At the sustainable Naturresort Gerbehof on the German side of Lake Constance, you vacation among apple trees. In the fall, the apples are harvested. Here are tips on how to pick and store apples properly. © Günter Standl
Do apples post-ripen?
Apples do ripen, but not as much as other fruits (such as bananas). How much they ripen depends first of all on the apple variety. Secondly, storage also plays an important role. If you want them to ripen, store them in a warm, dry place – preferably with other apples that are already ripe. This is because ripe apples produce the plant hormone ethylene, and this gas can speed up the ripening of other apples. If you don’t want your apples to ripen, store them in a cool, dry place.
How do you know when an apple is ripe?
A ripe apple is firm but not hard. It can be twisted off the branch without much effort and has a nice color (depending on the variety).
Harvesting apples properly: in the morning, at noon or in the evening?
If you are going to store the apples, it is best to pick them in the cool morning hours. If you want to eat them right away, any time is good 🙂
How to store apples properly?
Harvesting experts recommend: Lay the apples out with their stalks down – without touching each other. If there are too many apples, you can separate the layers with corrugated cardboard. Important: Store apples away from other fruits and vegetables.
What can you do with apples?
There are many ways to use apples. The classic ways to preserve apples are
- Apple rings (dried in a dehydrator)
- Applesauce/Apple compote (boil down)
- Apple juice (juicer)
There are of course, many delicious recipes for fresh apples: One of them is are “Apfelküchlein” – a German version of Apple Pancaces. Here you find the vegan recipe:
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