[cheshirecheese]

I've just bought a load of Bramleys at a knock-down price from the supermarket, and know I won't manage to use them all before they go over.  Is it best to peel, core and slice them and then open freeze them on a tray?  And does freezing affect the pectin levels?

[arugula]

I think they'll go brown if you try and freeze them like that, unless you can cover in lemon juice etc but I still don't know how effective that would be. Can you cook them at all? There is some advice here about using the apple cores etc to cook up and make a pectin juice.

[cheshirecheese]

I don't really want to cook them, because I'll mainly be using them for chutneys etc.  I know I can keep the peel and cores to use for pectin stock, but just wondered about the flesh itself.  Lemon juice is a thought, but for chutneys it doesn't really matter if they go a bit brown as long as they still taste and cook ok!! 

If anyone has experience of freezing 'uncooked cookers', the info would be great 

[arugula]

Lemon juice is a thought, but for chutneys it doesn't really matter if they go a bit brown as long as they still taste and cook ok!! 

That's fair enough, you didn't actually say what you were going to do with them.

[cheshirecheese]

That's fair enough, you didn't actually say what you were going to do with them.

Sorry - just assumed you were telepathic I guess!!!       Really just need to know whether they'll freeze ok like that (or any other way that's easy)  

[arugula]

That's OK, but I do think cooking or blanching might be needed. See what the experts say though.

[cheshirecheese]

Found this page on the internet, which suggests three methods of freezing apples ... including freezing them whole, which I hadn't even imagined!! :blink:

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/freezingfoods/qt/Freezing_Apples.htm

[grendel]

all we do with our cooker eaters is t o prrl and core them (we have one of those machines from lakeland that peel, core and slice in a spiral) put in vaccuum bags and freeze, with no air they dont go brown. we bag in 1/2 kg bags and when we want apples for sauce or desserts we pull one two or three bags out and cook them from frozen.
Grendel

[Trillium]

For years we just peel, core, slice and shove them in freezer bags with the air squeezed out. They discolour very slightly but never enough that you wouldn't want to use them or that anything is noticed once they're cooked. When you do 2 bushels at a time, it's the easiest way, especially at the price of vacuum sealer bags.

[cheshirecheese]

Brilliant - thanks guys 

[sarajane]

Like others, Peel, slice, bag then freeze.  I've done this for years and although they go slightly brown, taste and texture still good for pies, crumbles chutneys etc.

[Madame Cholet]

thank you i never seem to have enough time in the autumn and i have a peeler.

[Trillium]

thank you i never seem to have enough time in the autumn and i have a peeler.

This is when you haul in the troops (if you have them) and tell them if they expect to eat any of the apples, they'd best help by getting an assembly line going. That's the only way I can manage 2 bushels in one day. One peels, the other cores and slices, I bag, label and chuck them into the freezer.
You might also want to look into the mechanical peelers. They save a lot of time and do a good job. If friends have any, ask how they like them before you buy. Not all are great.

[Madame Cholet]

thank you i never seem to have enough time in the autumn and i have a peeler.

This is when you haul in the troops (if you have them) and tell them if they expect to eat any of the apples, they'd best help by getting an assembly line going. That's the only way I can manage 2 bushels in one day. One peels, the other cores and slices, I bag, label and chuck them into the freezer.
You might also want to look into the mechanical peelers. They save a lot of time and do a good job. If friends have any, ask how they like them before you buy. Not all are great.

I struck lucky and picked up a peeler corer from a charity shop for £2.00

[grendel]

they do really speed up the process, you end up with a coil ofapple, I just cut down one side to get rings for drying or in half to bag for freezing.
Grendel