This Simple Freezer Test Guarantees Perfect Apple Butter Every Time

There's something incredibly rewarding about making your own preserves, taking a glut of seasonal produce and turning it into treats you can enjoy the whole year round. Apple butter is a prime example of this. Although it takes some time to cook, the spread is very easy to make. The only part that trips up home cooks is knowing exactly when it's fully cooked.

Testing your apple butter for doneness is as simple as adding a teaspoonful to a plate that's been kept cold in the freezer. If the puree starts to separate and liquid seeps from the sides, you know it's not done yet. Wipe the plate clean and return it to the freezer before repeating the test after another 5 to 10 minutes of cooking.

Unless the apple butter has begun to scorch – a danger if it's not stirred often — there's no real problem in taking your homemade apple butter a little past the point of doneness. However, if this turns out thicker than what you enjoy, you can loosen the texture with a splash of apple juice or even apple cider.

If you're making apple butter purely for your own use, you might think it doesn't matter so much if it's a little runny. After all, store-bought apple butter can vary in thickness between brands without seemingly any issues. But if you want the batch to keep as long as possible, it pays to make sure it's made correctly.

The slow process of making apple butter isn't just about turning crisp fruit into a spreadable consistency; it's also about reducing water content. Microbes (including bacteria) need moisture to thrive, so the amount of moisture remaining in a given food can directly affect how quickly it spoils. If your apple butter isn't cooked enough, it can separate once it's in the jar and the liquid layer on top can develop mold more rapidly.

Of course, aiming for a thicker consistency makes it easier when it comes to using apple butter, too. Whether you're swirling it into yogurt or using it as a flavorful filling for apple danishes, you don't want any liquid leaking out of the spread. And as much as you might want tips for cooking apple butter that might speed up the process, the time spent at the stove is also going to reward you with a richer flavor.