So Many Ways to Preserve Ambrosia Apples

How to Enjoy Ambrosia Apples All the Way to Harvest

The Ambrosia apple harvest is still months away which could mean that stocks in your area are running low. Don’t panic! We have 9 ways to ensure that you can continue to enjoy Ambrosia apples right up until we’re picking a fresh new crop in September.

Here are 9 ways to preserve your Ambrosia apples:

Canning

This method has been around for a long, long time for a good reason. It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to preserve fruit. You have a choice here to either keep it simple with apple slices in lemon water or to create apple pie filling. Either way, Ambrosia apples do really well because they are crispy and won’t fall apart in the process. Make sure you follow proper canning procedure to ensure the food-safety of your canned apples.

Fermenting

There are also two options for this method – fermented apple slices or apple cider vinegar. If you’re looking to ferment your Ambrosia slices, the process only takes a couple of days. After they are fermented to your taste, the jars can be moved to the refrigerator for future enjoyment.

However, if you’re looking to ferment Ambrosia apple juice, you can make apple cider vinegar. This is an easy process and well worth it for the health benefits. Check out these details.

Hard Apple Cider

Speaking of fermenting, you could also use Ambrosia apple juice as the base for an alcoholic drink. However, this kind of home-brewing does require a specialized skill set so you if you decide this is how you want to preserve your Ambrosia then you should work with an expert or take a course.

Apple Butter

If you have access to a slow cooker then making apple butter is one of the best options for preserving your Ambrosia apples. We shared this recipe for Turmeric Ambrosia Apple Butter a while ago and it’s still one of our favourites! If you’re not a fan of turmeric, you can always substitute in other spices like classic cinnamon or spicy cayenne.

Freezing

If you’re hard pressed for time and you want to get your Ambrosia apples preserved quickly, this is probably your best method. Here are some tips on how to do it right, and a few suggestions on what you can do with your frozen apples.

Dehydrating

Drying your apples can be done with a dehydrator or in the oven. You can cut them thinly for a crispy chip or you can cut them a little thicker for a chewy snack. Dehydrated apples aren’t just for snacking. You can also chop them up and add them to breakfast bowls, oatmeal, salads, or various baked goods.

Fruit Leather

This one is for the young ones, the young at heart, or anyone who loves to snack on the go. This simple recipe can be made a variety of ways including adding different spices or rolling it out thicker so it feels more like a fruit bar than fruit leather. No matter how you do it, it’s a great way to preserve your Ambrosia apples.

Jam, Jelly, or Chutney

This is another classic way for you to preserve your Ambrosia apples. You can make a lovely jelly using Ambrosia apple juice that tastes great with cheese on a cracker. You could also puree your apples for a more jam-like consistency, or keep bigger pieces in the mix for a chutney-style preserve. It’s all in the spices and the process but no matter which you choose (or if you choose them all) just remember that Ambrosia apples are naturally sweet so you might want to cut the sugar down a little bit.

Fresh

Okay, so this one isn’t really about preserving Ambrosia apples in the traditional sense. We’re including it on the list because we wanted to remind you that if you store your Ambrosia apples correctly, they will stay fresh for a long time. Here are a few tips on storing fresh Ambrosia apples for longer.

We hope one (or several) of these options inspires you and keeps you in your Ambrosia apple happy-place right up until harvest-time this fall.

Ambrosia Apples