How To Keep Apples From Browning in the Lunchbox

How To Keep Apples From Browning in the Lunchbox {Video}

By Laura Fuentes Updated Dec 20, 2024

5 from 1 vote

Wondering how to keep apples from browning in the lunchbox? Look no further – here are three ways to keep sliced apples fresh!

Apples are a favorite school lunch addition for many children and moms love their year-round availability and budget friendly prices. But, one question I often get when I share the school lunch menus is “How do you keep the apples from browning?”.

In this quick video, I show you the secret to keeping apples fresh:

Fortunately, there are several options for preserving fresh apples, keeping them as crisp and white as the moment you cut them.

These methods will let you cut and store sliced apples for the entire week, saving you time as you pack lunches for your children. Who doesn’t love that idea?

And after you’re done keeping all your apples all crunchy and delicious, be sure to check out my easy method to keep berries fresh!

fresh red apples sliced bowl on wood background

The main ingredient to preserving apples and keeping them from oxidizing is simple: citric acid. In its very basic, natural form it is found in lemons, limes, oranges, pineapple, and other citrus fruits.

It is also dehydrated and crystalized for a shelf-stable preservative and, in a variety of forms, is perfect for keeping sliced apples ready for lunch or an easy snack!

I use these methods for fruit cups and sliced apples that I send to school in the lunchbox.

How to Keep Apples Fresh

I use this step-by-step method for pre-slicing apples I can store in the fridge all week long, here’s what to do:

Wash and Slice
Gently rinse your apples under luke warm water and pat dry with a towel. Use a pairing knife to slice the apples into wedges.
Choose your Solution
Combine the sliced apples with your choice of lemon or citrus juice, citric acid, or produce wash. If using a produce wash, follow the package directions.
Refrigerate
Store the sliced and prepped apples in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Three Ways To Keep Apples From Browning

1) Citrus Fruit Juice: lemon juice is our family’s favorite as we love the flavor combo of tart lemon and sweet apple. But, if your children don’t like lemons, pineapple juice is yummy on apples!

apple slices in a white bowl with lemon juice

Simply squeeze the juice of one lemon (or other citrus, if desired) into a bowl of sliced apples.

Toss lightly to coat and then store the apples in a sealed container within your refrigerator for 4-5 days.

2) Fruit-Fresh: this powdered, natural preservative is made from citric acid and is most often used by home-cooks when canning fruits and vegetables. It can also be used on fresh produce to halt the oxidation process.

apple slices in a shallow bowl with Fruit Fresh

If using it on a few sliced apples, simply sprinkle it lightly on the fruit. To preserve up to 2 cups of sliced apples, mix 2 teaspoons of Fruit-Fresh with 2 tablespoons of water, and then toss the sliced fruit with the liquid. Refrigerate in an airtight container.

3) Eat Cleaner: an all-natural, tasteless and odorless produce and food cleaner that was created by a family dedicated to creating a safe product that would remove wax and residue from the items sold at our grocery stores.

Because it has citric acid in it, it also keeps produce and fruit from browning! This is a 2 in 1 product: you can clean your produce from nasty pesticides, waxes and dirt (even organic!) and use it to keep the food fresh. Win-win.

eat cleaner spray with apple slices in a shallow bowl

There are a variety of wipes and products in the Eat Cleaner family; follow the package guidelines for spraying and keeping your apples fresh.

The best way to keep apples fresh

I laid out slices of apples treated each way side by side. This way, you can see for yourself which method works best for the amount of time that you need your apples to be fresh. Here are the apples one hour into our test:

And here is what the treated and untreated apples look like after six hours. There’s a visible difference at hour six, and this is around the time your child is probably opening up the lunchbox and pulling out their apples.

In the interest of science (of course), our family tried out the three afore-mentioned methods for keeping apples fresh.

After six hours of sitting on the kitchen tables, the treated apples were all brighter and whiter than the apples that had been left untreated.

I now cut my apples on Sunday night, treat them and then I have easy “grab-n-go” apples for the duration of the week!

Regardless of which method works for your family and budget, you will find each to work perfectly at saving your apples from turning brown!

More healthy lunch ideas with fruit

While the possibilities are truly endless, some of my absolute top healthy lunch ideas using fresh apples, berries, and other fruits are Rainbow Fruit Skewers, Fruit & Yogurt Parfait, and Strawberry Fruit Leather!

by Laura Fuentes

onMay 14, 2013

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