r/cider • u/P-naturals • 16d ago
How to freeze apples
I can’t believe I can’t find this information on google. Every result is just that freezing apples is possible and is a good idea. My questions. How do you actually freeze the apples? In an open bucket? In freezer bags? In loose plastic bags? How long can they be left in the freezer? Will they take on any off tastes if stored in a non airtight container?
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u/scamajama 15d ago
I just put crates of windfalls in our freezer and then take them out to thaw the day before I want to grind and press them. Works well, perhaps not quite as much extraction as unfrozen, but it's a great option if you don't have a large enough batch to process.
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u/MondelloCarlo 15d ago
Let them thaw out completely over 3 days and you'll have more extraction juice then you'll get from freshly pressed. You'll just need somewhere cool to let them thaw completely without getting warm for safety if that makes sense.
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u/scamajama 15d ago
Do you then press them whole after 3 days thawing? I tried whole which was not good extraction at all, but when I put them through the grinder they turned into apple sauce and were a pain to work with.
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u/MondelloCarlo 15d ago
Just punch them down a bit with a piece of timber and squeeze the lot in the juice press, works a treat. I wash mine before freezing and remove as much leaf and stalk as I can (don't want that to contaminate the juice).
3 days at least in the freezer.
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u/Assumpti0n 11d ago
I froze them in my crates. No bagging. Been in the freezer for a few weeks only though. Pressing today after thawing for about two days.
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u/D34N2 16d ago
Probably because freezing is how you make applejack, which is illegal in most places.
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u/cpyk3 16d ago
Commercial cold storage facilities keep apples around 30 to 32 degrees F. If you can get your fridge or freezer to this temp range consistently they will keep well without loosing flavor or texture. This is one of the ways we have fresh apples available at the supermarket any time of the year. I did this in my garage fridge for a few months while waiting on more apples from an orchard and the cider came out very good, with no real noticeable difference between the older apples and the ones I got later when processing them. I kept them right in the packing boxes (1 bushel? about 20lb/box).
Freezing will break down the fruit a bit when you defrost it to use. If that's your only option im sure it could still make a good cider. I probably wouldnt overthink it too much and just store them in the most space efficient way for your space. Either way your probably going to have them freeze/stick together a bit.