Whether you grow apples in your garden, or you have to go to the store or order them from your farmer, you should know the basic rules of proper storage.
It’s best to buy apples in the autumn, when the harvest is underway. But since they are meant to last all winter, you should pay close attention to their storage.
Pick carefully
When buying apples, always check that the fruit is not bruised, as they are perishable. Therefore, if you have a garden with trees at home, make sure that the apples do not fall to the ground and become bruised. If they do, set them aside for quick consumption. Harvest apples in dry weather, preferably first thing in the morning. Ideally, you should pick them with the stem on to avoid possible rotting.
Store them in boxes
Store apples in boxes with holes in them for proper breathing. You can also label the boxes with the name of the variety. For longer shelf life, it is recommended to stack the apples preferably in a single layer, stem side up. For storage, choose a place that meets the following parameters:
- protected from light and frost (e.g. cellar),
- temperature is between 2 and 5 °C,
- has good ventilation,
- humidity does not exceed 80%.
If you don’t have a cellar, storing apples in an unheated garage, in a glazed loggia, on a balcony or anywhere cool, dark and ventilated will not harm them. Just store them away from each other and undergrow them with, for example, shavings or corrugated paper. Avoid storing them next to potatoes in the cellar, as they are known to accelerate the ripening of apples, which will soon start to spoil.
A final word of advice…
Enjoy at least one apple a day. It’s the best thing you can do for your health. Apples contain lots of vitamins, lower cholesterol, help your bowels work properly and improve immunity. Moreover, scientists have recently emphasised that fruits grown in our natural environment are more valuable to the body than those imported from distant lands.