How to store apples so they last all winter

How to choose apples for long-term storage

Mid-season and late varieties of fruits are best suited for winter stocks. For example, “Olympic”, “Aurora Crimean”, “Bogatyr”, “Antey”, “Alesya”. In suitable conditions, they can even last until spring. If you are buying apples, check with the seller for the variety characteristics and harvest time to choose the freshest fruits.

If you are stocking up on apples garden, collect them in dry weather. Try to remove the fruit from the tree along with the stalks. Do not throw away the harvest, but carefully place it in prepared containers.

Fruits that have fallen from the apple tree on their own may be overripe, rotten and damaged. Such a crop will not be stored for long, so it is better to eat it immediately or use it in blanks.

How to prepare apples for storage

Sort the fruits carefully. Discard damaged, rotten, disease- and pest-affected specimens, as well as over-ripe specimens. Select apples that are strong, firm and healthy with thick skin.

Different apples have different shelf life, so separate the varieties separately. This will make it easier to understand which type began to spoil first and eat it first.

Please note that there is no need to wash or wipe apples before storing them. This way they will stay fresh longer.

Where to store apples

To prevent fruits from spoiling longer, it is better to keep them in a dry room at a temperature of 0 to 4 degrees. A cellar, basement or unheated garage is suitable for storage. In an apartment, you can place the fruit in a cool pantry or on a glassed-in balcony. In the latter case, when the temperature drops, you will have to cover them with warm blankets so that they do not freeze. But transferring fruits from cold to warm, even for a short time, is not worth it. Temperature changes will shorten the subsequent storage period.

You can also keep apples in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf or in a special compartment for vegetables and fruits, if possible, placing them with their stems facing up. True, you can hardly hide a lot of crops in such a place.

In any case, store apples separately from other vegetables and fruits. The fruits actively emit ethylene, due to which the “neighbors” can quickly deteriorate.

How to store apples

Regardless of which method you choose, inspect your inventory periodically. Remove rotten and spoiled fruits from the total mass in a timely manner, otherwise the rest of the crop may quickly become unusable.

1. In boxes or boxes

Line a box or box with paper and arrange the fruits in one layer.

If the container has high sides, you can make several tiers. To do this, cover the already folded fruits with paper, and add another layer of apples on top.

Place crates or cartons of apples in a cellar, basement, glassed-in balcony, or other suitable storage location.

2. In paper

Additional “clothing” will absorb excess moisture and help the apples stay fresh longer.

Wrap each fruit in one layer of paper. Place the fruit in a box, box, basket or other large container. Apples can be stacked in one or more layers.

Store the fruit in a cool place. By the way, fruits wrapped in paper can also be placed in the refrigerator.

3. In packages

Use small, durable plastic bags with handles or drawstrings. Place several kilograms of fruit in each. Hang the bags in the cellar, basement or other suitable area.

4. In sawdust or straw

The additional layer will collect excess condensation, which will allow the fruit not to spoil longer. The main thing is that the sawdust or straw is not wet. If necessary, dry them first.

Line a box or other large container with paper, and sprinkle sawdust or straw on top in a layer of about 5–10 cm.

Arrange the apples in one layer. Top them with sawdust or cover them with straw.

Store fruit in a cool, dry place.