Introduction
Do apples go bad? It’s a popular question, as it proudly stands in the top of the healthiest fruits and that’s the reason why we all know a common idiom “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.
The fact that apples have numerous benefits to our health is not only obvious that we can realize if we consume apples every day or frequently, it is also proven by professionals in many researches from past to present.
Significantly, they are a rich source of fiber, vitamin C and water that is really helpful for our skin and physique improvement.
Apples are also loaded with plenty of essential nutrients that promote heart health, may help prevent cancer and diabetes and many other benefits that we might need a whole day to just list.
When reaching this part, we think a lot of people are likely to rush to the supermarket to buy a big batch of apples but first, you might want to know some basic knowledge of the shelf life of this fruit, the way to store it properly or how to identify if it goes bad.
When you are fully equipped with sufficient information, you can be confident to buy any amounts of apples you want to stock up at home, especially when the apple season comes.
And this article will bring you useful information related to how to extend apple shelf life.
How long do apples last?
Normally, your unripe apples might need 3-5 days to ripen then can last a week or two at room temperature. But if you want to store the long term, better keep them in a fridge or freezer.
Cut apples easily get brown in the flesh so a pantry is not where they belong. For details, let’s take a look at the table below about the life span of fresh (whole) apples and cut apples.
Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
Fresh apples | 1-2 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 1 year + |
Cut apples | 3-5 days | 1 year + |
How to tell if apples go bad?
When your apples have some bruises or soft spots, then they start to go bad. It’s time to decide to eat them immediately or trash them.
You need to discard apples right after you realize the firm texture turns mushy, juice is leaking or mold on the surface.
If your apples which were bought not too long ago have wrinkled peel and grainy texture but no worse spoilage, it’s fine to eat but don’t expect the great flavor.
How to store apples?
You can choose among a pantry/ counter, a fridge or a freezer to keep your apples safe. If you intend to consume all apples within a week, it’s okay to store them at room temperature but make sure that is a dry and cool place.
Otherwise, better store them in a fridge or freezer for a longer period. Remember to keep them away from strong odors from other food or fruits.
Apple slices require a bit more careful since you need to place them in an airtight container before refrigerating.
Another choice is making canned applesauce if you have too many apples but don’t want to simply eat the fruit like that or you are not a big fan of store-bought applesauce.
This sauce can last a while in your pantry or even a year if being frozen properly in a freezer.
Can you freeze apples?
Yes, you can freeze apples to make it last up to a year but remember that each kind of apples will have different way and tip to be frozen. Just pay your closer attention in the below parts.
How to freeze apples?
Now you are going to learn how to freeze apples properly in just some simple steps.
Tips to freeze apples
- It’s recommended to freeze apple slices or in syrup rather than whole apples since they tend to become mushy when thawing
- Before freezing sliced apples, you can dip them in lemon juice, salt water or steam them for about 2 minutes to prevent discoloration
- If you want to freeze your apples longer, double-wrap them to avoid freezer burn
Things you’ll need to freeze apples
- A freezer-safe container or bag
- A baking sheet
- Syrup
- Water-resistant paper
How to freeze whole apples
- Wash the apples thoroughly and place them (unpeeled) on a baking sheet
- Put the sheet in the freezer for a few hours
- Once the apples are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag
- Label the bag and stick it into the freezer
How to freeze apple slices
- After washing, peeling, coring and slicing apples to desirable sizes, put them on a baking sheet
- Freeze the slices for a few hours then transfer them to a freezer bag
- Label the bag and put in the freezer
How to Freeze sliced apples in syrup
- Put sliced apples to a container of 40 to 50 percent of syrup in
- Add some syrup to cover the apples
- Take a piece of water-resistant paper, crumple it and place it on top of the container
- Seal the container and put into the freezer
How to defrost/ thaw apples?
For most recipes that frozen apples can be used in, you actually do not need to thaw them. Frozen apples can go right to add to smoothies, muffins, pies or crisps. If you still wan to thaw them, here is the instruction:
Tips to defrost apples
- It’s not suitable to eat raw apples after thawing since the texture might be changed as mushy and chewy
- As fresh apples don’t really call for defrosting so if you wish to defrost and reheat apples, you better cook them before freezing
Things you’ll need to defrost apples
- A refrigerator/ oven/ microwave
- A baking sheet/ microwave-safe dish/ pan or bowl
- Plastic wrap
How to defrost apples
- Submerge frozen apples in lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown
- Stick a plate on top of them to make sure they are all underwater
- Let the apples in the water until they are partially thawed and just take out in the last second before chucking them into your cooking pot.