What Is Apple juice and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about apple juice and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 299 recipes to cook tonight.

What is apple juice?

Apple juice is the strained, filtered juice pressed from apples. It is clear and pale gold, with a clean sweet-tart flavor and not much body.

It carries a high natural sugar load, and many store-bought brands add more on top.

In cooking it earns its place less as a drink and more as a workhorse liquid. It adds gentle sweetness and a faint fruit note wherever you might otherwise reach for water or stock.

Apple Juice vs Apple Cider

The two get used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Apple juice is filtered and pasteurized, so it stays clear and shelf-stable.

Cider is the raw, unfiltered press. It is cloudy and browner, far more apple-forward, with the tannin and tartness that filtering strips out of juice. Cider also spoils faster and usually needs the fridge.

For a deep, autumnal apple flavor, cider wins. For a neutral sweet liquid that will not muddy a dish, juice is the safer pick.

Cooking With Apple Juice

Its best trick is as a braising and poaching liquid. The sugars help meat brown and the acid tenderizes, so a splash deglazes a pan into a quick sauce or carries a long braise like Friday Night Pot Roast.

It pairs naturally with pork, the classic apple-and-pork match, as in Grilled Pork Chops with Cinnamon-Apple Relish, and it poaches fruit gently in Poached Pears with Chocolate Drizzle.

Reduce it and it becomes a glaze.

Simmer a cup down to a few syrupy tablespoons and it concentrates into a sweet-tart coating for chicken, pork, and roasted vegetables, the idea behind Cornish Hens with Raisin-Rice Pilaf.

In baking it adds moisture and a little sweetness, and it doubles as a stand-in for some of the sugar or fat in muffins and quick breads.

One thing to watch: that sugar burns. A glaze left over high heat or reduced too far scorches fast, so keep the heat moderate and pull it the moment it coats a spoon.

Substitutes

Apple cider is the closest swap and brings more apple flavor; use it one for one. White grape juice matches the sweetness and pale color almost exactly when you want neutral fruit.

For savory braises, a mix of stock with a spoonful of cider vinegar or a little white wine covers the acid and depth. Plain water works in a pinch, though you lose the sweetness, so add a small pinch of sugar if the recipe leaned on it.

Buying & Storage

Read the label and choose 100% juice, ideally unsweetened, since added sugar makes a dish cloying and harder to control. Cloudy unfiltered juice carries more apple flavor than the crystal-clear kind if that is what you are after.

Unopened shelf-stable juice keeps in the pantry for months up to its printed date. Refrigerated and fresh-pressed juice is more perishable and should be used within about a week.

Once opened, refrigerate any juice and use it within seven to ten days.

It freezes well, so pour leftovers into an ice-cube tray for recipe-sized portions ready to drop into a pan.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find apple juice: Apple juice is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Apple juice is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

苹果汁

British (UK) term

Apple juice

en français

jus de pomme

en español

zumo de manzana

How much does apple juice weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using apple juice

There are 299 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cinnamon-Raisin Breakfast Biscuits

Cinnamon-raisin breakfast biscuits use silken tofu in place of butter for a vegan, dairy-free quick bread sweetened with apple juice and maple syrup. Whole wheat, walnut-studded, brushed with syrup glaze.

Whole Grain Apple Pancakes (Smith)

Whole grain apple pancakes leavened with yeast and packed with bran, grated fresh apple, and apple juice. Thicker than regular pancakes, naturally egg-free, high-fiber, and sweet without a drop of added sugar.

Hearty Whole Grain Biscuits

Hearty whole grain biscuits use silken tofu and apple juice instead of butter, blended into whole wheat, rye, and wheat germ for a dairy-free, high-fiber breakfast biscuit. Vegan friendly.

Apple Almond Pancakes

Apple almond pancakes whip beaten egg whites into a buttermilk-and-apple-juice batter for cloud-light, nutty flapjacks. Half whole wheat flour, ground almonds, and a hit of fruit juice keep them tender and fragrant.

Double Apple Muffins

Double apple muffins use both apple juice and chopped fresh apple in a brown-sugar batter, then finish with cinnamon sugar tops. Tender, fruit-loaded breakfast muffins ready in 35 minutes.

Stir-Fry for One

Solo stir-fry for one with marinated chicken, beef, or pork tossed with broccoli and celery in a quick ginger-garlic sauce. Single-serving Chinese-style dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Stir-Fry for One

Solo stir-fry for one with marinated chicken, beef, or pork tossed with broccoli and celery in a quick ginger-garlic sauce. Single-serving Chinese-style dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Breakkfast Power Muffins

Healthy breakfast power muffins sweetened with apple juice concentrate and bananas, packed with raisin bran, oats, raisins, and yogurt. No added sugar or oil.

High-Fibre Apple Pancakes

This whole-wheat apple pancake is high in fibre, uses yeast and is completely dairy-free.

Caramelized Apple Crepes

Caramelized apple crepes for breakfast or brunch: tender whole wheat crepes folded around tart apples cooked down with brown sugar and cinnamon, finished with a dollop of yogurt. Lighter than they taste.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Apple Cookies(R T)

Cinnamon oatmeal apple cookies fold grated apple, raisins, and whipped egg whites into an oat batter sweetened with apple juice or honey. Soft, lightly spiced, naturally low-fat cookies.

Cinnamon Raisin Apple Muffins

Cinnamon raisin apple muffins are wholesome whole-wheat muffins with no added sugar, sweetened naturally by apple juice and applesauce. Egg-free and dairy-free, they double as a make-ahead jar mix gift.

Apple & Fennel Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cranberry Chutney

Apple and Fennel Roast Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cranberry Chutney

Apricot Muffins

Wholesome whole-wheat muffins with dried apricots soaked in apple juice, spiced with cardamom and studded with walnuts.

Warm Chévre & Apple Rings with Manitoba Hemp Seed Oil Vinaigrette

A truly amazing combination of flavors. The dressing is divine, the warm and tart goat cheese combined with the sweetness of apple ring is truly out of this world.

Apple Orange Spice Muffins (Ww)

Apple orange spice muffins lightened the Weight Watchers way with whipped egg whites for lift, chopped apples for natural sweetness, and bright orange zest. Warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove perfume every bite.

Honey-Apple Pancakes

Honey apple pancakes use apple juice instead of milk and honey instead of sugar for naturally sweet, dairy-free pancakes scented with apple pie spice. Fluffy, fragrant, ready in under 30 minutes.

Apple Pumpkin Butter Crockpot

Make your own apple butter using your slow cooker.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

A delicious cake. I used half whole wheat flour and half white flour, otherwise followed the recipe. It came out great, and not too sweet. Perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. We did have it for breakfast :)

Eggplant, Red Pepper & Spinach Curry

No meat today, I guess I like this way.. Vegan if you replace ghee..

Curried Butternut Squash & Apple Soup

This spicy soup is perfect for the Autumn season and is sure to please everyone's hunger.

Oat Scones with Apple-Pear Butter

The oat scones were buttery, fluffy and delicious, when we spread the apple-pear butter on top, the flavor was just amazing. Sweet, a bit sour and smooth apple-pear butter went deliciously well with these yummy scones.

Low-fat Blueberry Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Cookies are always popular, try these cookies, enjoy tasty and you will not feel guity.

Maple Barbecue Sauce

Maple barbecue sauce simmers pure maple syrup, ketchup, apple cider vinegar and Dijon into a sweet, tangy, smoky homemade sauce. Better than bottled, and great on ribs, chicken or burgers.

Acorn Squash & Apple Soup

A delicious soup that's perfect to enjoy while watching the leaves fall from the trees on a cool Autumn day.

Basic Buttermilk Whole Wheat Bread

Basic buttermilk whole wheat bread is a hands-off bread machine loaf with 100% whole wheat flour, tangy buttermilk, and vital wheat gluten for proper rise and tender crumb.

Applesauce Bread

Applesauce yeast bread for the bread machine, layered with grated apple, warm apple juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A bread flour and whole wheat blend gives a soft crumb with rustic chew.

Classic Christmas Cake

"This cake is a rich, dark, moist fruit cake, very flavorful at Christmas. Try icing with almond paste for a more festive touch. This recipe is started in October or November so as to let it mellow before the holidays. I remember very well my mother storing her fruit cake in an old butter churn that belonged to my grandmother and great grandmother. I wish that I had that old crock."

Egg White Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Egg white oatmeal raisin cookies sweetened with frozen apple juice concentrate and lifted with whipped egg whites for a light, low-fat texture. Cholesterol-free with the chewy, cinnamon comfort of classic oatmeal cookies.

Chicken with Apples & Bacon

Boneless and skin-less chicken thighs caramelized with bacon then braised with apples and onions.

Apple & Fennel Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

This is a very tasty and refreshing salad, and it was so quick and easy to make, liked the sweetness and sourness from apple juice and cider vinegar, which just right balanced. Crunchy apple and fennel give the salad great texture and flavor, mixing in the peppery arugula, a simply delicious salad recipe that fits every occasion.

Apple Jelly

Great recipe, measurements worked out perfectly. Used the resulting jelly with Apple stuffed pork chops (linked below). The sweet slightly tart would work great with some spice, perhaps red pepper flakes added for a sweet-spicy kick.

Easy Apple Crisp

A rich and delectable dessert that will warm you and your tastebuds up!

Whole Wheat Applesauce Spice Cake

This delicious cake has no cholesterol and only a trace of saturated fat. It is actually brimming with healthy ingredients- but no one will ever suspect that!

Octoberfest Sausage Dinner

This belly filling one dish meal is perfect for Octoberfest or a cool fall or winter day. It is sure to warm the belly.

Apple-Glazed Roast Pork- Crockpot

Another simple crockpot recipe where a pork-loin roast meets a delicious glaze which creates a wonderful dinner you will love.

Apple Cookies

Soft drop cookies loaded with shredded apples, dried cranberries, and multi-grain cereal. Rye flour adds earthy depth, while pumpkin pie spice brings warmth to every chewy bite.

Baked Ham with Cumberland Sauce

Scored ham rubbed with brown sugar and dry mustard, studded with whole cloves, and served with a glossy Cumberland sauce of apple jelly, citrus, and honey. A British classic for holiday feasts.

Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese Crust

Sophisticated apple pie with sharp cheddar cheese baked right into the crust. The filling simmers apples in port wine, apple juice, and lemon zest. Lattice top for elegant presentation.

Baked Breakfast Apples

Warm baked apple chunks with dates, cinnamon, and apple juice, drizzled with raspberry fruit spread and topped with crunchy granola. A cozy, wholesome breakfast.

Butterscotch Apple Pie

Butterscotch-glazed apples in a crunchy oat crust, topped with whipped cream folded with crushed peanut brittle and orange zest. A no-bake filling pie that's equal parts cozy and fancy.

Apricot Carrot Bread

Shredded carrots and chopped apricots baked into a lightly sweet quick bread that's perfect for breakfast or afternoon snacks with tea.

Apple Snacking Cake

Easy snack cake loaded with apples, mini chocolate chips, and pecans. No mixer needed. Apple juice keeps it moist while cinnamon adds warmth. Dust with powdered sugar or top with whipped cream.

Chutney Baked Pears

Elegant baked pear halves glazed with chutney and apple juice, dotted with butter and basted until tender and glossy. A refined side dish or light dessert that serves 12.

Sangria Blanco

White sangria built on dry white wine, cinnamon simple syrup, sparkling water, and citrus and apple slices for a chilled summer pitcher that pours light and crisp.

Creamy Meatball Dinner

Freezer-friendly beef meatballs in a creamy mushroom-basil sauce served over brown rice with buttered carrots. Batch-cook now, reheat later for easy weeknight dinners.

Apple-Raisin Soup

Chilled fruit soup with tender apple chunks, plump raisins, and warm cinnamon sticks simmered in apple cider. A splash of brandy and brown sugar add sophistication. Serve cold as a refreshing starter or dessert.

Green Pepper Bread

Green peppercorn bread: a rustic German rye and wheat sourdough flavored with green peppercorns soaked in apple juice. Earthy, fragrant, faintly peppery, made the traditional leavened way.

Powerhouse Muffins

Egg-free bran muffins loaded with chopped apples, dried apricots, and walnuts, made with apple juice and all-bran cereal. Brushed with cinnamon sugar while hot.

Bunch O' Bread

A showstopper whole wheat yeast bread shaped like a cluster of grapes, spiced with cardamom and nutmeg, sweetened with maple syrup and orange liqueur, then brushed with honey butter.

All 299 recipes