Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce, from your IP!

Quick, easy, and delicious! What are we talking about? Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce from your Instant Pot. You probably need to give this a try! Why exactly? For applesauce on demand...for the applesauce lovers in your family. 

When I need to cook something I have never made before...

I always do a bit of research. And if it involves the Instant Pot/Electric Pressure Cooker, there is one person I turn to the most. Kristen @ A Mind "Full" Mom. I have learned so much from her, and it is always the down to earth information, that I need and have searched for. Visiting with her blog is exactly what I am looking for, every time! Thank you Kristen, I can not tell you how many great ideas came from you, and how much you have helped me, through the years!  

My husband loves applesauce! 

And finding organic applesauce at a reasonable price, doesn't come easy. Especially living out in a small rural area. In our small community, there are precious few organic products, available. So there was only one thing to do, make it myself. We usually head into Lufkin to grocery shop every couple of weeks, and one item they always have in the produce department at our favorite market is two pound bags of organic apples. And not just one kind, you can get Gala, Honey Crisp, Ambrosia, Kanzi and a few more. They do rotate the varieties, but always have at least two or three different kinds of apples to choose from. And all of them make great applesauce. 

Honey Crisp and Gala are usually my first choice for applesauce. 

They are sweet enough to make applesauce with no added sugar. But today we picked up two bags of Ambrosia apples to make Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce. And once it is pureed, it could easily be canned in a water bath canner to be shelf stable. But we will simply use freezer jars. Making this four pound batch of apples into applesauce, makes enough to last until the next shopping trip. I had never cooked an Ambrosia apple before. The first thing I noticed is that they have quite a lovely aroma. Almost perfume-y, but when cooked, the flavor is pure apple. 

Apples will vary in sweetness, from crop to crop, and by type. 

And some might need a little help to up the sweetness level, but essentially all apples can be used for applesauce. With the exception of a Red Delicious apple. While the Red Delicious is quite pretty to look at, personally I never buy them, not even for fresh eating. The Ambrosia applesauce was sweet enough, but if you prefer a sweeter applesauce, you could add a bit of sugar, brown sugar or honey. No matter the apples you buy or already have to use, this process for applesauce in your Instant Pot, could not be easier!

 

Apples will also vary in moisture content. 

Once you have made applesauce in the Instant Pot a few times using your favorite apples, you will automatically know how much water to use. Due to the need of enough liquid to create a pressure build-up, the recipe suggests a range in measurement. However some apples will give off moisture as they cook. The easiest way to get applesauce thick enough for your family, is to remove some of the cooking liquid before pureeing. Once pureed, you can add some of the set aside cooking liquid, and have applesauce just as thick as you like it to be!  

Some additional notes on this recipe:

Apples like any living food, may not be as sweet as they were the last time you bought them. When that happens, feel free to use apple juice or bit of sweetener of choice. 

A mix of apples will also make a delicious applesauce. Since each has a slightly different flavor profile. 

A cinnamon stick would add great flavor, and it should be easy to find, so dig it out before pureeing. 

Add a splash of vanilla, there is a reason the French add it to apple pie! 

We have made this a few times now and if time is short, don't bother cutting the apples into 1 inch pieces once the core has been removed. They will puree just fine!

Using only 1 cup of water is fine, the apples will "juice" while the cooker is coming up to pressure. 

We do eat using the "dirty dozen" list, and only purchase organic apples. I do not recommend making this recipe from conventionally grown apples. 

This recipe uses a standard size IP.

And for me a stick blender with adjustable speed level is preferred. Otherwise, you might bet an applesauce squirt...

And finally this! Like most appliances, I have discovered that my Instant Pot cooks slightly different, from the many recipes I have tried, indicate. My current model seems to need an additional minute or two. Adjust the cooking time listed in the recipe if needed for your particular model. 

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

• organic apples
• salt
• water or apple juice 
• lemon juice
• sugar/brown sugar/maple syrup/honey

You will also need the following:

• Instant Pot 6 quart 
• Emersion blender
• freezer safe storage containers, with lids

Now we are ready to begin!

Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce

inspired by: Instant Pot Applesauce

4 pounds organic apples of choice (2 2# bags), or homegrown if possible

1 c water or apple juice if desired

1/8 t salt

1 T lemon juice

sugar/honey/maple syrup if desired

Place the apples in a sink and cover with warm water, sprinkle with 2 T of baking soda and let soak for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse well. 

Cut each apple into quarters, remove the core and cut each quarter into 1 inch pieces, if desired.

 

Or. 

You can also leave in quarters after removing the core. Place the cut apple pieces into the Instant Pot cooking pot. 

Add the water and salt. Attach the lid, close the vent. Set cook time at 13 minutes. When the cooking time is up, let the apples sit NPR for 15 minutes. 

Open the vent, and release the pressure. 

Add the lemon juice, and using an emersion blender, carefully puree the cooked apples (yes, peel and all!). Taste the applesauce for sweetness, adjust as desired. 

Place the cooked applesauce into glass jars or the container of choice. 

Note: if the apples released excess juices during the cooking process, simply use a ladle to remove the extra cooking liquid before pureeing. 

Storage options for Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. For longer storage store in freezer safe containers for up to three months. Let thaw in the refrigerator. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce has been included below. 

You may also enjoy: 

Dessert Apple Slices. 

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 Printable "copy and paste" version:

Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce

inspired by: Instant Pot Applesauce

4 pounds organic apples of choice (2 2# bags), or homegrown

3/4-1 c water or apple juice

1/8 t salt

i T lemon juice

sugar/honey/maple syrup if desired

Place the apples in a sink and cover with warm water, sprinkle with 2 T of baking soda and let soak for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse well. 

Cut each apple into quarters, remove the core and cut each quarter into 1 inch pieces, if desired. You can also leave in quarters after removing the core. Place the cut apple pieces into the Instant Pot cooking pot. 

Add the water and salt. Attach the lid, close the vent. Set cook time at 13 minutes. When the cooking time is up, let the apples sit NPR for 15 minutes. 

Open the vent, and release the pressure. 

Add the lemon juice, and using an emersion blender, carefully puree the cooked apples (yes, peel and all!). Taste the applesauce for sweetness, adjust as desired. 

Place the cooked applesauce into glass jars or the container of choice. 

Storage options for Whole Fruit Organic Applesauce. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. For longer storage store in freezer safe containers for up to three months. Let thaw in the refrigerator. 

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