How to Store Apples to Stay Fresh Longer

How to store apples to stay fresh?  This has always been a question in my house as was How to Store Potatoes to Last Longer…but we solved that issue.  We love apples but they seem to go bad quickly…especially in summer time.  So, after some research and experimentation, I have learned how to store apples to stay fresh longer. 

How To Store Apples to Stay Fresh

Quick Tips for Keeping Apples Fresh Longer

[click_to_tweet tweet=”We love apples but they seem to go bad quickly…especially in summer time.  So, after some research and experimentation, I have learned how to store apples to stay fresh longer. #freshness #apples #homehacks” quote=”We love apples but they seem to go bad quickly…especially in summer time.  So, after some research and experimentation, I have learned how to store apples to stay fresh longer. #freshness #apples #homehacks”]

One of my favorite things about fall is that apples are in season. While you can certainly get them year around at your local grocery store, fall is when they really come into their own. You can find the tastiest, freshest apples from September through November and you can find some great deal – particularly when you buy local or grow your own. The problem then is of course how to best store all those apples once you get them home. Here are some tips and ideas to help you make them last.

This is my favorite apple slicer because it has an interchangeable core where you can change it out and cut fries and other fruits and veggies!

Start by checking every single apple for bruising or rot.

A single rotting apple stored with the rest will cause all your apples to ripen, and then over-ripen quickly. Only healthy apples that don’t have nicks or bruises and aren’t too ripe yet should be stored. Sort out the rest and use them for eating, baking, and cooking with right away. You can also preserve those apples by turning them into homemade apple cider or bake them in this super easy apple crisp and canning or freezing the finished product as needed.

Sort your apples by variety, and then by size.

Larger apples will go bad faster than others and different apple varieties have different shelf lives. You want to be able to eat and use the apples that will go bad faster first. Keep the smaller apples of long lasting varieties for last and you’ll have fresh and delicious apples well into winter and even early spring. Tart, thick-skinned apples usually last the longest. Keep that in mind as you pick different apple varieties.

Don’t store your apples in plastic.

Instead, choose crates or baskets that allow the fruit to breathe. Apples emit ethylene, a gas that helps ripen fruit. You want the air to flow around your apples and allow excess ethylene to escape otherwise your apples will ripen and rot much faster. You may have heard of this principle in action when you put an apple in a brown bag with green bananas to encourage them to ripen faster. If you’re storing apples, you want to slow down that ripening process.

Orchard baskets are perfect for storing apples because they breathe easily!

Store the crates or baskets of apples in a dark, cool place.

Basements are great, provided they are dry and get good air flow. Your pantry is another good option. Store your apples away from onions and potatoes for best results. If you are only storing a small amount of apples, the crisper drawer in your fridge is another good option.

Inspect your apples regularly and pick out any fruit that’s starting to rot. This will prevent all your apples from going bad. Get in the habit of inspecting your apple harvest once a week, or anytime to dig in to pick fresh apples for eating.