Instant Pot Applesauce

Four minutes and the apples give up

Applesauce is the easiest argument for owning this pot. You cut up apples, add a splash of water and lemon, and four minutes under pressure turns them into sauce. No standing at the stove. No big pot to watch.

Sweet apples need almost nothing else. I reach for whatever is on sale and a little soft. The slightly bruised ones nobody wants to eat out of hand are perfect here.

Peels on or off, your call

Here is the one choice to make before you start. If you plan to blend the sauce smooth, the peels can stay on. The blender takes care of them. If you want it chunky and mashed by hand, peel the apples first, or you will be picking peels out later.

Mash or blend, then stir in the cinnamon and taste it before any sugar goes in. Some batches never need the sugar at all. It thickens as it cools, so do not judge it hot and runny straight out of the pot.