Apple Storage Temperature

You just returned from a trip to the roadside market with a giant bag of apples. Since you won't be able to eat them all at once, you need the right place to enjoy your cache all year long.

Storage

• Apples are heavy, make sure your large containers have room for air circulation and can be stacked. September has come image by James Scott from Fotolia.com

  Fresh picked apples take in oxygen and release gases that ripen nearby fruit. Store your apples away from other fruits and vegetables, if possible. Use a perforated plastic bag to store your apples in the refrigerator. This allows air and humidity to circulate. Large, aerated containers can hold lots of apples. Make sure they are stackable to prevent the weight of large quantities of apples from crushing each other. Containers like this are best stored in a traditional cold room or cool humid basement from 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Department of Horticulture at Purdue University.

Temperature

• Make sure to place apples in perforated bags to allow for air flow and maintain humidity. contents of fridge image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com

  According to Purdue University, optimum storage temperatures for apples range between 30 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, with 32 degrees being ideal. Because the humidity is usually low in fridges, and since temperatures can fluctuate in refrigerators, it is important to consider where in the fridge you store your apples. The bottom of the refrigerator is usually the coldest area, higher shelves warmer. If a refrigerator is left closed for long periods of time, temperatures tend to drop. Remember that apples freeze between 28 and 29 degrees Fahrenheit and decompose rapidly after that.

Preserving

• jars of plum, summer fruits,& cidered apple butter image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com

  If you don't have the proper storage space and right temperature for apples, preserve them by baking or cooking. You can freeze apple pies, muffins and all kinds of baked goods. Or preserve apples as delicious jars of apple sauce in your pantry. Either way, you will get to enjoy the benefits of that big bag of apples you picked at your local farmers' market last fall.