Ball Canning Apple Food

CANNED APPLE PIE FILLING

Steps:

• in a large pan, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add salt and water and mix well. Bring to a boil and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and food coloring.
• Sterilize canning jars, lids and rings by boiling them in a large pot of water.
• Peel, core, and slice apples. Pack the sliced apples into hot canning jars, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace.
• Fill jars with hot syrup, and gently remove air bubbles with a knife.
• Put lids on and process in a water bath canner for 20 minutes.

APPLESAUCE (FOR CANNING)

Steps:

• Peel, core and quarter apples.
• You will need 3 to 3-1/2 pounds per quart of applesauce.
• Place in large saucepot.
• Cook apples with just enough water so they don't stick.
• Cook over medium heat until soft.
• Puree in food processor or food mill until smooth.
• Return to pan and bring to a boil.
• You may add sugar if desired.
• Taste to see how sweet the apples are.
• You can also add cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
• Keep applesauce boiling and ladle hot sauce into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Remove air bubbles and adjust two piece caps.
• Process pints and quarts for 20 minutes in a boiling water canner.
• If you like chunky sauce, only puree half of the apples and crush the other half with a potato masher.
• Prep time is an estimate as it depends on how many quarts of sauce you are preparing.

CLASSIC APPLE PIE FILLING

Steps:

• Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
• Blanch apple slices, working with 6 cups at a time, in a large pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and keep warm in a covered bowl.
• Combine sugar, ClearJel®, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large stainless steel saucepan. Stir in apple juice and cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, and cook until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add lemon juice, return to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Drain apple slices and immediately fold into hot mixture. Before processing, heat, stirring, until apples are heated through.
• Ladle hot pie filling into hot jars leaving 1 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.
• Process jars in a boiling water canner for 25 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

APPLE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine ingredients; simmer until thickened about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Stir frequently as it thickens to prevent sticking.
• Pour boiling hot mixture into hot pint jars leaving 1/4-inch head space.
• Adjust caps and then process 10 minutes in boiling water bath.
• Note: For milder chutney an additional 1 quart of apples may be added.

HOME-CANNED APPLE PIE FILLING RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix first five ingredients together in a large stock pot.
• Stir in water and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Add apples and lemon juice. Stir well.
• Fill clean jars leaving half an inch of headspace.
• Wipe rim of each jar before capping with new lids, and clean rings.
• Process in a water bath canner for 25 minutes.
• 1 quart jar fills a 9" pie shell.
• Makes 14 quarts.

CANNING APPLESAUCE {PRESERVING APPLES}

Steps:

• Prepare your water bath canner by filling it with water. You just need to have enough water to cover the jars by 2 inches once the water is boiling.
• Set the canner on the stove. Turn the burner to high. Once it reaches a boil, reduce it to simmer. You want to keep the water hot so that everything is ready when the applesauce is.
• Wash and sanitize your jars. You'll want to keep them warm to avoid having them crack when placed in the canner. You can fill them with hot water, or place them on a tray in the oven at 200 degrees F.
• Wash your lids and set aside in clean place. You no longer need to simmer lids in water to keep them sterile.
• Set a medium/large pot of water to medium high on your stove.
• Wash your apples and cut into eighths, or more if you have particularly large apples.
• Add apples to the hot water and cook until they have softened (1-5 minutes depending on your type of apple).
• Remove using a slotted spoon and place in a strainer set into a large bowl.
• Run the apples through a food mill to remove the seeds and skins. Keep warm until ready to can (I use my slow cooker set to warm).
• Return the burner to high and bring the water in the canner back to a rapid boil.
• Using a canning funnel, ladle in the warm applesauce into jars, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Remove any bubbles from the jar (I use a plastic chopstick).
• Use a wet clean rag and wipe the rim of the jars to make sure it is free of any food.
• Place a clean lid on the jar. Add a ring, and tighten to fingertip tight.
• Lower your jars into the canner using canning tongs/jar lifter.
• Secure the lid and set the timer for 15 minutes for pints or 20 minutes for quarts. For canning at different altitudes, check out the guide in the post for adjusted processing times.
• When the time is up, turn off the stove and let the jars sit for 5 minutes in the canner and then lift them out with canning tongs.
• Place hot jars on a towel where they can sit undisturbed for 12 hours.
• Pretty soon you'll start hearing some "pops and pings" which are the sounds of the jars sealing.
• After a few hours, to check for sealing, gently press down in the middle of the lid. If the lid has no give, it's sealed. If you can press the lid in and it pops a bit, your jars are not sealed. You can reprocess them or store them in the fridge or freezer (only freeze jars that are wide mouth).

EASY APPLE BUTTER RECIPE FOR CANNING

Steps:

• Core, peel and quarter your apples
• Place apples and water into a large pot and simmer until soft.
• Puree apple mixture with a food mill or immersion blender.
• Add sugar and spices and cook at a gentle boil over medium heat (stirring frequently) until it is thick enough to mound on a spoon.
• Ladle hot apple butter into sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe the rim and tighten on the lids.
• Process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and let the jars stand for 5 minutes. Remove jars and let cool 12-24 hours.

CANNING APPLE SLICES

Steps:

• Prepare a very large pot or bowl with acidulated water in it (by adding lemon juice or ascorbic acid. This is to prevent the apple going brown.)
• Wash, peel, core and slice the apples.
• As you work, work in such a way that peeled apple never rests for long outside the water, to prevent discolouration.
• Put drained apple slices in a large pot.
• For every 2 kg (5 lbs / 16 cups ) of drained apple slices in the pot, add 1/2 litre (2 cups / 1 US pint) of water. Bring to a boil, then start timing and let it boil for 5 minutes.
• Pack hot apple slices into half-litre (US pint) jars or 1 litre (US quart) jars.
• Leave 3 cm (1 inch) headspace.
• Top up with the blanching water or if there isn't enough, clean boiling water (such as from a kettle, for instance).
• Leave 2 cm (1/2 inch) headspace after the filling liquid.
• Debubble, adjust headspace.
• Wipe jar rims.
• Put lids on.
• Process in a water bath or steam canner or pressure canner.
• Water bath / steam canner: either size jar for 20 minutes; increase time as needed for your altitude.
• Pressure canner: either size jar for 8 minutes. 5 lbs (35 kPa) weighted gauge, 6 lbs (42 kpa) dial gauge (adjust pressure for your altitude when over 300 metres / 1000 feet)

CANNING APPLE PIE FILLING

Steps:

• Prepare a water bath canner, canning jars and lids.
• Peel, core and slice apples. Splash lemon juice on the slices as you go to prevent browning (you'll still need a full 1/2 cup of lemon juice to add to the filling at the end, even though some is used here).
• In two batches of 6 cups each, blanch apple slices in a small amount (roughly 1 quart) of boiling water for 1 minute. Strain apple slices and keep them covered and warm while you prepare the filling.
• Mix all remaining ingredients EXCEPT LEMON JUICE in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and then add the lemon juice. Return to a boil and cook for 1 minute.
• Add in the hot blanched apple slices and stir to incorporate them.
• Fill canning jars (quarts or pints), leaving 1 full inch of headspace. Be careful to remove air bubbles and adjust headspace before capping with 2 part canning lids.
• Adjust lids to finger tight and process in a water bath canner for 25 minutes. Turn off the canner and allow the jars to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before removing them.
• Allow the jars to cool to room temperature before checking seals. Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks. Sealed jars will keep in the pantry for up to 18 months (possibly longer).

CANNING APPLES

Steps:

• Start by preparing jars and getting water in the canner heating. You want the canner hot, but not boiling, when the jars are ready to be processed. See full water bath canning instructions here.

CANNING APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Start by preparing jars and getting water in the canner heating. You want the canner hot, but not boiling, when the jars are ready to be processed.See full water bath canning instructions here.

WATER BATH CANNING APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Clean jars and lids with warm soapy water. Ensure the jars do not have any chips or bubbles in the glass.
• Wash your apples under cold water. Core, peel, and chop your apples. I like to use my Apple Peeler, Slicer, Corer. It makes the process so fast and easy. You can also use a vegetable peeler, knife and cutting board to accomplish the task. According to Ball Canning in this recipe you can leave the skins on to retain more color and taste. I did peel mine when making this recipe.
• Add your apples to a stainless-steel pot or enameled Dutch oven. Bring the apples to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat, cover, and simmer your apples until they are very soft.
• Once soft remove from heat and allow the apples to cool slightly. Using your food mill or food processor, or blender process the apples in batches until smooth (smooth apple sauce texture).
• Return the apple puree to your stainless-steel pot or enameled Dutch oven. Stir in apple cider, 1 cup of the brown sugar, and the ground cinnamon. Taste and gradually adjust the brown sugar to taste up to 2 cups of sugar. Add more ground cinnamon if needed.
• Cook on a gentile boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the apple mixture thickens and holds its shape. You can test this by scooping a small spoon full onto a plate. If there is no separation between liquid and the apples then you have reduced it enough to be apple butter.
• While the apple mixture is cooking down. Put your water bath canner on your stove. Add your canning rack into your water bath canner. Add your 1/2 pint or pint jars to the water bath canner. They will warm as you heat up the water. Add enough water to cover jars with at least 2-3 inches of water. Bring to a boil and allow the jars to boil for 10 minutes.
• Remove your jars from the water bath canner one at a time using your jar lifter. Dump water out of jar into your water bath canner to ensure there is still 2-3 inches of water above your jars. Ladle the hot mixture into the hot jar. Leave 1/2 inch headspace (use your headspace measurer to verify the correct amount).
• Using your de-bubbler make sure to remove all air bubbles. Apple butter has a thinker consistency so air bubbles maybe hiding so ensure you do this a few times to remove as many air bubbles as possible. Adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding additional hot apple butter.
• Wipe the rim of the jar to ensure good seal is made with the lid. Center the lid on the jar and add the band to fingertip tight. Put the jar back into the water bath canner using your jar lifter.
• Repeat steps 9-11 for the remaining apple butter, until the jars are filled.
• Lower the water bath canner rack into the boiling water. Ensure your jars are covered by at least 2 inches of water. If your water is not boiling start your processing time when the water is boiling. Process 1/2 pint and pint jars for 10 minutes. Make sure to adjust your time for altitude. Set a timer, it makes it much easier to make sure you process for the correct time. When your timer goes off turn off the heat and remove the canner lid. Leave the jars in the water for 5 minutes.
• Lift your canning rack out of the water. Using your jar lifer carefully move the jars onto a wire rack or kitchen towel to allow to cool. When moving the jars try not to tilt them to the side as this could effect the seal of the jars. Allow your jars to cool for 12-24 hours before handling.
• Once cool, remove the canning rings from the jars. Wash your jars off to ensure there is no food residue on the outside of the jar from processing. Label your jar with the name of the recipe and date. This will help you remember what recipe you used to can and the date will allow you to use the oldest canned goods first.

APPLE SALSA CANNING RECIPE

Steps:

• Place pickling spices into the center of the pre-cut cheese cloth. Create a little satchel by tying the cloth together with the cotton cooking twine.
• Add all ingredients to a large non-reactive pot
• Bring mixture to a boil and allow to boil for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until the apples are soft, roughly 1 to 2 hours.
• Remove and discard the satchel of pickling spice.
• Using a potato musher, mash the salsa until the apples break apart. Using a potato musher, mash the salsa until the apples break apart. An immersion blender may also be used, blend until the desired consistency is met.
• Prepare canner, jars, and lids.
• Add salsa to hot jars leaving a 1/2-inch headspace, remove air bubbles, add additional apple salsa as needed.
• Add warmed lids and rings to finger tight.
• Process jars based on your altitude, see chart in the blog post.
• Once processed set jars aside to cool. Refrigerate any unsealed jars and use as quickly as possible.