How to Can Applesauce

With fall in the air that means apple season, and that means it's time to can applesauce! 

Apples make a great treat all on their own.  But you can enjoy apples all year long when you learn how to can applesauce.  

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Canning is a great way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables, and it's easy to do once you know the basics. So get your jars ready and let's get started!

What are the best apples for canning applesauce?

There are a variety of apples that can be used for this purpose and no one apple is necessarily better than another when it comes to applesauce. 

For a tart and tangy sauce, try Granny Smith apples. For a sweet and rich sauce, Golden Delicious or Red Delicious apples are perfect. For a light and refreshing sauce, Honeycrisp or Braeburn apples are ideal. And for a hearty and robust sauce, Northern Spy or Rome apples are the best choice. 

Whatever your preferences, there's an apple that will make canning applesauce a delicious and easy process.

Is lemon juice necessary for canning applesauce?

While some recipes call for adding lemon juice, is it really necessary? No.  Apples contain enough acid on their own and do not need any to preserve them.  

Lemon juice can help to preserve the color and flavor of the apples. As with any canning recipe, be sure to follow directions carefully to ensure a safe and delicious product.

Does applesauce need to be pressure canned?

Canning applesauce is a great way to preserve the harvest and enjoy the fruits of your labor all year long. Since applesauce is a high-acid food, this means it can be safely canned using the water bath method and does not need to be pressure canned.  

Just be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to properly prepare and can your applesauce. 

How to Can Applesauce 

Materials Needed

• 12-15 pounds of apples, any variety
• 1 Cup sugar -optional
• Apple Peeler and Corer
• Water Bath Canner
• a fruit/vegetable steamer
• 5-6 sanitized quart mason jars - I like wide mouth jars for my juice
• jar lids and rings 

Wash and sanitize glass canning jars. Add them to hot water or clean in a dishwasher and keep them hot.

Wash, peel and core and slice apples. Remove any blemishes or bug related holes.

Place apples in steamer/juicer for 30 minutes to an hour. Until apples are mushy and can be compressed.

Take a plate and smash the apples down to squeeze out remaining juice. Use the juice to make apple juice.

Place apple pulp into a food processor. Blend until smooth.

Fill hot jars with applesauce. Add clean jar lid and ring.

Place hot, filled jars into a water boiling water bath canner at 190°F.

Water bath can applesauce for 20 minutes for altitudes under 1000 ft. Follow USDA instructions for canning according to your area.

When sauce is fully processed, remove jars from water bath canner and place on a towel on a countertop for 24 hours.

So there you have it, everything you need to know about how to make applesauce. It’s really not as hard as it seems and the end result is definitely worth all of the effort. 

Once you get started, be sure to experiment with different types of apples to find your favorite flavor combination. 

And if you want more tips or tricks, be sure to check out our video on How To Can Applesauce which covers all of the details in a fun and easy-to-follow way. 

Need help keeping track of what you can and great canning recipes?  Check out our 

Happy canning!

Now don't forget to log how many jars of applesauce you canned in your canning journal.  That way you always know how much you have and when you need more.

Homemade Applesauce Recipe