How to Make Organic Applesauce

Applesauce is fairly easy to make and store for later use. Take advantage of the fall's bounty of organic apples and combine your favorites to create a signature recipe that's rich in vitamins A and C, plus loads of soluble and insoluble fiber for a healthy heart. Serve applesauce as a side dish or snack, or ladle it over ice cream for a tasty dessert.

Instructions

1

Choose apples that are naturally sweet so you can use a minimum of additional sweeteners. Review the best choices, then locate an orchard, produce store, farmers' market or health food grocery that offers organically grown apples.

2

Select a mix of apples rather than just one type. Consider varieties like Red Delicious, Gala, Rome, Fuji, Pink Lady and Honeycrisp. Use four Red Delicious apples to every 1 apple of another sweet variety to maximize the sweetness of your applesauce.

3

Sterilize the jars in the dishwasher and leave them in the appliance until you're ready to fill them. Place the lids in a pan of near-boiling water and use a magnetic "lid lifter" to retrieve them.

4

Wash the apples well, chop them or use a corer to slice them with the peels on. Place the apples in a large, heavy pot with about 1 inch of natural apple juice. Cook it over high heat until it boils, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until the apples are soft.

5

Sieve the cooked apples or process them through a food mill or grinder. Note that the food mill or sieve will separate peels, seeds and any core pieces, leaving only cooked apples behind.

6

Place the cooked apples in a pot and season them to taste with cinnamon. Ladle the apples into the hot jars, seat the lid and secure the jar with a ring. Process the applesauce in a water bath--15 to 20 minutes for pint jars and 20 to 25 minutes for quarts.

7

Remove the jars from the water bath and set them on a towel. Allow the jars to cool undisturbed overnight. Label each jar with the contents and date.

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Applesauce is fairly easy to make and store for later use. Take advantage of the fall's bounty of organic apples and combine your favorites to create a signature recipe that's rich in vitamins A and C, plus loads of soluble and insoluble fiber for a healthy heart. Serve applesauce as a side dish or snack, or ladle it over ice cream for a tasty dessert.

Instructions

1

Choose apples that are naturally sweet so you can use a minimum of additional sweeteners. Review the best choices, then locate an orchard, produce store, farmers' market or health food grocery that offers organically grown apples.

2

Select a mix of apples rather than just one type. Consider varieties like Red Delicious, Gala, Rome, Fuji, Pink Lady and Honeycrisp. Use four Red Delicious apples to every 1 apple of another sweet variety to maximize the sweetness of your applesauce.

3

Sterilize the jars in the dishwasher and leave them in the appliance until you're ready to fill them. Place the lids in a pan of near-boiling water and use a magnetic "lid lifter" to retrieve them.

4

Wash the apples well, chop them or use a corer to slice them with the peels on. Place the apples in a large, heavy pot with about 1 inch of natural apple juice. Cook it over high heat until it boils, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until the apples are soft.

5

Sieve the cooked apples or process them through a food mill or grinder. Note that the food mill or sieve will separate peels, seeds and any core pieces, leaving only cooked apples behind.

6

Place the cooked apples in a pot and season them to taste with cinnamon. Ladle the apples into the hot jars, seat the lid and secure the jar with a ring. Process the applesauce in a water bath--15 to 20 minutes for pint jars and 20 to 25 minutes for quarts.

7

Remove the jars from the water bath and set them on a towel. Allow the jars to cool undisturbed overnight. Label each jar with the contents and date.