To keep apples for a long time, you need to store them in a cool place. This type of fruit retains its freshness for weeks if stored at low temperatures, but if you take extra precautions it could last up to a few months.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Short Term Storage
Step 1. Get apples in good condition
Check each apple to separate the damaged, dented, or blackened ones from the perfect ones. One bad apple can ruin all the others: it would produce large quantities of ethylene, making all the fruit ripen in a short time. Consequently, don't store good apples with compromised ones.
Step 2. Leave the spoiled apples in a fruit bowl to consume them quickly
If you store them in a basket at room temperature, they may stay fresh for about two days. Obviously it's not long, but you should eat them ASAP, because if they are not in good condition they will rot quickly.
If they are too spoiled to eat at home, throw them in the woods so that deer or other wildlife can eat them. If there were no animals, apples would become food for insects and other organisms present in the earth
Step 3. Put the good apples in the refrigerator
The cold keeps them longer. The latest generation refrigerators are equipped with a fruit drawer and, in this case, it is better to keep the apples in that compartment. Otherwise, place the apples in an uncovered plastic container and place it in the back of the fridge, which is usually the coldest.
Step 4. Spread a damp paper towel over the apples stored in the fridge
In addition to low temperatures, humidity is also useful for keeping apples in excellent condition. If you use this method, you don't have to store them in a vacuum container or fruit drawer.
Step 5. Check the temperature if possible
If it is possible to adjust the temperature of the drawer, set it between -1, 1 and 1,7 ° C: it is the ideal temperature for storing apples. Do not lower it any further, as they will become mushy and inedible; if you keep them at 12 ° C they will ripen in half the time than usual.
If you can't adjust the temperature precisely, but can only decide whether to make the drawer cooler or warmer, put a thermometer inside it and change the settings accordingly
Step 6. Keep an eye on the apples
If you store them like this, they will stay fresh for three weeks.
Method 2 of 2: Long Term Storage
Step 1. Choose the strains that keep the longest
More tart, thick-skinned apples such as Jonathans, Roma, Melrose, Fuji, and Granny Smith are great for this purpose. On the other hand, sweet varieties with thin skin, such as Red Delicious or Golden Delicious, are not very suitable.
Also, make sure the apples are in top condition. Damaged, bruised or blackened ones produce a lot of ethylene, which makes all the surrounding fruit ripen faster, so your efforts would be useless
Step 2. Wrap each apple individually
Even those in good condition produce some ethylene, so if they touch each other they will rot more quickly. In addition, if one apple spoils before the others, it will immediately contaminate the surrounding ones, ruining the whole basket. If you wrap them individually, you will prevent direct contact and prevent similar problems.
- Cut several sheets of newspaper into four parts and stack them. Choose black and white printed paper, as colored ink contains toxic substances based on heavy metals.
- Place an apple on the stack of paper. Lift the paper around it and wrap it completely, gently twisting the corners to keep the paper closed. Do not twist too much as the sheet may break. After all, the aim is to prevent apples from touching each other, you don't have to isolate them from the air.
- Keep wrapping the apples in paper until you are done.
Step 3. Line a crate or cardboard box with insulation material
The container must not be vacuum-sealed, because there is no need to eliminate the air, but it is sufficient to limit its circulation during storage. Insulating the box is also useful for keeping the temperature constant. You can use straw or a perforated plastic sheet for this purpose.
Step 4. Place the apples in the insulated container
Put them in a row, side by side, making sure the paper doesn't come off, because the skins don't have to touch.
Step 5. Store the apples in a cool place
A cellar is the obvious choice, but you can also use an unheated basement, attic, or enclosed porch. The average temperature should not go below freezing, as frost will make the apples soft, as if they have just thawed.
Step 6. Don't store apples next to potatoes
The latter begin to release gas as they begin to age, which would cause the apples to rot in no time. You can store apples and potatoes in the same environment, but don't keep them too close together.
Step 7. Check the apples after a few months
If you store them this way, they could take up to several months before they start to rot.
