Apples are one of North America’s most popular fruits, and fall, when they are fresh and crisp, straight from the orchard, is the best time of year to enjoy them. If your family’s traditions include picking fresh apples in the autumn, but you can’t eat them all before they start to spoil, these tips are for you.

Ways To Preserve Apples

Here are some popular, and surprisingly simple, ways to preserve fresh apples so you can enjoy them all year long!

1. Freezing

To store apples for use in pies and other recipes, peel, core, and slice them to the desired size, freeze them on trays, then transfer them to freezer bags for storage. Then simply use them straight from the freezer in your favorite recipes like muffins, cakes, cobblers, and pies.

To Prevent Browning: Dip the apple slices in lemon juice, pineapple juice, or salt water before freezing. You can also pack them in a sugar syrup, or blanch them (plunge them into boiling water) for 90 seconds.

2. Applesauce

3. Apple Cider

4. Apple Butter

5. Apple Jelly

Ingredients: 3 1/2 pounds apples, cored and diced 3 cups water 7 1/2 cups white sugar 1 2-oz. package powdered fruit pectin

Applesauce

Apple Cider

Apple Butter

Apple Jelly

Directions: Place apples in a large pot and cover with water. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Using a potato masher, crush apples and simmer for 5 more minutes. Transfer crushed apples to a sieve or piece of cheesecloth and press until all liquid has drained from the apple mash. Stir sugar into the juice and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Add pectin and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off excess foam with a metal spoon. Quickly pour the hot mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rims clean and cover immediately with metal lids, and screw on bands. Process in a boiling-water bath for 5 minutes. Carefully remove jars from water to cool.

Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.

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