Despite being dry, freeze-dried apples intensify in natural sweetness and flavor, making them an incredibly tasty and convenient snack. This preservation method not only locks in flavor and nutrients but also significantly extends the shelf life of your apples. Whether you’re munching on them as a snack or saving them for future baking and cooking, freeze-dried apples are a must-have for any well-stocked pantry. If you’re new to freeze-drying, don’t worry—it’s surprisingly simple! I’m here to share my top tips for successfully freeze-drying apples at home

If you like freeze-drying fruit to enjoy all year long you'll love these freeze-dried strawberries.

Benefits Of Freeze Drying Apples

• Long Shelf Life-Freeze-dried apples can last for up to 20 years when properly stored, making them an excellent option for long-term food storage. Freeze-drying removes all of the moisture, unlike dehydrating. This prevents spoilage and maintains the apple's original flavor and nutrients.
• Retains Nutritional Value- Unlike other preservation methods, freeze-drying retains most of the apple's vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This means you still get all the health benefits of fresh apples in a convenient long-lasting shelf-stable form.
• Lightweight and Portable- Dried apple slices are incredibly lightweight, making them easy to store, transport, and pack for on-the-go snacks, hiking trips, or emergency preparedness kits. They’re also a great option for school lunches or healthy road trip snacks.
• Versatile in Cooking-Freeze-dried apples can be used in a variety of recipes. From rehydrating them for baking (like pies and muffins) to using them as crunchy toppings for salads, oatmeal, or yogurt, their versatility makes them a valuable addition to your pantry.
• No Need for Refrigeration freeze-dried, apples don’t need to be refrigerated or frozen, saving valuable space in your fridge or freezer. Their long shelf life, paired with the ease of storage in a cool, dry place, makes them ideal for those looking to preserve food without relying on refrigeration.

Equipment

The main piece of equipment needed for home freeze-drying is a freeze dryer. I own a Large Harvest Right Freeze Dryer which has 6 large trays and can hold approximately 12-16 pounds of fresh food per batch. This size is great for homesteaders who want to preserve larger amounts of fruits, vegetables, or even meals in bulk. But there are smaller and larger options available.

Other equipment that is optional but makes freeze-drying apples easier:

• Corer slicer peeler (for even thin slices)
• Sharp knife
• Cutting Board
• An Extra Set of freeze dryer trays & lids- this allows you to bulk batch the apples and have one set in the deep freezer while the other one is processing.
• Silicone mats or parchment paper for lining the trays. (extremely helpful with apples)
• Oxygen absorbers
• Wide mouth Mason Jars
• Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer
• Harvest Right 7mil thick mylar bags

Tips For Success

1. Choose firm, ripe apples. Whether you visit a local orchard or farmers market to buy apples in bulk you'll want to ensure they are not over-ripe or bruised before you begin preparing the apples for the freeze-dryer.

2. Prepare the apples by washing and drying them thoroughly before slicing. I recommend using an Apple Peeler that both cuts and cores at the same time to create uniform slices quickly—this handy tool also removes the peels if you prefer. If you don't have one, you can use a sharp knife to slice the apples, just be sure to keep them at a consistent thickness for even drying.

3. Dip the sliced apples in a 1-part lemon juice and 2-part water mixture. This will prevent the apples from oxidizing and turning brown during the preparation and drying process. This is purely for aesthetics and is optional, however, It does add a touch of tartness we like and keeps the apples looking pretty.

4. Layering Apples in the freeze dryer is a great way to maximize the yield from a batch of apples. When layering fruit on the freeze-drying trays the only rule to follow is to be sure the fruit does not extend above the rim of the tray. When processing apples I like to stack them tightly as shown in the pictures below to get the most out of one run. It probably will take longer to process a load with tightly packed fruit, however statically it won't take twice as long so you'll be saving time and energy by filling the trays as full as possible. Don't waste all that time and energy running apples in a single layer! 

4. Pre-freeze the apples if possible. I know not everyone has freezer space for trays, but if you do, this step can help shorten the freeze-drying process, reducing the machine's run time and minimizing electricity usage.

5. Check for complete dryness. Freeze-dried apples will be light and brittle. Depending on the variety of apples being used they can also be described as having a styrofoam-like texture. In my experience, our apples are light, airy, and crisp. Unlike dehydrated apples, freeze-dried ones are brittle and break apart easily, almost dissolving in your mouth. Using tools like a digital scale can help to determine if your freeze-dried food is completely dry. 

6. Properly storing freeze-dried apples is arguably the most important tip.

1. For long-term storage (up to 20 years), use 7-mil thick Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.
2. For shorter-term storage (12-18 months), use wide-mouth mason jars with a vacuum sealer works well.
3. Always store your freeze-dried apples in a cool, dry place, away from light.

How-To

1. Prepare:
   Wash apples in cool water and remove any leaves and debris. Discard any that have holes or bad spots.
2. Set Up Your Work Area:
   Begin by organizing your workspace to ensure efficiency. Place the apple corer, cutting board, and knife within easy reach.
3. Core and Slice the Apples:
   Use the apple corer/slicer to perfectly cut the apples into spirals. Some may even have the option to peel, however, I never peel my apples for freeze-drying. Then, carefully cut down one side of the apple to create perfectly shaped apple rings.
4. Prepare the Lemon Juice Solution:
   In a medium-sized bowl, mix 1 part organic lemon juice with 2 parts water. This solution will help preserve the color of the apples and is optional, but I highly recommend it.
5. Dredge the Apple Rings:
   Dip each apple ring into the lemon juice and water mixture, allowing any excess liquid to drip off.
6. Arrange the Trays:
   Set up your trays lined with silicone mats just beyond the dredging bowl.
7. Transfer the Apples:
   As you remove the apple rings from the lemon juice solution, place apple slices directly onto the prepared trays.
8. Freeze Dry:
   Turn on the freeze dryer and follow the start-up steps. The harvest right requires a 15-minute start-up cycle to cool the chamber prior to loading the trays. Once the machine indicates it's ready load the trays, close the drain valve, and select Continue on the display screen.
9. Weight Trays:
   When the freeze-drying cycle is complete, slowly open the drain valve. Remove the top tray and weigh it on a scale that measures in grams. Record the weight, then place the tray back into the machine. Repeat this process for each tray. Once all trays are weighed, close the drain valve, select 'More Dry Time,' and run the machine for an additional 2 hours. After the cycle, weigh each tray again and compare the new weights to the previous ones. If the weight continues to decrease, the apples are not yet fully dry and need more time. If the weight stays the same, your apples are fully dried and ready to store.
10. Drying Time:
    Typically a very full run of apples in my large home freeze dryer they cycle time take about 50 hours to complete. I always error on adding additional dry time to ensure my food is fully dry. 

Creative Ways to Use Freeze-Dried Apples

1. Trail Mix:
   Combine freeze-dried apples with nuts, seeds, and other dried fruits for an easy snack on the go.
2. Breakfast Topping:
   Add them to oatmeal, yogurt, or smoothie bowls for a natural sweetness and crunchy texture.
3. Hot Apple Cider:
   Add smaller pieces to spiced apple cider for a fun fall festive drink.
4. Baking:
   Incorporate freeze-dried apples into muffins, breads, or pancakes for added flavor and moisture.
5. Cereal Add-In:
   Sprinkle them over your favorite cereal or granola.
6. Homemade Apple Chips:
   Enjoy them just as they are! Freeze-dried apples plain or with a little bit of cinnamon for a delicious snack.
7. Rehydrated Snacks:
   Soak them in water for a few minutes to rehydrate and enjoy them as a fresh snack.
8. Apple Sauce:
   Blend freeze-dried apples with a bit of cinnamon, then reconstitute with a 1:1 apple-to-water ratio.
9. Salads:
   Toss freeze-dried apples into salads for a sweet crunch, pairing well with nuts and cheese.
10. Dessert Topping:
    Use them to top ice cream, pancakes, or waffles.
11. Smoothies:
    Blend them into smoothies for natural sweetness and fiber.
12. Cheese Pairing:
    Serve freeze-dried apples alongside cheese for a delicious charcuterie board.
13. Granola Bars:
    Mix into homemade granola or energy bars for a chewy texture and flavor.
14. Gift Ideas:
    Package them in jars with a label as a thoughtful gift for friends or family who love cooking or snacking.