Have you ever wanted to serve apple slices at a party? Or pack them in a lunch?
The problem is that, once they’re cut apples start to turn brown. But I’ve figured out a simple, two step method to keeping them looking fresh. I’ve tested this method several times. The first time, I checked the apples for several days after cutting. They stayed looking fresh the whole time. This time, I tested them for 24 hours. Again, the method worked perfectly.
The first step involves slicing the apples and letting them soak for 2-3 minutes in Sprite. I pour the Sprite in a bowl, add the apples and then stir so that all surfaces of the apples are in contact with the Sprite.
I’ve used lemon juice to dip apples, but it does alter the taste a bit. And I’ve never soaked the apples in lemon juice, just a quick dip, so the anti-browning action isn’t as good.
I’ve also heard of people using salt water to deter browning in apples. But again, that would alter the taste of the apples.
Sprite works great though. It doesn’t change the taste of the fruit noticeably at all. And that means the apples can take a 2-3 minute soak, which really helps deter the browning for longer.
The second step of the method is to drain the apples and put them in zip top plastic bags. Squeeze as much air as possible out of the bags. Then store the slices in the fridge.
I’ve held the apples in the fridge for several days with no browning happening. This is good if you need to do some party prep ahead of time. Slicing apples isn’t hard, but it can be time consuming if you have a lot to do. It’s nice to know you can do it ahead and still have fresh looking apples.
I also tested the apples after coming out of the fridge and sitting on a plate at room temperature. Here’s what they looked like immediately after I put them out.
You can see I tested 3 different varieties. The Fuji was naturally darker than Ida Red and Jonathan, but all of them still looked fresh 24 hours after the Sprite bath.
And here they are 30 minutes later:
No noticeable change. I’ve also tested the slices for several hours on the counter and there wasn’t any browning that I noticed.
So, if you want fresh slices to pack in a lunch or serve at a party, grab some Sprite and zip top bags. Don’t forget the caramel sauce for dipping!
