How to Keep Apples Fresh for Weeks

Amy Cross in her kitchen with apples drying on her counter

It’s apple season! Going apple picking is a fun fall activity for families to enjoy. Whether you are picking apples, getting farm fresh apples, or taking advantage of better prices since they are in season, here are some of my apple tips!

How to Wash Apples

whole apples soaking in a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar

Once I get my apples home, I wash them with the same rinse that I use for most of my other products. This is using ¼ cup of 5% distilled white vinegar and 10 cups of water in a large bowl for two minutes. While you are washing the apples, be sure to stay close and bob the apples in the water so they get fully washed.

Since they will float to the surface this is important so that they are truly clean. After they have been washed for two minutes, take them out to dry. I lay them with the stem side down first to drain any water that collects around the stem. Then I rotate them over to fully dry.

How to Store Apples

When the apples are dried and ready to be stored, I recommend storing them in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Did you know that if you have fresh apples stored correctly, they can last up to a year? That’s amazing!

If you don’t have room in the refrigerator, keep them in the pantry or in the garage if it is a cool season.

Something very important to remember is not to mix fruit if you are keeping your apples on the counter or in the fridge. Apples, bananas, and oranges might look pretty together, but they will cause each other to go bad faster. This is why I encourage you to make sure that you keep these items separate and avoid mixed fruit bowls.

Cut Apple Trick

pre-sliced apples in a mason jar for healthy snacks

Do you get tired of wasting cut up apples that don’t get eaten before they start to brown? You can save these apples by putting them in a glass jar and storing them in the refrigerator. You will need to use a canning jar with a metal lid because it is completely airtight, this works better than glass with a plastic lid.

Fun fact, this also works for avocados! This will prevent them from turning brown and allow you or someone else in your family to enjoy the snack later. This is also a great way to have healthy snacks prepared ahead of time and ready to go when they are needed.

Zero Waste Produce Guide

If you want more directions for washing produce and keeping items fresh for weeks, check out my Zero Waste Produce Guide. This hardcover book has 75 produce items as well as over 40 recipes to give you new and fun ways to enjoy your produce. You can find it in The Cross Legacy Shop.