Homemade Instant Pot applesauce is the easiest and fastest way to make homemade applesauce that tastes so much better than store-bought. All you need is your favorite variety of apples, water, and cinnamon if desired.
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The Instant Pot is a staple in my kitchen. Normally, I am not one to give up precious countertop real estate, but for something with as much versatility as a pressure cooker, I am willing to make an exception.
I’m constantly making homemade yogurt, chicken broth, hard boiled eggs, and so much more. It truly is a kitchen staple.
The other day, after finding the 10th half eaten apple laying around the house, I put my beloved appliance to the task of making homemade applesauce.
Homemade applesauce is super simple, delicious, and takes very little hands-on time.
I made the whole process super easy by using a stainless steel food mill. With this method you can throw the apples straight into the instant pot without peeling, coring and cutting them.
Of course, if you do not have a food mill, you can use the same process but peel, core and cut the apples into chunks prior to cooking.
Whichever way you prefer, I promise this easy Instant Pot applesauce recipe will become a fall staple in your home.
Why I Love This Recipe
Easy recipe: No peeling, chopping, coring. Minimal effort required. Just toss washed apples into the Instant Pot with a little water.
Best flavor: Homemade beats store-bought applesauce any day.
Great way to use up fall apples. There is nothing more nostalgic than going to the apple orchard during the fall to pick fresh apples from the tree.
Ingredients
Apples (any variety will do): If you are planning to can this applesauce you may want to add some lemon juice as some varieties of apples do not have enough acidity to make them safe for canning.
Cinnamon (optional)
Supplies Needed
Stainless Steel Food Mill: This removed all the seeds, skins, and cores revealing smooth applesauce. If you do not have a food mill other options are a potato masher (for a chunky appearance), immersion blender, or food processor. I would suggest if you plan to use these other devices, to peel and core apples before cooking.
How to Make Applesauce in the Instant Pot
Step 1: Wash the unpeeled apples thoroughly and add them to the Instant Pot. For 10-12 apples add 1/2 cup filtered water. For a 6 quart Instant Pot full of apples, add 3/4 cup to 1 cup filtered water. The apples release a lot of liquid during the cooking process, so I find that it is best to use a very small amount of liquid.
Step 2: Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Natural release for a few minutes and then let out the rest of the pressure.
Step 3: Ladle a few cups of cooked apples into the food mill. Spin the handle until all the cooked apples go through the mill, and all seeds and peels are on the top.
Step 4: Repeat until you have put all the cooked apples through the food mill. I find that it is best to work in small batches and not overfill the food mill. If you do, the holes will get clogged up with peels and it will be hard to get the applesauce through.
Add a teaspoon of cinnamon, if desired, and give it a good stir.
I chose to not add any additional sweetener, but you could drizzle in a little honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup at this point if you want it to be a little sweeter.
Step 5: Use a funnel to pour the finished applesauce in pint size mason jars.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7-10 days.
Canning instructions:
Prepare a water bath canner with water over high heat.
Ladle hot applesauce into your jars, leaving 1/2″ headspace at the top. Remove air bubbles by sticking a non-metal utensil in the jar and moving it around the outside perimeter.
Wipe around the rim to remove any excess applesauce. Cap with a new canning lid and ring to fingertip tightness.
Process the jars in a water bath canner for 15 minutes for pints and 20 minutes for quarts (this is at 0-1000 ft elevation). Remove the jars and sit them on the counter for 12-24 hours. Check to make sure they are sealed by pressing on the lid to see if it pops. If it makes a sound when you press it, it is not canned. When the seal is tight and the center down you are good to go! If not, place in the fridge, or reheat the sauce and repeat the canning process.
Tips:
- I find that it is best to work in small batches and not overfill the food mill. If you do, the holes will get clogged up with peels and it will be hard to get the applesauce through.
- While I usually just add whole apples directly to the Instant Pot, you can fit more apples into the Instant Pot by chopping and coring the apples. You can still leave the peels on.
- If you do not have an Instant Pot, you can also just use a slow cooker. Place all the apples into a slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Once soft, run through the food mill.
- To get smooth applesauce without a food mill, peel and chop the apples and then run them through a blender, food process, or use an immersion blender.
FAQ
You can use any variety of apples to make delicious homemade applesauce. If you prefer a more tart sauce, use more tart apples like Granny smith. Prefer a sweeter sauce, use sweet apples like Pink Lady or Honeycrisp.
About two medium sized apples will produce about a cup of applesauce.
Yes. Freeze in a freezer safe container or mason jar (make sure to leave at least an inch of headspace to prevent the glass from cracking)
This will depend on the variety of apples you are using to make the sauce. In the Ball canning book ‘Complete Book Of Home Preservation’ they say adding lemon juice is required to the sauce to ensure appropriate acidity for water bath canning, but according to the National Center For Home Food Preservation, they never mention adding lemon juice.
In the refrigerator, applesauce stored in an airtight container will last 7-10 days. If canned, it will be shelf stable for up to 18 months.
Find more delicious apple recipes:
- Maple Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Apples
- Sourdough Apple Pie
- Sourdough Apple French Toast Casserole
- Healthy Apple Butter
- Sausage and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Instant Pot Applesauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10-12 medium apples
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Wash the unpeeled apples thoroughly and add them to the Instant Pot. For 10-12 apples add 1/2 cup filtered water. For a 6 quart Instant Pot full of apples, add 3/4 cup to 1 cup filtered water. The apples release a lot of liquid during the cooking process, so I find that it is best to use a very small amount of liquid.
- Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Natural release for a few minutes and then let out the rest of the pressure.
- Ladle a few cups of cooked apples into the food mill. Spin the handle until all the cooked apples go through the mill, and all seeds and peels are on the top.
- Repeat until you have put all the cooked apples through the food mill. I find that it is best to work in small batches and not overfill the food mill. If you do, the holes will get clogged up with peels and it will be hard to get the applesauce through.
- Add a teaspoon of cinnamon, if desired, and give it a good stir.
- I chose to not add any additional sweetener, but you could drizzle in a little honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup at this point if you want it to be a little sweeter.
- Use a funnel to pour the finished applesauce in pint size mason jars.
Notes
- I find that it is best to work in small batches and not overfill the food mill. If you do, the holes will get clogged up with peels and it will be hard to get the applesauce through.
- While I usually just add whole apples directly to the Instant Pot, you can fit more apples into the Instant Pot by chopping and coring the apples. You can still leave the peels on.
- If you do not have an Instant Pot, you can also just use a slow cooker. Place all the apples into a slow cooker on low for 8 hours. Once soft, run through the food mill.
- To get smooth applesauce without a food mill, peel and chop the apples and then run them through a blender, food process, or use an immersion blender.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hello from New Zealand!
Would you mind terrible letting me know the “gram” amount of apples you used? I have a fridge full of organic apples and I’d love to make some of this for may daughter’s school lunch.
Do you know if there is a way to “ferment” applesauce to lower sugar and increase food bacteria??
Here’s a conversion chart. I’ve not personally fermented applesauce.
Why don’t you link to the same food mill you show in your photo? Your photo appears to be the OXO food mill……..
Can I make this without a food mill?
Yes, you can.
Is there any way to make this not using the instant pot? What temp would it need to cook on, and for how long?
I love all your videos and blogs!! I’m learning lots of homesteading from you! And my family loves it!
Thank you! Yes. You can just use a pot or even a slow cooker. I would cook on a low heat until the apples are soft. This will depend on variety and amount of apples you have.
I have so many hard pears. I’m thinking of using them in this recipe instead of apples. Should be good right?
Hi! You’ve sold me on the Instant Pot! What size do you use in your recipes? The 6-qt or 8-qt? Thank you!
Hi! You’ve sold me on getting an Instant Pot! What size do you use in your recipes? Thank you!
I recently bought the same tea towels from ikea, they’re terrible! Once washed they’re so rough and incredibly wrinkly! I even hung them to dry then tried to fluffed them in the dryer. What’s your secret?! I really don’t want to iron them lol.
Oh wow. I don’t know why that is. I do have two dryer balls and two tennis balls in the dryer. Maybe that helps?
I use 4 dryer balls 🙁 I even sprung for a dryer sheet to see if it would help haha. I’m in Canada, maybe they’re made different… But they’re so pretty! ?
Oh man! So that isn’t it. I don’t know what else to suggest. 🙁
What a great idea! I’ve gotta do this. Love your practical cooking tips, Lisa! Do you think adding lemon juice would help to prevent Browning of the applesauce? Also, would you recommend freezing the applesauce to make a huge batch last longer than it would in fridge? Don’t know how you manage it all with a newborn and the littles…you’re amazing, Lisa!
Thank you so much Hannah! Yes, I think lemon juice would be a great option to prevent browning. Also, I have frozen it in ziplock bags before. Works great!