Can You Use Frozen Apples In A Pie Filling?

There are few things that come to mind that are as American as apple pie. However, it might be surprising to learn this favored dessert did not originate in the United States. Humanity has been eating it up since at least the 14th Century, thanks to the English. Still, according to Instacart's trends expert, Laurentia Romaniuk, who spoke to Fox Business, this fruity dish is the most popular pie people across the nation purchase and gobble up at backyard parties and festive holidays. Of course, when time slows down and the baking bug bites, many people also like to make their own.

What's the best way to make apple pie? It all starts with a great flaky crust that is golden and delicious. But when it comes to the filling, you may be wondering about the apples you use. There are over 7,500 different types of apples, with 2,500 grown in the U.S., and when it comes to the best apples for baking, there are plenty to choose from depending on what's in season. A hard-to-find Esopus Spitzenburg apple may top your list, but unless you have squirreled some away in the freezer, you may have to settle on Pink Lady or Granny Smith apples. And if you do have some of those Spitzenburgs hiding in the freezer, can you use the frozen apples to make apple pie?

While fresh is best, the answer is yes, you can indeed make an apple pie using frozen apples to create a tasty pie. Some apples are going to freeze better than others. Empire, Jonagold, and Cortland are some of the better ones to slice up. But, if you opt for frozen over fresh, there are a few things you might want to take note of.

You can use frozen apples in your apple pie recipe without thawing them. This is the best way to work with this fruit or its texture can be on the mushy side. Baking your pie without thawing the frozen apples will help ensure they keep their shape — but you might need to adjust the cook time and bake your pie a little longer.

But if you do allow your frozen apples to thaw, you are going to want to make certain you let them do so overnight so all the liquid can be released and then drained. This will also cause your apples to lose volume, so you should thaw more than you think you are going to need. Thawing your apples will also change the texture of the filling and could make it more like a soft apple preserve than the crunchy apple bite you are used to.