If you have your own apple tree, then you know you will harvest far more than can be eaten in one sitting. Sure, you may have passed off a bunch on family and friends, but chances are good that you still have some left. So how long do apples last? What is the best way to preserve fresh apples? Read on to find out how to store apples properly for the longest shelf life.
How Long Do Apples Last?
The length of time apples can be stored depends on a number of factors. First, it depends on when you picked them. If you have picked them when overripe, they tend to break down rapidly, reducing the amount of apple storage time. In order to determine when to harvest the apples, you need to look at their ground color. Ground color is the color of the apple’s skin, not including the portions that have become red. With red apples, look at the part of the apple facing the interior of the tree. Red apples will be ready to harvest when the ground color changes from leaf green to yellowish green or creamy. Yellow cultivars will be ready to harvest when the ground color turns golden. Apples with a yellowish green ground color are suited as storing apples. Keep in mind that some apples store better than others. For instance, Honey Crisp and Gala lose fruit quality within a couple of weeks from harvest. Stayman and Arkansas Black heirloom apples will last up to five months if stored properly. Fuji and Pink Lady store very well and may be perfectly good into spring. A general rule of thumb is that late maturing varieties store the best. Apples that will be eaten right away may be ripened on the tree, but apples that are going into apple storage are picked mature, but hard, with a mature skin color yet hard flesh. So you harvest storing apples earlier than those you want to eat fresh immediately. When stored properly, some apples will last for up to six months. So how do you store apples properly?
How to Preserve Fresh Apples
As mentioned, for storage apples, pick when the apple’s skin color is mature but the fruit is still firm. Set aside any apples that have bruises, insect or disease damage, cracks, splits, or mechanical injury, as they will not store for any length of time. Use these instead to make pies or applesauce. The key to storing apples is to store them in a cool area with relatively high humidity. If you store them in the refrigerator, the temperature should be around 32 degrees F. (0 C.). The relative humidity should be about 90 to 95% to keep the fruit from shriveling. Small quantities of apples can be stored in a plastic bag with holes in the refrigerator. Larger yields should be stored in a cellar or basem*nt with high humidity. Store the apples in boxes lined with plastic or foil to help retain moisture. Check in on the stored apples every so often since the saying ‘one bad apple spoils the barrel’ is definitely true. Also, store apples away from other produce since apples give off ethylene gas that can hasten the ripening of other produce.
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FAQs
With the right conditions, apples can remain fresh for months – in some cases even up to a year! It starts with choosing a variety that stores well and then harvesting and storing with care. Even without a root cellar, apples can remain fresh for a surprisingly long time!
How long do apples last in storage? ›
In the pantry: 3 weeks. In the refrigerator: 4–6 weeks. Once cut: 3–5 days in the fridge, 8 months in the freezer. Made into applesauce: 7–10 days in the fridge, 2 months in the freezer.
How long can apples last in the crisper? ›
Store Apples In The Fridge
Once rinsed and dried, your apples simply need a trip to the fridge to maintain maximum crispness for as much as two months, though some may start to brown at six weeks. Leaving them on the counter will only give them a shelf life of a few days.
Why do supermarket apples last so long? ›
Apple-harvesting season is very short (about two months in the fall), so in order to extend their lives after picking, apples are usually treated with a gaseous compound called 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) that blocks ethylene.
Can an apple last up to 10 months? ›
Since the fruit can already keep for two to three months, CA storage expands that range to between eight months and a year. (A year!) At Linvilla, Schultz uses old-fashioned low temperatures to keep his apples fresher longer, and says that you can, too.
What apples have long storage life? ›
The best apples to store long-term have thick skin and tend to be crisp and tart. Apple varieties such as Gala, Granny Smith, Fuji, McIntosh, Winesap, Honeycrisp, Northern Spy, and Rome are known to store very well given the proper conditions.
Is it better to refrigerate apples or leave them out? ›
They can quickly become overripe on the counter, which means they will degrade much faster. The refrigerator keeps apples fresh anywhere from three weeks to three months (or longer) - making it the wiser choice for storing apples you buy in bulk. There is NO substitute for refrigeration to properly store apples.
Should apples be stored in crisper drawer? ›
Low-humidity (open) crisper drawers are generally best for ethylene-emitting fruits prone to rotting, including pears, apples, melons, and other pitted fruits.
Should I wash apples before storing? ›
You can brush off visible dirt before you store apples, but it doesn't make sense to wash them until you're ready to eat or cook with them. Cleaning apples with water can actually make them rot and decay faster—so store them as is until you're ready to take a bite or use them in apple recipes.
How do you store apples so they don't go bad? ›
Short Term Apple Storage
For maximum freshness in the kitchen, keep a bowl of whole apples out of direct sunlight. For more than a bowlful, Gipe-Stewart recommends storing apples in your refrigerator's bottom-shelf crisper drawer, where they'll last longer "but it really depends on the variety," she stipulates.
In a warehouse setting, they often sit at least 9 to 12 month, and one investigation showed that, on average, apples are 14 months old.
How do grocery stores keep apples fresh? ›
The packing process typically occurs the same day the apple is harvested. Packed apples are then moved into refrigerated storage – _either short-term conventional refrigeration or controlled atmosphere (CA) if they need to be kept fresh for longer periods of time.
How do you save apples forever? ›
Apparently, if you wrap individual unwashed apples in newspaper or kraft paper – preferably without coloured ink – they keep longer. The paper prevents the skins from rubbing and, if one spoils, it doesn't spoil the others. Only wrap perfect apples and eat any that have blemishes.
Where is the best place to store apples? ›
Keep them cool
The ideal storage temperature is 30 to 35 degrees F. with 90 to 95 percent relative humidity. If you don't have a lot of apples, the refrigerator is a good option. Place them in the crisper drawer in a plastic bag with holes in it or cover the apples with a damp paper towel.
How long can apples last on the counter? ›
At room temperature, apples will last about 5 to 7 days.
Beyond that, they begin to degrade in quality and nutritional content. They begin to lose their flavor and freshness and either shrivel or get mushy. Once that happens, most people would rather toss them than eat them.
Can I freeze apples? ›
Sweeter apples such as Fujis or Galas are more likely to hold their flavor than tart varieties, but any apple will do fine in the freezer for six to nine months. Perhaps more important to keep in mind, though, is that freezing an apple does alter the texture, leaving the flesh spongier than that of a fresh apple.
How do you store apples for 6 months? ›
You can also freeze the apples, which will keep for up to six months in the freezer. Toss the cut apples in lemon juice to prevent them from browning, then dry them. You can then flash freeze the cut apples, or even whole apples, overnight. After flash freezing, transfer them to a freezer bag for long-term storage.
How do you know if an apple has gone bad? ›
In addition, apples may become soft, spongy, with liquid oozing from the skin of the apple. The taste of the apples will also change, they are bland and no longer tasty. It's best to discard apples that are soft or show signs of expiration, as they can lead to potential health risks.
How to store apples long-term at home? ›
The best place for long-term storage is the cool, dark corner of a root cellar, but since few of us have one of those, you may want to rearrange a few things in the fridge. Unlike fruits such as tomatoes, apples like the chilly air of the refrigerator.
