Much like pumpkin spice lattes and buckets of Halloween candy, apples have a reputation for being quintessentially autumnal. But unlike their cohorts, this fall fruit is in abundant supply all year round. If peak apple season in the U.S. is September and October, what kind of magic is the market conjuring to keep them available in, say, the middle of February? Chances are, you have this method to thank for keeping you in a steady supply of apples throughout the year.
First introduced in the late 1920s, controlled-atmosphere storage, or CA storage, is a time-tested method of slowing down the ripening process by sealing the fruit in a room and regulating temperature, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity levels.
"The day they open that door, the apples are basically in the same condition that they were when picked," says Norm Schultz, farm manager at Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pennsylvania. By lowering the temperature, reducing the oxygen levels, and boosting humidity and carbon dioxide, apples in controlled-atmosphere storage can stay fresh for between two and four times longer than usual, according to Schultz. Since the fruit can already keep for two to three months, CA storage expands that range to between eight months and a year. (A year!)
Fall co*cktails to Try This Season
At Linvilla, Schultz uses old-fashioned low temperatures to keep his apples fresher longer, and says that you can, too. Below, find the farmer's tips for keeping your own harvest fresh long after the season's last sip of pumpkin spice latte.
How to pick the longest-lasting fresh apples
Choose firm apples with smooth, unblemished skin and with the stem intact, if possible. Apples missing their stem have a higher chance of fungi or bacteria entering where the stem used to be. Also, "the smaller the apple, and thicker the skin, generally the longer it will store," says Schultz. "For some reason the tarter apples store longer than the sweeter apples." Bypass Golden Delicious, which is both sweet and has a thin skin, and instead opt for Granny Smith. "It's a tart apple with thick skin, so instead of two months you get four months, just being cold."
How to keep apples fresh
According to Schultz, people need to be more gentle with their fruit. "The old adage is true — one bad apple spoils the bunch," says the farmer. If an apple has even a little bruise, ethylene gets emitted faster, and then everything around it rots and spoils faster. "We watch the customers just toss the apples in the bag, and they get to the register and they dump them in another bag, and then they throw the bag in the back of their car," he says. "If you're handling your apple any harder than an egg, you don't have a chance [of keeping it fresh for months.]"
How to store apples in the fridge
Surprisingly, apples can (and should) be stored at super-low temperatures, ideally anywhere from 31 to 35 degrees. "Some produce doesn't like to be cold," says Schultz. "If you put summer squash in there at 40 degrees, it'll start breaking down faster. But apples can actually take 30 degrees. At 29 degrees, they'll start freezing."
Sweet and Savory Apple Recipes for Fall
Schultz suggests storing the apples in a "beer fridge" — i.e., an extra fridge in the basem*nt or garage that you don't open as often as the one in your kitchen, and are able to keep at a lower temperature. If you don't have access to a secondary fridge, though, just keep your apples in the crisper drawer without any other produce (as they emit ethylene, other fruits and vegetables will spoil faster), and keep the fridge as low as you can without freezing everything else in there.
How to add humidity to extend shelf-life
At the grocery store, fruit is misted regularly to add humidity and maintain freshness, but at home you probably don't have the time or elaborate mechanism in place to make that happen. Instead, cover your apples in a damp paper towel, or leave them in the plastic produce bag to trap the humidity, but poke a few holes in it so as not to trap the ethylene gas.
How to freeze apples
Freezing whole apples doesn't create a great texture when thawed, however, cut up frozen apples are perfect for smoothies and baking, such as in this Perfect Apple Pie. To prep apples for freezing, peel, core, and slice or dice them, depending on how you plan to use them. Place the cut apples on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then freeze until firm, about an hour. Transfer the cold apples to a zip-top freezer bag or container and freeze for up to three months.
