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You are here: Home / Naturally Frugal Living / How to Keep Apples Fresh

How to Keep Apples Fresh

September 30, 2025 by Katie Femia Leave a Comment

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Follow these tips on how to keep apples fresh to get your money’s worth and avoid food waste.

a basket of freshly picked apples

Do you love apples but have a hard time keeping them fresh? Do you buy a bag and find that before you can eat them, they have gone bad? Then take a look at these helpful tips for How to Keep Apples Fresh. By keeping just a few things in mind, you can keep your apples fresh and really get your money’s worth. Here is what you need to know.

How to Keep Apples Fresh

1. Make smart purchases.

When buying apples, avoid any that have bruising, cuts, exposed inner skin, missing stems, spots, or other signs of damage. Buy apples that still have their stem intact. Even the smallest cut or scrape can let germs and air into the inside skin which speeds up the decomposition of the apple.

2. Keep stems intact.

Keep the stem on the apple because it creates a natural seal that prevents fungi and bacteria from entering the fruit and causing spoilage. Apples without a stem have an open wound where microorganisms can enter and cause them to rot.

3. Keep some of  your apples in sight.

Many times people buy fruit, store it away, and forget about it. Keep some apples in a bowl right on your kitchen table or by the coffee machine where you will see them and enjoy them. Encourage children to help themselves to apples when hungry, as they are a healthy yet filling snack! If you like to buy apples in bulk, keep some on your counter and store the rest. Then refill the bowl from your stored apples as needed.

store apples in the refrigerator to keep them fresh longer

4. Store apples in a cool place

If you have room store your apples in the crisper in your refrigerator. Cold temperatures slow the ripening process. If you can’t store them in the refrigerator, then store them in a cool place such as a basement, pantry, or the back porch.

5. Don’t mix apples with bananas.

Both apples and bananas produce ethylene which will increase ripening and speed up the decomposition of your fruit. While they might look nice arranged in a fruit bowl together, it will only shorten their shelf life. Instead, store apples on their own.

6. Use apples in recipes.

Try to find apple recipes that interest you so you can put the apples to good use as soon as you bring them home.

tips on how to keep apples fresh and prevent food spoilage

7. Don’t forget about lemon juice.

Lemon juice has been used to keep apples fresh for years. When you cut open an apple, brush the exposed fruit with lemon juice or dip it into a bowl of water with lemon juice. This will keep apples that aren’t being served right away looking fresh and bright. It will also slow down the decaying that happens once air starts to hit the apple.

If you love to buy apples but are tired of racing to eat them in time, give some of these tips on how to keep apples fresh a try. They are sure to make a difference in the life of your apple and help you get a little more bang for your buck. Here are 10 Delicious Apple Recipes.

More Ways to Avoid Food Waste

25 Ways to Avoid Wasting Food

7 Ways to Reduce Food Waste At Home

Fridge Tricks to Reduce Food Waste and Save Electricity

Use ALL of the Edible Parts of Your Produce

Be Flexible to Minimize Food Waste

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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