Can apples be kept in the refrigerator and how do I do it?

Apples have a pleasant taste and contain a large amount of vitamins and microelements useful for humans. Fruits are harvested in late summer - early autumn in large quantities, and every gardener has a question: how to properly keep fruits fresh for a long time?

One of the common and affordable ways to keep apples fresh for a long time is to place them in the refrigerator or freezer. The advantages of this method include:

• long shelf life due to the use of low temperatures;
• the ability to prepare and save both whole fruits and cut into slices or grated;
• the ability to always have fresh fruit on hand, since storage in the refrigerator eliminates the need to go down to the cellar;
• this storage method does not require any special preliminary preparation or processing of the fruit.

There are also disadvantages to keeping apples in the refrigerator.

• Small volume. Since there is not enough free space in the refrigerator, and if it is, it is used to store other products, then apples can only be placed in it in a small amount.
• Risk of the apples absorbing foreign odors. Since the refrigerator can store spicy food, food with seasonings, the skins of the fruit can absorb these odors.

To store apples directly in the refrigerator, the temperature should be set at 0 ... + 1. This temperature is optimal for these fruits. You can keep apples in such conditions for up to 6 months.

In the freezer for the initial freezing of apples, the thermometer is set to the lowest possible temperature for 1-2 hours. And then the mode of operation of the freezer is transferred to the usual level. You can store frozen fruits for up to 9 months. During this time, the fruit will retain most of the accumulated minerals and trace elements. True, defrosted apples are suitable for eating only after heat treatment.

It is recommended to store mainly winter varieties of apples in the refrigerator. Such as:

• Antonovka;
• "Idared";
• "Moscow winter";
• "In memory of Chernenko".

It is the winter varieties of apples, harvested in early and mid-September, that will slowly ripen in conditions of low temperatures, and will be less susceptible to rot and mold.

Before placing the fruits in the refrigerator for long-term storage, it is necessary to perform their initial preparation. The preparation method depends on at what temperature and in what form it is planned to store the fruits.

Storing whole apples in a refrigerator is the most common practice. In order to keep the fruits fresh as long as possible, you must:

• sort out the fruits, take away only fruits for storage without visible damage and putrefactive inclusions;
• remove leaves, grass, while maintaining the stalk;
• wrap each copy in parchment paper, foil or paper napkins;
• place neatly in the fruit storage compartment.

You can also store apples in the refrigerator by placing them in a plastic bag. This storage method does not require a separate wrapper for each fruit. After the apples are placed in the bag, it must be tied. And on the surface of the bag, make several holes with a toothpick.Small holes will help to avoid the greenhouse effect, which will extend the shelf life of apples.

This method involves freezing the fruit. To do this, the fruit must be prepared by performing the following manipulations:

• wash ripe fruits;
• cut into circles or semicircles;
• fold into a plastic bag;
• place in the freezer.

To prevent the apple slices from turning black during preparation, they must be sprinkled with lemon juice. Also, sliced ​​fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. To do this, put the halves of apples in an airtight container, add a few drops of lemon juice and 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar.

This method involves placing the apple mass in a sterilized glass container. The preparation process consists of several stages:

• clean fruits free from skin and seeds;
• rub on a fine grater;
• placed in previously prepared sterilized jars;
• closed with lids.

To increase the shelf life of such apples in the refrigerator, they are mixed with granulated sugar in a 1: 1 ratio and laid out in jars.

The shelf life of apples in the refrigerator can vary from a few days to several months. These indicators are influenced by:

• grade;
• preparation of fruits for storage;
• storage temperature.

Frozen fruits have the longest shelf life. Low temperatures will help keep them for up to 1 year. The main disadvantage of this storage method is, in most cases, the small volume of the freezer, which allows you to hold a small amount of fruit. Winter apple varieties can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. In order to keep them fresh longer, they must be sorted out about 1 time per week, removing fruits with signs of rot. Wrapping each fruit in a separate paper package will help to increase the shelf life with this method. So the fruits will not be able to come into contact with each other, which will exclude the spread of rot and mold.

Grated apples can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. If stored for a longer period, they can sour.

Frozen apple halves can be stored in the freezer for 6-9 months. The main rule for preserving the freshness of fruits with this method is the exclusion of defrosting and re-freezing of sliced ​​fruits.

Thus, using the refrigerator, you can preserve the fruit harvest for a long time and provide yourself and your family with fragrant and healthy fruits in the autumn-winter period. Harvesting fruits for the winter using the listed methods will allow you to always keep fresh fruits on hand, and, if necessary, make delicious compotes from them, bake fragrant pies.