Michigan State University Extension
Preserving Food Safely - 01600656
10/13/97

### STORING APPLES

        Late  maturing  varieties of apples will store for  use

    throughout
    the winter if the fruit is hard,  mature   and in

    perfect
    condition.  Apples picked too green are subject to a

    number
    of storage disorders,  such as scald and bitter  pit;

    if
     picked beyond maturity,  they quickly become overripe in

    storage.

       Cool  as  quickly as possible  after  harvest  for  best

    results.
      For most varieties of apples, the optimum storage

    temperature
     is  30  to 32  degrees  Fahrenheit  with  a 90%

    relative
    humidity.  Higher storage temperatures reduce   the

    storage
     life considerably,  and  apples ripen twice as fast

    at
    40 degrees Fahrenheit as at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

       Apples  can  be stored outdoors in insulated  boxes  or

    straw-lined
    pits or buried containers as long as the outside

    temperatures
      are  above 10 degrees Fahrenheit.   They will

    last
      longer  and  retain  more  flavor if  kept in a fruit

    cellar
     in plastic bags or  in  cardboard  boxes lined  with

    plastic
    sheets.  However, the cardboard box and plastic bags

    or
    liners must be perforated to  allow air circulation.   If

    the
    fruits are  individually  wrapped  in  tissue  paper  or

    newspaper
    before being placed in boxes  or  baskets,  better

    results
    will be achieved.  Plastic liners help maintain high

    humidity
    and prevent  the  apples from being affected by the

    surrounding
      air.   The  balance  of  humidity  is  subtle;

    excess
     humidity will  encourage   decay,  and  insufficient

    humidity
    will encourage shriveling.

        Avoid  storing apples too long and regularly check  for

    signs
     of  spoilage.    Mustiness  will  spread  to  healthy

    specimens.
     Storage duration depends on the variety.

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