How to store apples long term
It is best to store apples in a dry, dark place at a cool temperature – a room one is suitable, on a window or on a balcony in the shade. Store apple slices already in the refrigerator – up to 3 days if put into a container.
For the future, apples are stored either in dried form, or jam is made – this way they will last up to several years.
How to store apples
Under normal room conditions (18-23 degrees), the shelf life of apples directly depends on the variety:
– summer – 2-4 weeks;
– autumn – up to 2 months;
– winter – from 4 to 7 months.
To keep apples for a month longer, they need to be properly prepared for storage:
– You cannot wipe the fruits from natural wax. It creates a protective film on the surface.
– Apples must be sorted by varieties and sizes of fruits.
In a refrigerator the apples can be put in the fruit vegetable compartment – after a couple of weeks the apples will begin to wither and dry out. It is advisable that there are no other fruits or vegetables nearby, as this will speed up the process of fruit spoilage. But slices of fresh apple can be removed in a tightly closed container and sent to the cold – so they will definitely last a couple of days.
In the freezer
If there are not many apples, they can be frozen – you should not bother with a couple of apples, you can put them whole, 5-6 whole will be problematic, therefore, they can be stored optimally, peeled and cut into slices. True, immediately after defrosting, you can’t eat apples anymore – make a sauce out of them or cook jam, say, for pancakes.
If there are a lot of apples
For easy storage, apples can be sorted, placed in plastic bags by a couple of kilograms and tied. In each, for proper ventilation, you need to make 4-5 cuts-holes. Such bags can be stored on a glazed balcony in winter for up to 2 months.
Also, apples can be stored in the basement at the dacha. Place the fruit in a basket, wooden box, or cardboard box with the stalks facing up. It is important that they are all intact and not damaged, because an apple that starts to deteriorate will quickly “infect” the rest. For the same reason, pick apples at least once every 2 weeks.
We store for future use
Method 1 – boil the jam
Cut the fruit into slices and cover with sugar (1 to 1). Leave for a few hours to let the apples juice, then put them on the stove, boil for 7-10 minutes, put them in jars and preserve. In this form, apples can be stored for up to 2 years.
Method 2 – dry Cut the
fruits into slices 5-7 mm thick and place on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Send it to the oven, preheated to 50-55 degrees for 6-8 hours. Flip the circles periodically.
