the better.

There are several varieties of applesauce. Some are available in individual cups, while others are sold in bulk; you can even easily make it at home!

But when it comes to storage, how does applesauce fare when it comes to freezing and refrigerating?

Can applesauce be frozen?

The best thing about applesauce is that it can be stored in the fridge and freezer. You can even store it in the container it came in! For example, bakers can purchase a large jar of applesauce and freeze the leftovers for later, without compromising quality or taste!

However, there are a few key things to keep in mind! Read below to learn more about freezing store-bought applesauce, some best practices, and a great recipe for making applesauce at home.

How long can applesauce be frozen?

The basic variant of applesauce, which is what is usually sold in the supermarket, is very easy to make.

Pure applesauce is made by pureing pieces of peeled apple.

Some brands also add flavors or other additives to make their product last a long time, but luckily, applesauce is also available in many natural and organic varieties.

Applesauce freezes and refrigerates well because it contains very few ingredients. Basic applesauce is made with a mixture of just sugar, a little water and apples, that’s it!

This simple version is very easy to store and in some cases can last up to 6-9 months or up to a year in the freezer, as long as it is kept in optimal storage conditions. 

On its own, applesauce will still be edible for about 3-4 days in the fridge.

Some commercial varieties with preservatives can extend the shelf life to up to seven days, but it is always best to consume applesauce within three days of opening the jar for maximum freshness.

Frozen applesauce can keep from several weeks to months. If stored in the freezer, applesauce can remain edible for up to 2-3 months. In some cases, it can even last up to 6 months! 

We’ll talk about how you can increase the shelf life of applesauce, but first let’s see how it’s done.

How to make applesauce

As we have said, apple compote is very easy to make, but its flavor can vary a lot due to the type of apples and the processes used to make the product at home and in factories.

We’ll go over each method so you can understand the best way to preserve each product.

Commercial applesauce

The applesauce journey begins at the factory, with a fresh shipment of hand-picked organic apples.

Each apple is cleaned and examined for deformities or defects. Selected apples go through another rinse and then enter a tumbling machine that peels and processes them.

Once peeled and cored, the apples are mashed into a thick paste. The paste travels through pipes and rests in large mixing tanks.

This is where additional ingredients such as preservatives, artificial colors and flavorings are added.

Everything is mixed, heat processed, packaged and shipped to stores.

However, it is important to take into account that commercial applesauce contains preservatives and ascorbic acid that regulate and maintain the flavor and color of the product during storage. 

Each brand has a different way of making applesauce, so you can find some all-natural varieties as well.

Most products should be kept in the refrigerator after opening. Applesauce has a reputation for going bad at room temperature.

Think about it, just as apple slices can darken and blacken within minutes due to oxidation, applesauce undergoes the same changes!

That’s why it’s important to keep applesauce stored in a cold environment (your fridge).

Homemade applesauce

Homemade applesauce is a bit different, as it usually just contains a mixture of sugar and apples, and sometimes additional flavorings like vanilla or cinnamon.

This type of applesauce has no preservatives and is very easy to make. All you have to do is peel and core the apples and then process them in a food processor. But of course you will have to be careful about some things.

Here’s a quick recipe to make the BEST applesauce at home:

Ingredients

• 4 apples (peeled, cored and chopped)
• ¾ cup of water
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Mix the chopped, cored and peeled apples together with the water, sugar and cinnamon. Cover and cook for about 15 minutes or until the apples are soft and can be mashed or pureed.
2. Mash the applesauce or use a hand blender or food processor to chop the mixture until it becomes a thick paste.

Applesauce tends to have a thick consistency, but it can be made to your liking. If you like a chunky sauce, we recommend using a potato masher to mash the mixture into a semi-solid paste.

However, for a finer mixture, you can use a hand blender or a food processor to mix the applesauce. Of course, do not overprocess the mixture or it could be too liquid.

How to store homemade applesauce

Homemade applesauce can be stored in airtight jars. Jars can be stored in the fridge or freezer.

The best way to get the most out of homemade applesauce is to use a mason jar. Get any high quality jar and transfer the mixture from the pot to the jar and then store it in the fridge immediately.

Another thing you can do is immerse the filled jars in a cold water bath to prevent the mixture from further cooking. Remember that you will process the apples by cooking them over low heat for about 15-20 minutes.

Additionally, mechanically processing the mixture is also likely to produce more heat through friction, so you should immerse the jars in a cold water bath before storing in the fridge.

Jars should remain refrigerated at 40°F. For best results, it is recommended to consume applesauce within 3-4 days. 

Homemade applesauce can keep for about a week, but you’ll need to check it thoroughly for spoilage before consuming it.

Freeze Homemade Applesauce

Applesauce can be frozen like any other food. The best way to do this would be to put the applesauce in a freezer-safe glass or plastic jar.

The jar should be placed at the back or in the coldest part of the freezer. The jar must not experience temperature discrepancies or it could affect the quality and flavor of the applesauce over time.

You can also refer to the back of the package for detailed storage instructions, but in most cases, manufacturers do not provide complete instructions for freezing or long-term storage of applesauce.

Fortunately, you can use some common storage best practices to extend the life of your applesauce.

Applesauce is full of moisture, so you can expect it to become rock solid in 6-8 hours at 0°F. Once frozen, the sauce can be used as needed by thawing it in the fridge or microwave.

You can also break off some of the frozen sauce with a fork or spoon and let it melt naturally for no more than 1-2 hours outside.

Storing Leftover Applesauce

Leftover applesauce should be refrigerated or frozen within 2 hours of coming to room temperature . This is to ensure the quality, safety, and texture of the sauce.

This can apply to both homemade and commercial applesauce. The best way to store leftovers is to transfer the mixture to an airtight bag or jar.

Some people even store individual cup servings directly in the fridge or freezer, and while this is usually fine in the short term, it’s much better if you move the contents and store them properly to get the most out of their quality.

Open-topped glasses or jars of applesauce may not spoil in the fridge or freezer, but it will certainly undergo chemical and flavor changes. The sauce can also accumulate freezer burn, which will significantly affect the quality of the product.

Here’s a quick table on storage times:

Best Practices and Tips

If you want to maximize the storage time of your applesauce, we recommend that you follow these simple tips!

use fresh ingredients

Applesauce stays fresh and safe as long as it’s carefully cooked at home.

The commercial variety goes through several health and safety controls throughout the manufacturing process.

That is why it is recommended to start with fresh apples. Any apple can be used to make applesauce, but the sauce will only be as good as the apples. 

If there are various deformations and ripeness spots on the apple, this can significantly affect the quality of the applesauce!

Always buy fresh apples at the store and immediately take them home for processing.

Freshly stored apples work just as well, but if you’re looking for the best quality applesauce, you need to go the extra mile and get the freshest batch possible!

storage jars

Applesauce can be stored in just about any type of jar, as long as it’s clean and made from high-quality materials (these are a great option!).

Avoid buying cheap storage jars that can crack in low temperatures or jars that can’t create a tight seal inside the container.

Keep in mind that once apples are crushed, they will start to oxidize within a day, so work quickly!

Clean the jars well with warm, soapy water, then dry with a clean cloth. Once dry, fill the applesauce and close the lid.

Submerge the jars in cold water for 30 minutes to cool the mixture and prevent it from overcooking. When it has cooled down properly, transfer the jars to the fridge or freezer and store properly.

Storing applesauce in storage bags

If you’re short on space, storage bags will come in handy for long-term storage of applesauce.

Because applesauce is free of dairy and other complex ingredients, it stores and freezes incredibly well and can last longer than other types of sauces.

However, the sauce must be free of air and temperature differences, as it can easily oxidize! The best way to store and use frozen applesauce is to divide it into different storage bags.

Measure each serving of applesauce and store separately in the freezer. This way you can just take out one bag at a time without defrosting the entire batch of applesauce. 

Keep in mind that repeatedly thawing and freezing applesauce can degrade its flavor and quality. It can also make it very susceptible to spoilage.

Defrosting Frozen Applesauce

Applesauce can be thawed in the microwave . Just put the microwave safe container with the frozen applesauce in it and put the microwave on the defrost or defrost position and let the sauce melt to the desired consistency and temperature.

You can also thaw the applesauce overnight in the fridge.

This is considered the best way to thaw applesauce, as it will preserve its color, quality, and flavor, but if you’re in a hurry, the microwave will work just fine too.

Another way to thaw applesauce is to heat it by placing the container or bag of frozen applesauce in a hot water bath.

This is another great way to quickly melt applesauce without affecting its freshness or characteristics.

Just make sure you don’t use boiling water for this step, as it can end up cooking the sauce.  Anything between 100-135°F will work well with frozen applesauce. 

Related questions

Making and freezing applesauce is very easy and a great way to extend the benefits of this amazing ingredient.

Now that you know all about applesauce and how to properly store it in the freezer, here are some related questions!

Is homemade applesauce more nutritious than commercial?

This depends on the ingredients added . For example, some brands of commercial applesauce use very high-quality apples, but may also use high fructose corn syrup to make the sauce.

Although this gives the sauce a complex flavor, it also makes it unhealthy.

This negates any benefit you might get from an otherwise high-quality product. That’s why homemade applesauce is the best way to get the health benefits of applesauce.

You can even combine other flavors, like cinnamon and vanilla, to change the flavor profile of your applesauce and make it even better.

Also, keep in mind that some commercial varieties offer all-natural alternatives with natural sweeteners and ingredients, so they may be better suited to your dietary needs. 

Can applesauce last more than a year in the freezer?

Even under ideal conditions, commercial applesauce can last 9-12 months, depending on how well it stores.

For example, applesauce sealed with ascorbic acid can remain edible for up to a year, provided it is not thawed repeatedly and the product is stored at room temperature.

Homemade applesauce may not last as long, but it can survive up to 6-8 months in the freezer. You should store the sauce at 0°F and keep it in an airtight container (we recommend these) for the entire time in storage.

What are the signs of spoilage of applesauce?

Any discoloration or change in flavor and texture may indicate that the applesauce has gone bad. Other signs are a foul odor or any type of flat or fuzzy growth on the surface of or around the applesauce jar.

Always check applesauce after three days in the fridge or after 6 weeks in the freezer before consuming it.