A shocking 88 apples are being tossed out by each British household every year - leading to a national waste of a whopping 2.4 billion in total, as revealed by research from supermarket giant Aldi. This forms part of the broader issue of food waste, with over half (54 per cent) of Brits admitting they bin too much fresh produce every week, costing households an average of £468 annually. To keep apples and other fruits fresh, they need to be stored correctly.
Food waste expert Kate Hall has some straightforward yet effective tips to tackle this issue. She recommends keeping apples in the fridge's low-humidity drawer, also known as the crisper, which allows for better airflow and suits thicker-skinned fruits like apples. Avoiding excess moisture is key to preventing spoilage, so where you place your fruit matters.
Kate advises: "Thin-skinned, high-moisture foods like salad leaves should be stored in high-humidity drawers, while thicker-skinned produce like apples should be stored in low-humidity drawers.". It's also vital to check your fridge temperature - keeping it at 5C or below can help slow down the ripening process, ensuring your apples stay crisp and tasty, reports the Express.
Kate also cautions: "Certain fruits and veggies like bananas, apples and tomatoes emit high levels of ethylene gas (a natural gas that's produced as fruit ripens), which can cause your other ethylene-sensitive produce, such as berries, cherries and grapes, to ripen and ruin faster – so keep them separate!".
