If you love homemade applesauce, here’s some great ways to can it without using sugar!
Author:Elise
Ingredients
Scale
15–16 pounds of apples
Bottled lemon juice
water
cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Prepare apples by quartering, if using a food mill, or coring and peeling if using a blender or potato masher
Steam apples, or boil gently in a few inches of water until tender, stirring up from the bottom a few times to make sure the apples on top get cooked
Process or puree apples
For every 4 cups of applesauce, stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
If desired, add cinnamon at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per 8 cups.
To can:
I like to use the cold pack process for canning as I don’t have to worry about the temperature of anything that way.
Ladle applesauce into prepared (clean, sterile) jars
Wipe rims with a clean cloth
Screw down lids and rings
To prepare canning kettle: fit with rack (to separate jars from direct heat), set on stove, and fill halfway with water
Add jars, doing your best to make sure there is space between jars so they don’t touch
Fill canner with additional water if needed to cover jars by an inch
Top canner with lid
Heat to rolling boil
Continue boiling for 20 minutes
Remove heat, and let cool, if possible as long as needed
If you do need to remove jars from the canner while they’re hot, remove them with a jar lifter to set them on a towel-covered counter, then cover jars with a heavy towel to protect them from drafts and possible breakage
After 24 hours, test for seal. At this point, rings may be removed from jars if desired
If any jars haven’t sealed, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week, or re-can them with new lids.