How to store apples for a long time: tips

We want to enjoy juicy apples, which are a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals, for as long as possible. However, it is often difficult to store the bountiful autumn harvest. Not all fruits can stay fresh and juicy until winter.

Over time, apples lose their flavor, become brittle, and begin to rot. OBOZ.UA tells you how to properly store the harvest so that it lasts as long as possible.

Method 1

You can store apples on shelves by first drying the surfaces and covering them with paper or burlap. Ideal if you have shelving with drawers that slide out. Stack apples in a single row, stalks up, making sure to leave small gaps.

Method 2

Vegetable boxes or ordinary wooden lattice containers are also suitable for storing apples. Make sure to line the bottom of the container with paper or cloth. If you are stacking apples in several layers, make sure that the upper fruits are not injured by the stalks of the lower ones. It is better to put a cloth or paper between the layers. But note that an excess of apples in the box leads to a lot of pressure – the lower fruits can start to deteriorate.

Method 3

Ordinary cardboard boxes will also be useful – the essence of the method is the same as with wooden boxes. Choose a thick cardboard, and you can wrap the apples in several layers of rolled paper towels. This will provide additional thermal insulation, absorb excess moisture, and prevent the fruit from coming into contact with each other. Sometimes gardeners advise to slightly grease the paper with any odorless oil – this will make sense if you store the crop in a cellar with low humidity.

Method 4

The good old-fashioned way is to use sawdust from hardwood trees. Experts advise using pine shavings for storing vegetables, but apples can absorb foreign odors.

Method 5

You will also need dry sand. It is better to sift it and calcine it for disinfection. Pour a layer of sand 10 cm thick on the bottom of the container and put the first layer of apples. Do not forget to leave small distances between the fruits. After covering the first layer with sand, you can put the second. This method of storage is effective for small quantities of harvest.

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