The #1 Way To Keep Apples From Turning Brown, According to a Food Writer

It's not lemon juice.

Simply Recipes / Diana Chistruga

Key Takeaways

• Soaking apple slices in salt water keeps them white for hours, unlike other methods.
• Salt water works better than lemon juice or honey, and it doesn't leave flavors behind.
• Just soak the slices for 10 minutes, then pat them dry.

Brown apples. They’re not bad apples, but they’re less than appealing. Let's talk about why they turn brown and the best way to prevent it. 

Why Do Cut Apples Turn Brown?

Browning, or oxidation, begins when oxygen comes into contact with a cut apple's cells. Oxidation has a damaging effect on plants, which explains the brown color and shriveled texture an apple takes on after it has been sliced.

Read More: 12 No-Fuss Apple Desserts I'm Making On Repeat

How To Prevent Oxidation

Many acidic substances are effective antioxidants. Salt also slows oxidation. Lastly, keeping apple slices away from excess light and oxygen helps immensely. In fact, proper storage is a “must” for preserving apple slices, and can be used in conjunction with any of the methods outlined below.

Simply Recipes / Diana Chistruga

Lemon Juice Isn't the Answer

Now, perhaps you’ve heard that soaking apple slices in a lemon water solution is a good way to slow oxidation. While theoretically this makes sense given the acidic pH of lemon juice, I found this solution to be no more effective than plain water at preventing browning. So if you’re prioritizing simplicity above all to slow down browning, I recommend soaking apples in plain water. This method works because the apple slices are submerged, protecting them from oxygen.  

Another effective method is to use a honey water solution. Honey has an acidic pH and is a natural preservative (remember it’s nearly impossible for honey to “go bad”), so it does a bang-up job at preserving the color of freshly cut apples. The only drawback is that real honey is expensive, though you could always use the honey water in a lemonade or other tasty drink.

The Best Way To Keep Apples From Turning Brown

Now that I've detailed the basics of oxidation and how to slow it down, I'll reveal my favorite method for preventing apples from turning brown: soaking the apple slices in a salt water solution. Using salt water isn’t just effective, it’s also incredibly affordable and simple. In fact, I found that apple slices remained solid white for hours after a salt water soak. What’s more, a quick rinse easily removes any salty aftertaste.

Read More: Waldorf Salad

Simply Recipes / Diana Chistruga

My Simple Salt Water Solution to Prevent Browning

Here's what you need to keep apples from turning brown.

• 1 teaspoon fine salt, as needed
• 1 cup water
• 1 medium apple, any kind

To a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of salt for every 1 cup of water, stirring to dissolve the salt. Make just enough of the salt water solution so you can fully submerge the apple slices in it.

Peel the apple (if desired), core, and cut it into slices of your desired thickness. Remember, the thicker the slice, the less the apple will brown.

Soak the apple slices in the salt water for 10 minutes.

Drain and rinse the apple slices under cool running water, then pat dry.

Serve the apple slices right away or refrigerate them in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 12 hours.

Simply Recipes / Diana Chistruga

More Quick Tips to Prevent Apples From Turning Brown

• Keep apple slices away from air. Once you soak them in the salt water solution, store the apple slices in an airtight container or zip-top bag to avoid excess exposure to oxygen.
• Keep them in a cool, dark place. Opt for a cold (but not freezing), dark environment.
• Cut them larger. Cutting the apples into thicker chunks reduces the surface area that is exposed to air, causing less browning.
• Baking vs. snacking. If using cut apples for baking, keep them in the salt water solution until ready to use them in the recipe. If the apple slices are for snacking, soak them as directed for 10 minutes, then drain, rinse, dry, and pack the slices in a small bag or container.

from Simply Recipes | Recipes and cooking advice for home cooks https://ift.tt/EKhftpx