Apples are a great fruit to have on hand. A healthy and delicious snack, but they also keep fresh for months and months when stored properly. Up to 6 months, in fact!
They are grown in all states with California being the 5th largest producer and 2nd largest exporter. California’s harvest is from July to October and we produce four main varieties: Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Cripps Pink.
It begins with choosing the right apples, which is fairly easy unless you’re Snow White.
How to Buy Apples
Choose apples that are firm, with no bruising, soft spots, or insect holes. They should feel slightly heavy for their size. The skin should be taught, bright and colorful. Apples that are also fragrant will have a wonderful flavor.
Best Way to Store Apples
Apples are pretty easy to store. The main factor for determining whether they last a month or six months is where you place them. But here are a few things to keep in mind.
Temperature
Apples like it cold, like me. They prefer a temperature around 30 degrees F. That means they are best stored in the fridge. Despite looking beautiful as a centerpiece, that is the worst way to store them.
Moisture
Apples prefer humidity, so storing them in a bag is best. Leave the bag open for airflow. This allows some moisture and ethylene gas to escape.
Washing
Don’t wash your apples before storing them. In fact, never wash any produce before storing aside from a few exceptions like berries. Your fridge is an enclosed space, unlike the grocery store where produce is sprayed with water. There the water evaporates. In your fridge, it will cause your food to spoil.
When you are ready to eat them, soak them in water with some baking soda for 15 minutes and then rinse.
Ethylene Gas
All produce emits or reacts to ethylene gas. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that causes the cells within fruits and vegetables to degrade. This means the fruit is getting softer and sweeter but also black and fuzzy.
For example, you can quickly ripen an avocado, which is highly sensitive to ethylene, by placing it in a sealed paper bag with an apple, which is a high ethylene gas producer. The magic of mother fuck’n nature, am I right?!
But what about apples in general:
- Very high ethylene gas emitters.
- Highly sensitive to ethylene gas.
Ethylene Producing Fruits & Vegetables
- Apricots
- Avocados
- Ripening Bananas
- Cantaloupe
- Cherimoyas
- Figs
- Honeydew
- Kiwifruit
- Mamey Sapote
- Mangoes
- Mangosteen
- Nectarines
- Papayas
- Passion Fruit
- Peaches
- Pears
- Persimmons
- Plantains
- Plums
- Prunes
- Quince
- Tomatoes
