Dried apples are a great alternative to fresh apples when you don’t have time to bake with them. They can be used as a topping for ice cream, as an ingredient for granola bars, or even in your favorite winter drink. When it comes to storage, would freezing dried apples be an option?
Yes, you can freeze dried apples. Freezing dried apples is a great way to preserve them so you will have a tasty and nutritious snack to eat anytime. It is a simple process that will keep the flavor and nutrients of the apples for up 12 to 18 months.
Why You Should Freeze Your Dried Apples
There are many reasons why you should freeze your dried apples. First, freezing your apples effectively preserves them for long periods of time. This is a great option for people on the go who don’t have the time to make their own dried apple slices and will be away from home for an extended period of time and/or can’t take fresh apples with them.
Second, freezing your apples is not hard at all!
How To Freeze Dried Apples
Drying apples is a great way to preserve them. While dried apples are delicious, they can be used in a variety of recipes as well. Freezing dried apples is an excellent way to ensure they are always on hand when needed. To freeze dried apples:
Step 1: Prepare the Apples
Wash, peel, and core your apples. Slice them into rings or chunks. Cut large slices into smaller pieces so that they will dry evenly. Remove any seeds or bruised areas from the outside of the fruit before drying it.
Step 2: Dry Your Apples
Place your apple slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper and set them in an oven preheated to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) until they are brittle for about six hours. Check on them periodically during this time and toss them around occasionally with wooden utensils so that all sides get exposed to heat from the oven and dry evenly.
The exact drying time depends on how much moisture is left in the fruit after peeling, slicing, and coring, but do not allow for more than eight hours of total drying time or you risk damaging your fruit with too much heat exposure.
Step 3: Store Your Dried Apples
Freeze the apples for about three days so that they can get rid of any moisture in them. This process prevents ice crystals from forming inside your freezer bags when you put your dried apples inside them. Once three days have passed, drain out all the water from your freezer bags and place it back into the freezer for storage.
How Long Can You Freeze Dried Apples?
You can freeze dried apples for 12-18 months, but it’s best to use them within a year for optimal taste and freshness.
How Do You Defrost Dried Apples?
Dried apples are a problem for many people. When the apples are dried out, they become hard and brittle.
There are a few ways to help the apples retain their softness. One way is to soak them in water and sugar overnight.
Another way is to put them on top of the refrigerator or freezer in order to defrost them slowly.
Can You Refreeze Dried Apples?
Freezing dried apples is a great way to preserve them. The downside is that once you’ve thawed them, they’re not quite as good as fresh apples. That’s because the texture of frozen fruit becomes mushy when it is re-frozen.
If you want to use your thawed dried apples in baking, you should not refreeze them. They will have lost their texture and will not be suitable for baking. If you just want to eat the dried apples, then you can refreeze them after thawing them out.
The reason why refreezing thawed dried apples does not work well is that the texture becomes mushy when it is re-frozen. This can ruin baked goods such as pies and cakes if they are made with dried fruit instead of fresh fruit.
Related Questions
Can you freeze apples?
You can freeze apples, but they’ll lose their texture and flavor.
Apples are a great choice for freezing because they can be eaten raw or cooked. They make a good addition to smoothies and baked goods, too.
The best way to freeze apples is to cut them into bite-sized pieces first, then seal them in freezer bags. If you want to use them later as slices or wedges, simply thaw them in the fridge until they’re ready to use.
You can also freeze whole apples if you don’t mind eating them frozen. Just wash, core, and slice them before freezing them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or wax paper. Transfer the slices into freezer bags once they’re frozen solid.
When and how can you eat the frozen apple slices?
You can have frozen applesauce as a snack or dessert anytime, but there are some specific times when they are especially helpful:
Before bedtime — Eating a snack before bedtime can help prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night with a growling stomach.
After a workout — Eating an apple just after exercising helps your body replenish its glycogen stores, which are depleted during exercise.
If you’re having trouble sleeping — Studies suggest that eating foods containing tryptophan (an amino acid) at least two hours before bedtime can help improve sleep quality by increasing melatonin production. Apples contain tryptophan, making them a good choice for helping you get to sleep quickly when eating late at night.