A Produce Expert Reveals the Best Way To Store Apples
Storing apples properly is the key to keeping them crisp and delicious. A produce expert shares her tips.
I enjoy buying a bag of apples for easy snacking during the week—particularly dipped in creamy peanut butter. You know what I don’t enjoy? Apples that go bad too quickly.
In the past, I’ve always shoved that bag of apples in the fridge and hoped for the best. While sometimes this method works and my apples last a few weeks, sometimes the apples don’t last long at all, and I’ve always wondered what I’m doing wrong.
Should apples actually be stored in the fridge? Should they go in a crisper drawer, sit on a shelf, or go in a fruit basket on my counter?
To better understand how to store my apples so they last as long as possible, I asked Brianna Shales, marketing director of Stemilt, a group of family-owned produce farmers in Wenatchee, Washington, for advice.
The Best Way To Store Apples
“The best way to store apples is to keep them in the coldest part of your refrigerator, ideally between 33°F to 35°F,” explains Shales. “This cold environment helps to slow down the ripening process, keeping the apples fresh for a longer period.”
She also explains that apples should not be stored near strong-smelling foods like onions and garlic, given the way these foods can absorb the apple odor, compromising their flavor.
Apples release a gas called ethylene, which can alter the foods around it, such as potatoes. While the gas inhibits potatoes from sprouting while being stored, the potatoes also release a gas that can accelerate the ripening and spoilage of the apples, according to Shales. So be sure to store your apples in the fridge far away from potatoes, onions, and garlic for the longest-lasting fruit.
Not All Apples Are Good for Long-Term Storage
“The best way to keep apples fresher for longer is to refrigerate them. Cold temperatures in the refrigerator reduce fruit respiration, slowing down the ripening process and preserving the apples’ freshness,” Shales explains. “It’s best to rinse the apple just before eating as storing fruit that has water on it in the refrigerator can lead to faster breakdown.”
However, according to Shales, not apples are created equal. While some apples do well in the refrigerator for long periods of time, other apples are meant to be eaten immediately for the best tasting apple experience.
“While the care tends to be similar across different varieties, Fuji, Cosmic Crisp®, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and Gala apples are hard and long-living, so they can be stored for longer periods and still maintain their quality. Whereas Honeycrisp and SweeTango® apples are best for immediate, fresh eating,” she says.
How To Keep Apples From Going Brown
Similar to avocados, apples turn brown due to oxidation, a chemical reaction the fruit has when exposed to the oxygen in the air. Oxidation does not mean your apple has gone bad, but eating a brown apple isn’t as appealing as a fresh-looking slice.
To keep your apples from turning brown—especially if you plan on serving them as a snack at a party, maybe with a fruit dip—you can brush the apple with lemon juice or soak the apple slices in salt water to prevent oxidation for a few hours.
How To Tell When an Apple Has Gone Bad
While oxidation doesn’t mean the fruit has gone bad, bruising and other signs of decay—including a rotten smell—are telltale signs that an apple is past its expiration date.
“You can tell when an apple has gone bad when it shows significant bruising or obvious signs of decay,” Shales says. “Apples with these characteristics don’t provide the best eating experience and should be avoided. Signs of a bad apple include soft spots, a mushy texture, discoloration, and an unpleasant odor.”
