Apples are useful, they are healthy and, finally, they are so delicious! We love eating them raw, baked, dried, and in many various desserts. But why do we often notice that our fruits got suddenly dark and rotten?
How long do apples last?
Whole ripe apples remain edible and crisp for a week on the counter, and for about 14 days in a pantry. When refrigerated, most of these fruits will remain of good quality for 4-6 weeks, however, certain sorts are durable enough to keep on doing well even for nearly 60 days!
Under proper conditions, whole apples can stay good for a week in a pantry. If you keep them refrigerated, expect your fruits to last for four to six weeks. If kept longer, they will start wrinkling and turning mushy.
Of course, cut fruits have a way shorter lifespan. Usually, apple slices won’t last more than three or five days.
| Pantry | Fridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole fruits | 1-2 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Cut apples | - | 3-5 days |
How to Keep Apples Longer?
Apples can hardly be called picky in terms of storage. Unlike many other fruits, these ones are quite versatile, and they won’t die if you toss them to the fridge. They won’t mind even when left out, in fact!
Everything, as usual, hangs upon how soon you are planning to finish them.
If you are absolutely sure that apples will be consumed within a week, then feel free to leave them on the counter or in the pantry. Simply ensure that they stay away from any sources of heat, in a shaded and cool spot.
In fact, the cooler the place will be, the better since apples will spoil faster at room temperature.
But if the fruits may stay untouched longer, then the fridge is a way more preferable option.
Toss the packet in a crisper drawer away from any strong-smelling foods. And if you purchased apples in a plastic packet, we recommend you poke several holes in it or take the fruits out since they can suffocate when tightly covered.
In case you happen to have really lots of extra apples and you have no idea where to put them to, a cold garage or basement without heating can be a good variant. Leave the apple box there covered with a clean damp cloth to avoid shriveling.
Freezing Apples. Yes Or No?
Definitely yes! This is the optimal way to preserve the fruits if you know you won’t make use of them by the time they start rotting. Besides, freezing apples already sliced can save you more time when baking an apple pie!
Frozen apples stay good for ten to twelve months easily, and freezing them is very simple.
- Wash them, peel, and core
- Slice apples making the pieces as big and thin as you need
- Prepare a blend of 1 tsp ascorbic acid per every 6 tbsp. cold water, and coat the slices with it. Like this, you will save apples from darkening
- Remove the slices to the airtight frost-resistant tank or frost-friendly packets, and freeze
For defrosting, simply remove the apples to the fridge and leave them there overnight or longer if needed.
Apples Shelf Life
No matter how well we take care of apples, they still get rotten one day. Like any fresh foodstuff, apples have their own term of use, and to enjoy the crispy and juicy fruits, you’d better know its duration.
How to Spot Bad Apples?
Some products can be quite tricky to spot when they start spoiling. However, apples are very simple in terms of this.
If fresh fruits have a bright and fruity aroma, and their skin is smooth and the flesh is firm, then bad apples look completely different.
- Soft spots
- Bruises
- Dark areas
- Holes
- Blemishes
- Mushy texture
- The juice that is oozing off
These are all the symptoms of approaching rotting. Discard these fruits instantly, and remember to check the rest of the fruits every week, especially if they were kept together with the spoiled ones.
Like this, it will be simpler to spot the bad apples before they contaminate the fresh ones.
What if the apple is wrinkled and grainy, but no signs of spoilage can be seen? Then it is still safe to eat, but you probably won’t do that just because it tastes not so well as the fresh fruit.
Such apples can go to the pie or can be baked with sugar – a good variant for how to eat them!
Where Eating Bad Apples Can Lead You
What if you accidentally ate an apple that was not quite all right? Let’s make it clear at once: dark or wrinkled apples won’t make you badly sick. Only if you manage to swallow some moldy fruit, it can result in typical food poisoning symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
All because mold is not friendly to our bodies, and the microorganisms that create it can cause allergic reactions since they are toxic.
So if you feel not quite good after eating apples, take activated charcoal, and try to empty your stomach. Drink enough water and, if the symptoms get worse, call the doctor.
Tricks to Extend Apples Lifespan
To avoid any unpleasant aftermath and keep apples fresh and crispy, use several life hacks that will help to extend their lifespan.
- Store apples unwashed
- Don’t cut them for keeping since whole fruits last longer
- The cold spot is the best place for apples to make these fruits last longer, so choose the fridge or a cold garage/basement instead of a counter
- When keeping, wrap each apple in paper or plastic foil to prevent the ethylene gas from spreading and spoiling other fruits in the fridge
It’s all simple to do, but these life hacks will allow you to preserve apples way longer!
Apples can be used for many cooking purposes, not only for eating them raw (even if they are super delicious this way!). Apple pies, muffins, various cakes, apples baked in the oven, apple juice, and finally, even simple oatmeal can win from adding this tasty fruit to it.
That is why it makes sense to keep these fruits crisp to the longest to be able to enjoy their fresh taste in so many ways!
Summary
For storing apples, mind how soon you’ll eat them. If apples will be consumed within a week, then feel free to leave them on the counter or in the pantry away from heat, in a shaded and cool spot. If apples will be eaten much later, then the fridge is a way more preferable option.
Apple shelf life depends on whether they’re cut or whole: Whole apples can stay good for a week in a pantry. If you keep them refrigerated, expect fruits to last for 4 to 6 weeks. Apple slices won’t last more than three or five days.
Spoiled apples have significant features:
- Soft spots
- Bruises
- Dark areas
- Holes
- Blemishes
- Mushy texture
- The juice that is oozing off
To make apples last longer, use the following tricks:
- Store apples unwashed
- Don’t cut them for keeping since whole fruits last longer
- The cold spot is the best place for apples to make these fruits last longer, so choose the fridge or a cold garage/basement instead of a counter
- When keeping, wrap each apple in paper or plastic foil to prevent the ethylene gas from spreading and spoiling other fruits in the fridge.
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