Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe (5 minutes)

Instant pot applesauce recipe is the place to start for Instant Pot beginners!

We're easing into the Instant Pot lifestyle over here. ( I use the Instant Pot Mini, of course!)

I'm not one of those Instant Pot fanatics who makes absolutely everything in the Instant Pot. I bought it to make beans from scratch quickly, and that's really all I intended to use it for.

After I made a few pots of beans, I decided to branch out and tryInstant Pot Chicken Broth. It's impossible to mess up.

Then, I graduated from that by scaling down Melissa Clark's recipe for Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings.

So now that I fully trust my Instant Pot to make my two favorite foods, it was time to give it a try for baby food.

I tell anyone who asks how and why my kid eats salmon, sauerkraut, broccoli and plain yogurt, that it's because of baby food expert Michele at Baby FoodE. I'm a big believer in Michele's adventurous baby food purees with bold flavors and spices--I believe that's what gave Camille her broad palate.

Camille's first applesauce had plenty of spices, thanks to Michele. Then, it was an easy transition to Michele's carrot cake apple sauce, followed by her hot pink beet applesauce.

I also started Camille on savory foods first (like sweet potatoes, avocado and peas) before I gave her fruit. If you're curious, Camille's first months of eating went like this: sweet potato + breastmilk, mashed avocado, mashed banana, and then applesauce. (It sounds like you should check out my BABY FOOD section).

I added these mixtures to the store-bought baby cereals. I actually don't believe in making your own baby cereal, because the store-bought ones contain extra vitamins. It's the difference between pulverizing brown rice in your blender and using brown rice enriched with vitamins. It's the one baby food item I believe in buying!

Homemade baby food pouch info:

A great way to use this instant pot applesauce is to make homemade baby food pouches!

I portioned the applesauce into these Baby Brezza reusable baby food pouches. I have tried ALL kinds of baby food pouches, friends. Oh, let me tell you! I almost started a YouTube channel chronicling my frustration with homemade baby food pouch makers. But, these are the ONLY pouches I love! They fill from the side and they come with a funnel (it's the orange thing in the photo).

Plus, the Baby Brezza set is just $10! It will pay for itself immediately, because we all know how expensive baby food pouches are at the store (but what we don't know is what is really in them!).

After you fill them from the side, lay it flat on the counter and run your finger over the seal to double-check that it's sealed.

Other flavor options for instant pot applesauce:

After making this instant pot applesauce flavored with plain cinnamon, I added a beet the next time to make hot pink applesauce. Camille adores it! I can also suggest adding 3 whole carrots and carrot cake spices, just like Michelle's version!

These reusable baby food pouches are dishwasher safe (hallelujah!), and so easy to use. If you show me a baby food pouch system that has a suction or squeeze station, I will flip.my.lid. Do not buy those contraptions, unless you want to start an amusing YouTube channel, of course.

Another fun variation is mango apple sauce! I reduce the apples to 2 pounds and add 1 heaping cup of frozen mango chunks. The mango instant pot applesauce has a gorgeous orange color, and the mango brings so much sweetness that I don't use any honey or other sugar to taste. Sometimes, I like to grate in about 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger into my mango applesauce.

Instant Pot Applesauce

Instant pot applesauce with beet applesauce version, too!

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time5 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

2 ½ pounds fresh apples (mix Honeycrisp and 1 other variety)
juice of ½ a lemon
1 cinnamon stick
big pinch of pink salt
¼ cup water
1 small red beet (optional)
honey (to taste, optional)

Instructions

First, remove the core from all of the apples, and then chop the apples into quarters.
Place the apples in a 3-quart Instant Pot mini, squeeze the lemon juice on top, and add the cinnamon stick, salt and water. Give it a gentle stir. Make sure the cinnamon is near the bottom of the pot, not resting on the surface.
If you're adding the beet, peel it and chop it into 6 pieces before adding it to the pot.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot. Press the HIGH PRESSURE button, and then toggle the timer to 5 minutes.
The Instant Pot will beep and begin coming up to pressure. It will take about 15 minutes to reach pressure, and then the 5 minute cook time will begin.
Once the timer is up, let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure (ensure the silver valve is down before attempting to remove the lid; it will take about 20 minutes).
Remove the cinnamon stick, and either puree the contents of the pot in the blender or use an immersion blender to puree it right in the pot.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 102Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 41mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 4gSugar: 21gProtein: 1g

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Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe (5 minutes) | Dessert for Two (2024)

FAQs

How many pounds of pressure does it take to can applesauce? ›

Adjust lids and process as listed below: Boiling water canner: pints - 15 minutes, quarts - 20 minutes. Dial gauge pressure canner at 6 pounds of pressure: pints - 8 minutes, quarts - 10 minutes. Weighted gauge pressure canner at 5 pounds pressure: pints - 8 minutes, quarts - 10 minutes.

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Can you cook applesauce too long? ›

Making applesauce is not an all-day project. If it's cooking for much longer than 30-40 minutes, your apple pieces are too big, says Martinez.

What are the best apples for homemade applesauce? ›

The best apples for applesauce are whatever apples you have on hand and need to use up. However, if you have a choice, we recommend using a combination of sweet and tangy varieties for the best flavor. Popular sweet varieties include Honeycrisp and Fuji, while popular tangy varieties include Granny Smith and Braeburn.

Get More Info Here ›

Can you can applesauce without a pressure cooker? ›

Pour prepared applesauce into jars: Fill jars with applesauce leaving 1/2” of headspace. Use a small rubber spatula to scrape down the inside of the jar and remove any air bubbles. Wipe jar rims clean. Process in water-bath canner for 20 minutes.

Why do you add lemon juice to applesauce? ›

The secret to my dad's applesauce is that he adds a couple strips of lemon peel to the apples, as well as some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, while they are cooking. The tartness of the lemon or vinegar serves to intensify the taste of the apples, and helps balance out the sweetness of the sauce.

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Do I need to add lemon juice to canned applesauce? ›

Adding sugar to applesauce is optional…. However, lemon juice is not an optional addition. Lemon juice is added to help preserve the apples' natural colour and to assure the acidity of the finished product, since different varieties and harvesting conditions can produce apples of lower acidity.”

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What apples should I avoid when making applesauce? ›

Just be sure to stay away from Red Delicious apples, which are great for snacking on, but don't do well when cooked. When it comes to flavor, the best apples to use are a combination of sweet, tart, and tangy.

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Should I peel apples for applesauce? ›

The process calls for cooking quartered, unpeeled apples—cores, seeds and all—until they break down into a mush, then sieving that mush to obtain a purée—aka applesauce. And oh, what an applesauce it is. The pectin in the apple skin and seeds makes it thick and glistening even before any sweetener is added.

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Why did my homemade applesauce turn brown? ›

Many people report that the top of the jar of applesauce gradually turns brown. What is happening is the sauce has not been heated adequately to stop all enzymatic reactions and there is enough oxygen in the headspace to react with the enzymes.

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How long will homemade applesauce last? ›

And in case you're wondering, varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and McIntosh are the best apples for applesauce. How long will homemade applesauce last? It'll stay good for four to six days stored in the fridge. You could also can it to make it last longer, but that's a lesson for another day.

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How long do you can applesauce in a water bath? ›

Clean - Use a canning knife to press out any air bubbles in the applesauce and wipe the rims to ensure a food seal. Top - Fit 2-piece lids on each jar and place in the pot of water and increase the heat. Process - Once the water is boiling, process for 20 minutes (pints and quarts).

How to make canned applesauce taste better? ›

Start by toasting a half-teaspoon of your favorite ground baking spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice) in a small skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Transfer to a small bowl to stop the cooking, then stir in a pinch or two of the spice into your applesauce, adding more to taste.

What happens if I use 15 lbs pressure instead of 10 when canning tomatoes? ›

Part of the problem is when 15 lb. pressure is used and zero or one minute processing, there is not sufficient time for all of the air to vent out of the canner and for the internal canner temperature to raise. Using 15 lb. pressure at zero or one minute processing will increase spoilage.”

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Can I pressure can applesauce? ›

Pressure Canning Applesauce

Add 3 quarts of water to your pressure canner and put it on a burner set to high. Make sure there is a canning rack in the bottom of the canner. Using canning tongs, gently place the jars in the canner.

What weight should I use for pressure canning? ›

The pressure for processing low acid foods at or below 1,000 feet is 10 pounds for a weighted gauge canner. (A 5 pound weight is used for high acid foods.) At altitudes above 1,000 feet, the only choice is to use the 15 pound weight.