Apples in the grocery store are usually about a week old, but the question is: How old are they really? According to the Environmental Working Group, some grocery store apples can last up to 10 months, despite being picked at the beginning of the season. This is because of chemical treatments, which can prolong their life span. These treatments may include fungicides, insecticides, and other chemicals. The aim of these chemicals is to protect the apple from pests and bad bacteria.
Common types of apples in the U.S.
Apples come in a variety of colors, flavors, and sizes. The most popular varieties in the United States include Gala and Red Delicious. These varieties are popular for snacking, baking, and making applesauce. These apples can also be purchased at a grocery store all year long.
Apple varieties vary in taste, size, color, and storage life. Some are cultivated for specific uses while others are cherished as heirlooms. Apples come in many colors and can be sweet, tart, or sour. There is no one “best” apple for any use, but each one has its own pros and cons.
Red Delicious: This apple is the most popular apple in the United States. It originated in Iowa and is considered a favorite for snacking and cooking. It has a sweet flavor and a crisp texture. It is best sliced or chopped raw. Another popular variety is Honeycrisp. Its reddish yellow color and explosion of crispness make it a favorite for salads and sauces.
Cortland: The name of this variety was coined in 1898, and was named after the county in which it was developed. This variety has a classic flavor and can be used for baking, salads, and cooking. It is also ideal for making apple sauce.
Macoun: Developed in the United States, this variety is a hybrid of two popular apples. Its red color has faint white striations and a blush of light green color. The apple is sweet and tart and pairs well with cheese and pumpkin. The Empire: A cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious, the Empire apple has a crisp and juicy texture and plenty of juice.
Baldwin: Until the early 1930s, this variety was a staple in the U.S., although it is still available in some farmers’ markets. Baldwin apples are best for baking, snacking, and making apple cider. They have a firm texture and can withstand high temperatures. Cameo: A relative of red delicious, the Cameo is a sweet, slightly tart, and tart apple. Available all year round, it is a great all-around apple.
Golden Delicious: Golden Delicious apples are popular in the U.S. and are a popular choice for apple sauce and applesauce. They have a red-orange color and are often used for baking and eating raw. Other varieties include Crimson Gold and Black Oxford. Both are hardy and resistant to pests.
Common storage methods
The grocery store uses various storage methods to preserve the freshness of apples. These methods include misting the fruits to add humidity and maintain their freshness. However, home users do not need elaborate mechanisms to preserve apples. In addition to using perforated plastic bags, they can wrap apples in a damp paper towel to prevent them from wilting. Another common storage method is freezing.
When storing apples, keep in mind that they should not touch other fruits or vegetables. Store them in a cool, dark place, not tightly covered. It is also a good idea to place them in a paper bag with holes. Another option is to put them in a wooden crate or basket. When storing in the refrigerator, avoid placing them near foods that have strong odors.
Apples need moderate humidity in order to retain their freshness. They are often packaged in perforated food-grade polyethylene bags or box liners to avoid shriveling. These methods are beneficial because they allow air circulation and maintain the desired humidity. High humidity and temperature can cause apple decay. For this reason, it is important to choose apples at their peak ripeness to preserve their quality.
Depending on the type of apple, storing them in a refrigerator can preserve apples for a few weeks. Adding a damp paper towel to each apple or wrapping them individually can prevent apples from softening too fast. This method can even preserve apples for several months. In addition, you can also store them in an insulated storage container in a cool place.
Commercial refrigerated storage can maintain the freshness of apples for four to six months. However, if they are stored in CA storage, they can last for as long as 12 months. CA storage is the preferred method for many farmers, as it maintains the proper temperature and oxygen levels.
Another popular storage method for apples is an unheated basement. In case of a heated basement, the vents should be closed to maintain the proper humidity level. While most basements have higher humidity than the rest of the house, wood-heated basements can be very dry. A humidifier can help maintain the humidity level in a basement. In addition, misting apples with water from a spray bottle can help keep them moist.
Some cultivars of apples are more durable than others. Thicker and tart types hold up better than thin-skinned or sweet varieties. Therefore, it is important to remove the ones with blemishes as soon as possible and discard them. Moreover, rotten apples may spread disease to other apples nearby.
The optimum temperature for storage of apples depends on the variety and maturity of the apple. Apples can be stored at room temperature, or they can be canned, dried, or bottled in juice form. Apples can also be kept in refrigerators.
Age of apples in the grocery store
If you go to the grocery store and purchase an apple, you should be wary of its age. Although apples ripen in a short period of time in the United States, they sit in warehouses for nine to twelve months before they make it to the grocery store shelves. A recent investigation revealed that the average age of an apple in a grocery store is nearly a year old.
To judge the age of an apple, check its color and firmness. Apples that are firmer and bigger should be older. However, not all types of apples can be stored. Apples with brownish, russetted spots on the skin are usually a result of the weather and don’t affect flavor. Also, make sure the apple you purchase has a packing house label. A label that says “North Carolina” will indicate if the apple is more than a year old.
The age of an apple in the grocery store is usually determined by where the fruit was grown. A low-oxygen storage area will leach away some of the apple’s acidity. However, its mineral and vitamin content should not be affected. If you’re concerned about the age of your apple, you should try to buy a locally grown apple.
A recent study conducted by Stephen Morris, principal research scientist at the Sydney Postharvest Laboratory, showed that the age of apples in a grocery store varies greatly. The most popular types are usually around six months, while the worst ones will be eleven months or more. In addition, apple quality will begin to decline after nine months, so the older the apple, the worse it is.
When apples are harvested, they may have been sitting in storage for a year. That means that the apples you buy at the grocery store may be too ripe or too old. It is important to wash fruit before eating it. This helps remove any unwanted contaminants. When you buy fresh apples, try to purchase them from farm stands.
