How To Can Applesauce Food

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).

THE BEST HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the apples, sugar, 1 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook until the apples are very soft, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the lemon juice and cinnamon. Let cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer the apple mixture to a blender, filling no more than halfway. Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a folded kitchen towel to catch splatters and pulse until smooth. Alternatively, puree in the pan with an immersion blender.
• Transfer the applesauce to a bowl and refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour. Store leftover applesauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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.