Canning Apples Without Sugar Food

CANNING APPLES FOR FOOD STORAGE

Steps:

• Wash your jars, lids, screw bands, and canning tools in hot soapy water. Rinse thoroughly to remove all suds. Set aside to air dry on a clean kitchen towel.
• Place the canning rack into water bath canner, place jars in the canner, and add water to cover. Bring the canner to a simmer (180˚F) for 10 minutes, and keep hot until you are ready to fill them.
• Add the sugar and water to the large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat to dissolve sugar, keep warm.
• To prevent browning, dip the peeled and sliced apples into a lemon water bath as you work. Fill a large bowl with about a gallon of cold water and 1/2 cup of lemon juice (or use Fruit Fresh).
• Wash the apples well under clean, running water. Peel, core, and cut the apples into halves, quarters, or slices. Add the apple pieces to the prepared lemon bath as you work.
• Drain the apples and add them to the sugar-syrup pot. Cover the pot, raise the heat, and bring the pot to a boil, and boil for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and fill the jars.
• Spread a towel on the counter. Use your jar lifter to remove a warm jar from canner, drain the water into the canner, and place on the towel. Keep the rest of the jars in the canner so they stay hot.
• Use your canning funnel and ladle, to fill the warm jars with hot apples and top off with the syrup leaving 1/2-inch headspace.
• Run you bubble popper through the apples to release air bubbles, and wipe jar rim with a clean, damp kitchen towel.
• Place a lid on the jar, and screw the metal band down fingertip tight. Place the jar back into the canner, and repeat with the remaining jars.
• Once all the jars are in canner, adjust the water level to two inches above the tops.
• Cover the canner and bring to boil over high heat. Once water boils vigorously, process pints and quarts for 20 minutes at altitudes of less than 1,000 ft. Adjust processing time for your altitude if necessary. (see notes below)
• When processing time is complete, turn off the heat and allow the canner to cool down and settle for about 5 minutes.
• Lay a dry towel on the counter. Remove the cover by tilting lid away from you so that steam does not burn your face.
• Use the jar lifter to remove the jars from canner and place on the towel. Keep upright, and don't tighten bands or check the seals yet. Let the jars sit undisturbed for 12 to 24-hours to cool.
• After the jars have cooled for at least 12 hours, check to be sure lids have sealed by pushing on the center of the lid. The lid should not pop up. If the lid flexes up and down, it did not seal. Refrigerate jar and use up within a few days.
• Remove the screw on bands and wash the jars. Label, date, and store your jars in a cool, dark place and use within 12-18 months. Yields about 9 pint of apples.

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)

QUICK HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE - NO SUGAR ADDED

Steps:

• Peel and core apples (I prefer to leave the skin on a few of them because I like the taste and texture). Cut apples into approximately 1 inch cubes.
• Add all ingredients to pot, and turn heat on high. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the apples have softened significantly.
• Stir frequently, making sure that the apples are not sticking to the bottom of the pot. Add more water if necessary. Remove lemon slices.
• Mash with a potato masher or use a food mill for a smoother consistency. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPICED COOKED APPLES - NO SUGAR

Steps:

• Leaving the skins on the apples cut them up in chunks.
• Combine all ingredients in a pot and cook for 15-20 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally until the apples reach a consistency you desire. Done!
• Serve warm or cold, by themselves in a bowl or on top of ice cream, pancakes, waffles --.
• Once cooled, store in the fridge or even freeze in smaller batches. Enjoy!