Here is how to turn one bag of apples into Sauce, Butter, Cider, and Jelly with zero waste.
1. Instant Pot Applesauce (The Base)
The fastest way to process apples. No peeling required, BUT RECOMMENDED for your other recipes.
Ingredients:
●3 lbs Apples (Roughly chopped),
●½ cup Water,
●Cinnamon, grated (optional).
Method:
Toss apples and water into the pot.
Cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes.
Quick Release.
Blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
Note: If you want it chunky, peel the apples first!
2. Instant Pot Apple Butter (The Upgrade)
Cook the water out of the sauce to make it spreadable and rich.
Ingredients: 1 batch of the Applesauce above, ½ cup Brown Sugar, 1 tsp Cloves/Nutmeg/Allspice.
Method:
Keep the applesauce in the pot. Add sugar and spices.
Turn IP to Sauté (Low) or Slow Cook (Less).
Cook with the lid off (or slightly covered to stop splattering) for 1–3 hours.
It is done when it turns dark brown and stays in a mound on a spoon (no liquid weeping out).
3. Zero-Waste "Scrap" Cider
Use the cores and peels you would normally throw away.
Ingredients: Apple cores & peels, Water, 2 Cinnamon sticks.
Method:
Place scraps in the Instant Pot.
Add water until scraps are just covered.
Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes.
Natural Release for 10 minutes.
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Sweeten with maple syrup( or honey)) to taste.
4. Apple Scrap Jelly
The magic trick. Apples have high pectin, so this liquid will gel on its own if boiled with sugar.
Ingredients:
●2 cups of the "Scrap Cider" (unsweetened),
●2 cups White Sugar.
Method:
Take your strained scrap liquid (before adding syrup).
Add an equal amount of sugar (1:1 ratio is crucial).
Boil on Sauté (High) or stovetop.
Boil until the mixture reaches 220°F (105°C) on a candy thermometer.
Pour into a jar and let cool. It will set into a firm jelly!
Storage Tips:
-Fridge: Sauce and Cider last 7–10 days.
-Freezer: Butter and Sauce freeze perfectly for 6 months.
-Canning: These recipes are acidic enough for water-bath canning if you want them shelf-stable (process for 10-15 mins).
