Delicious Homemade Apple Juice

 

Making homemade apple juice is a fun and rewarding process.  Really anyone can do it and it is a great way to get your little ones to help in the kitchen. 

Not only is homemade apple juice delicious, but it's also packed with nutrients and antioxidants that are good for you. Let's walk you through the process of making your own apple juice at home, from start to finish.

How long does home canned apple juice last?

Homemade apple juice will last anywhere from 3-5 years, provided it was canned using the correct canning method. But homemade apple juice will only taste its best within the first year or two. After that, the flavor will begin to change and the color will start to fade. 

What You'll Need to Make Homemade Apple Juice

Making apple juice at home is a fairly simple process, but there are a few things you'll need in order to do it. 

First, you'll need a juicer/steamer. While you can certainly use a pot of water with apples on the stovetop, using a juicer/steamer will give you the quickest results. It will also save you time and effort in the long run because you can also make applesauce from your leftover pulp.

You'll also need enough apples to fill your juicer's basket. How many apples you'll need will depend on the size of your juicer, but as a general rule of thumb, you should plan on using about 2-3 pounds of apples per gallon of juice. I usually get about 3 quarts of juice from 12 pounds of apples.

How to Can Apple Juice

Materials Needed

• 12-15 lbs of apples
• 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 

Begin by washing your apples thoroughly. Clean them just like you would if you were to take a bite out of the apple right now.

Next, use an apple peeler and corer to remove the peel and pop out the core.  

If you don't have a peeler/corer, you can peel and core by hand.

Make sure to cut out any bad spots or blemishes. 

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.

Fill hot jars with apple juice. Add clean jar lid and ring.

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

Water bath can apple juice for 10 minutes for altitudes under 1000 ft. Follow USDA instructions for canning according to your area. Check out the Ball Blue Book for Canning and Preserving for exact times and temperatures.

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

Making homemade apple juice is a fun and easy process that anyone can do with the right supplies and some basic knowledge. 

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and give it a try!

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

Home Canned Apple Juice Recipe