aptain
pplesauce
Best applesauce making apples
Every crop of apples varies slightly and organic sometimes tastes different. Below I show my applesauce taste opinions. They are from a guy who does not usually care for added sugar in a lot of food, especially produce.
| Apple type | Good for applesauce | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| McIntosh | Yes | Probably the best flavor, but the apples are smaller, so more work to peel |
| Golden Delicious | Yes | Fantastic – wife and I agree on this one – good taste and sweetness |
| Rome | Yes | Baseline – this is a household favorite, not too sweet |
| Fuji | Yes | Slightly sweet and tangy - better than expected |
| Jonah Gold | Yes | One of the best |
| Ambrosia | Yes | It could be the apples, but my thicker sauce result was not as watery and juicy as most batches. Its taste is good and it might be ideal for baking something like strudel. |
| Nikita | Yes | Sweet followed by a burst of tart - very good |
| Snapdragon | Yes | A little sweet, but still very good |
| Granny Smith | No | Just doesn’t taste good as applesauce, but I love the tartness as apples |
| Red Delicious | No | Doesn’t taste good as applesauce, but I like the apple |
| Pink Lady | No | Doesn’t taste good as applesauce, but I like the apple |
| Cortland | No | Reminds me of sweet tart candies from childhood – too sweet in my opinion |
| Honeycrisp | No | Way too sweet, I will never try this as applesauce again |
| Gala | No | Organic from Chile were a little too sweet by themselves. Internet says they are good mixed with granny smith - untested |
| Gravestein | Unknown | I have not tested yet to date |
| Stayman | Unknown | Heard on Internet they’re good mixed with golden delicious |
How I make applesauce: My technique and tools
It is probable you do not have my tools, but here's my technique I devised with time and practice over the last couple months. Most guys know the better the tools you have, the easier your job.
Tip: do not buy bruised apples, they taste fine but are harder to peel efficiently
Tip: apple stems get in the way when you are peeling. Avoid buying apples with them if you can.
Tip: 6.5 pounds of peeled/cored apples can go in my Instapot Duo IF chopped up.
Tip: 8 pounds of peeled/cored apples can go in my 6 quart slow cooker IF chopped up.
My recommended tools:
- Y shaped peeler
- Instapot: its pressure cooker is fast and it can make a really thin applesauce
- Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 6 qt slow cooker (Croc Pot)
- Kitchen towel - medium sized towel makes clean up easier
- Cutting board - any will do
- Apple corer - please buy one of these if you enjoy apples - it is so useful
- Chopped salad bowl and pizza slicing tool OR Large knife
- Potato masher
My Applesauce Making Technique:
- Put the kitchen towel under your cutting board
- Rinse your apples in the kitchen sink
- Pick up your Y shaped peeler and be mindful when using it. You do not want to peel your finger tips. Concentrate/Focus when peeling! Do not say I did not warn your fingertips!
If you do not mind spending more time and being less efficient, use a swivel peeler. Your fingertips are safe this way. - Cut the apple skin off the top and bottom of all your apples
- Put the top/bottom skinned apples in a bowl so they do not roll away
- Peel each previously top and bottom shaved apple
- Put each apple into a bowl
- Remove your cutting board, carefully pick up towel, and dispose of your apple peels
- Core each apple with your apple corer
- Remove cutting board, carefully pick up towel, and dispose of your apple cores
Instapot method [pressure cooking] (30 minutes)
- Place all the apple pieces into your slow cooker or chopped salad bowl
- Randomly cut up/mince the apples to your hearts content with your large knife in your Instapot. The smaller your
apple pieces, the more apples your slow cooker can hold. Tip: I believe apples break down faster
to sauce in your slow cooker if they are sliced smaller.
* If you are using a salad chopping bowl with the pizza-like slicer to slice your apple pieces (faster), put them in your slow cooker when finished! - Put anything from a cup to two cups of water in the Instapot. Basically, the more water, the thinner your ultimate applesauce product will be. If you do add enough water, you will get some minor pot burning.
- Turn your Instapot to Pressure Cook on HIGH for 12 minutes.
- Your Instapot will finish its pressure cook cycle and beep letting you know it has finished, but just leave the Instapot be.
- Wait about 30 minutes total, or more. It really does not matter if you wait longer. Release any pressure remaining from your Instapot so you can take its lid off. Mash the apple pieces to applesauce consistency with wooden spoon, potato masher, etc. Your Instapot pressure coooking will really create a thinner applesauce consistency the longer you wait.
- Enjoy! You can take it from here. Do not burn your tongue tasting its deliciousness!
Slow cooker method (takes 2-3 hours)
- Place all the apple pieces into your slow cooker or chopped salad bowl
- Randomly cut up/mince the apples to your hearts content with your large knife in your slow cooker. The smaller your
apple pieces, the more apples your slow cooker can hold. Tip: I believe apples break down faster
to sauce in your slow cooker if they are sliced smaller.
* If you are using a salad chopping bowl with the pizza-like slicer to slice your apple pieces (faster), put them in your slow cooker when finished! - Turn your slow cooker on HIGH.
- (Optional) Add apple pie spices - I recommend you buy from a spice store, not supermarket
- Wait about two hours till the apples smell really good
- Occasionally mash the apple pieces with wooden spoon, potato masher, etc.
- You should see applesauce 150 to 180 minutes after you applied heat.
More heat and time = more apple break down - Enjoy! You can take it from here. Do not burn your tongue tasting its deliciousness!
