Free Ideas - Various Uses for Apples

Apples and apple products have many more uses than you'd think. Sure, they taste great and are great for us, but that is just the beginning. Read our clever "out-of-the-box" tips for using apples, and learn how to care for apples!

•    Keep potatoes from sprouting - An apple in your bag of potatoes will help.
•    Keep brown sugar moist - Place an apple in your brown sugar container.
•    Keep cookies moist - Place an apple in your cookie jar.
•    When you can't get a toothbrush - If you cannot brush your teeth after a meal, eat an apple. Eating a raw apple will cleanse your mouth of more than 95% of the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Handle With Care - Picking The Best Apples
•    Buy apples that are bruise-free and firm to the touch. Bruised apples can decay quickly.
•    Handle apples gently to prevent bruising.
•    Store apples in the refrigerator - refrigerated apples will last up to 10 times longer than that left at room temperature.
•    Unbruised apples handled and stored well, can have a storage life of 90 days from when picked, and often more!
•    Add lemon juice to an apple recipe if the apples you are using lack tartness or flavor.
•    Apples emit ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that encourages ripening. Store apples in a plastic bag to prevent them from speeding the ripening of other produce items.
•    Apples absorb odors easily, so store them away from foods with strong odors.
•    Coat apple slices and diced apples in a mixture of one part lemon juice to three parts water to retard browning.
•    Generally, tart-tasting apples are best for cooking, while sweeter apples are preferred for snacking and for salads.