We all know apples taste very delicious and are one of the healthy fruits that we must include in our daily menu. But the problem with cut apples is they can quickly turn brown once they are exposed to air. Though this browning process does not affect the taste of the apple, still it looks less appealing and unappetizing. Here are a few kitchen tips and tricks on how to prevent apple slices from turning brown and keep them fresh for longer periods of time. 
Why do cut apples turn brown
Just like other fruits, apples do have various health benefits in it. When the apple is sliced it turns brown very easily after getting exposed to the air.
This happens because when oxygen comes in contact with polyphenol oxidase ( an enzyme found in various fruits and vegetables ) present in apples, it rapidly oxidizes the phenolic compounds and quickly converts various tissues of the apple into brown colour.
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Type of browning in apple
You must remember the fact is that there are two types of browning that happen in apples.
How to prevent apple slices from turning brown
While apple browning is a very natural process, the longer they expose browner they will get which you cannot ignore. It is always good to eat a sliced apple immediately after cut.
But if you slice apples in advance then these kitchen tips and tricks will help you to prevent apple slices from turning brown at least for some time.
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Soak the apple slices in salt water
Salt is a natural preservative. Because the sodium ( Na ) compound present in the salt prevents the oxygen ( O2 ) from reaching the surface of the apple slices, ultimately it helps to prevent the browning of the apple slices.
To prevent cut apples from turning brown, here is a kitchen tip on preparing a solution of salt water by mixing ½ teaspoon salt with 1 cup of cold water.
After that add the apple slices to the salt water and let them soak for a maximum of 5 to 10 minutes without taking risk of briny flavour.
Finally, rinse in fresh water, and drain and dry the apple slices before storing them in the refrigerator.
This method helps to keep the apples fresh for a longer period, without seeing any noticeable flavour or texture change.
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Soak apple slices in honey water
Here are the other effective kitchen tips on how to prevent apple slices from turning brown, for this soak apple slices in honey water.
This method works exceptionally well because the peptide compound present in the honey deactivates the polyphenol oxidase enzyme to prevent browning apple slices.
So, to prepare the honey water mixture, first mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 cup of cold water. Then soak the apple slices in it for 5 minutes then rinse in fresh water. After that dry them and store in the refrigerator for later usage.
These quick kitchen hacks work exceptionally well. It not only prevents cut apple from browning but also keep them fresh for a long without changing the apple’s taste and colour.
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Coat apple slices with ascorbic or citric acid powder
Have you ever noticed that packaged sliced apples at your local supermarket never have a single brown spot on it. Do you know the main reason behind it?
It’s because they are usually coated with ascorbic acid aka vitamin C or citric acid powder. Because it is a natural antioxidant that helps to slow down the oxidation process and keep the apples fresh for a longer time period.
To get the best result from these kitchen tips first sprinkle the citric powder on the apple slices, put them inside a zip-lock bag or an airtight container then place them inside a refrigerator.
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Soak apple slices in Lemon Juice
Do you know lemon juice can prevent cut apples from turning brown? Because the ascorbic acid in the lemon acts as an antioxidant and the citric acid present in the lemon juice creates a low pH environment to slow down enzyme activity that causes the browning of apple slices.
Basically here acid reacts with the enzyme before the enzyme and oxygen have a chance to react with the apple.
Now to properly use this kitchen hack in a cup of cold water mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
Now dip the apple slices in this lemon juice and water mixture for a maximum of 5 minutes.
After that, rinse with fresh water, pat dry and store in the refrigerator for later usage.
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Soak apple slices in plain water
If you don’t have the above ingredients near your hand then you can simply use these easy kitchen tips for how to prevent apple slices from turning brown, which is none other than plain water.
For this dip, the apple slices are in water immediately after slicing, water protects the apple slices against oxidization.
At this point apple slices will start floating to the top of the water, so to prevent them from exposing to air, place a clean paper towel on top of it.
Once the paper towel is wet, it will push the apples under the water’s surface, to keep the apple from turning brown.
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Always keep in mind there are no ways to prevent apple slices from turning brown forever, these methods will offer just an additional hour or two before discolouration begins.
📖 Recipe
Kitchen tips and tricks : How to prevent apple slices from turning brown
Ingredients
- Apple slices
- Honey
- Salt
- Lemon Juice
- Water
- Ascorbic acid powder
Instructions
How to prevent apple slices from turning brown
- While apple browning is a very natural process, the longer they expose browner they will get which you cannot ignore. It is always good to eat a sliced apple immediately after cut.
- Soak the apple slices in salt water
- Salt is a natural preservative. Because the sodium ( Na ) compound present in the salt prevents the oxygen ( O2 ) from reaching the surface of the apple slices, ultimately it helps to prevent the browning of the apple slices.
- To prevent cut apples from turning brown, here is a kitchen tip on preparing a solution of salt water by mixing ½ teaspoon salt with 1 cup of cold water.
- After that add the apple slices to the salt water and let them soak for a maximum of 5 to 10 minutes without taking risk of briny flavour.
- Finally, rinse in fresh water, and drain and dry the apple slices before storing them in the refrigerator.
- This method helps to keep the apples fresh for a longer period, without seeing any noticeable flavour or texture change.
Soak apple slices in honey water
- Here are the other effective kitchen tips on how to prevent apple slices from turning brown, for this soak apple slices in honey water.
- This method works exceptionally well because the peptide compound present in the honey deactivates the polyphenol oxidase enzyme to prevent browning apple slices.
-
- So, to prepare the honey water mixture, first mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 cup of cold water. Then soak the apple slices in it for 5 minutes then rinse in fresh water. After that dry them and store in the refrigerator for later usage.
- These quick kitchen hacks work exceptionally well. It not only prevents cut apple from browning but also keep them fresh for a long without changing the apple's taste and colour.
Coat apple slices with ascorbic or citric acid powder
- Have you ever noticed that packaged sliced apples at your local supermarket never have a single brown spot on it. Do you know the main reason behind it?
-
- It’s because they are usually coated with ascorbic acid aka vitamin C or citric acid powder. Because it is a natural antioxidant that helps to slow down the oxidation process and keep the apples fresh for a longer time period.
- To get the best result from these kitchen tips first sprinkle the citric powder on the apple slices, put them inside a zip-lock bag or an airtight container then place them inside a refrigerator.
Soak apple slices in Lemon Juice
- Do you know lemon juice can prevent cut apples from turning brown? Because the ascorbic acid in the lemon acts as an antioxidant and the citric acid present in the lemon juice creates a low pH environment to slow down enzyme activity that causes the browning of apple slices.
-
- Basically here acid reacts with the enzyme before the enzyme and oxygen have a chance to react with the apple.
- Now to properly use this kitchen hack in a cup of cold water mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
- Now dip the apple slices in this lemon juice and water mixture for a maximum of 5 minutes.
- After that, rinse with fresh water, pat dry and store in the refrigerator for later usage.
Soak apple slices in plain water
- If you don't have the above ingredients near your hand then you can simply use these easy kitchen tips for how to prevent apple slices from turning brown, which is none other than plain water.
-
- The most important thing you can do to avoid browning is to reduce the apple’s exposure to air.
- For this dip, the apple slices are in water immediately after slicing, water protects the apple slices against oxidization.
- At this point apple slices will start floating to the top of the water, so to prevent them from exposing to air, place a clean paper towel on top of it.
- Once the paper towel is wet, it will push the apples under the water's surface, to keep the apple from turning brown.
- Always keep in mind there are no ways to prevent apples slices from turning brown forever, these methods will offer just an additional hour or two before discolouration begins.
Notes
Preventing Apple Slices from Turning Brown Tips
- Read the above-detailed instructions thoroughly to learn about the technique to prevent apple slices from turning brown.
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