There is nothing quite like taking a bite of a crisp, delicious apple. They are a fantastic treat when they are fresh, but the problem is, you feel as if you have to eat the whole thing because they brown so quickly.
Although most people lament the fact that apples turn color so quickly, there is a simple fix that will have you jumping for joy. It only takes five minutes, some tap water, and some salt, but the end result is beautiful looking apple slices that stay fresh for hours.
First of all, fill a bowl with cold, salted water. 1/2 teaspoon of salt for every cup of water should be fine. Put the apple slices into the bowl and let them soak for 10 minutes before draining. If you are serving the apples right away, go ahead and serve them, but if not, put them in a plastic baggie or airtight container until you are ready. Be sure that you rinse the apple slices with water before serving them to wash away the salty flavor.
The reason why this works is that oxidation causes fruits to brown. Submerging the apple slices in salty water stops the process by keeping the oxygen from reaching the surface of the apple.
You might also be interested in trying some other methods that will keep apples from browning. Here are a few to consider:
1. Mix ½ teaspoon honey with 1 cup water. Add apple slices and soak for five minutes. Rinse and store until ready to serve.
2. Soak apple slices in lemon-lime soda for five minutes. Rinse and serve.
3. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice per cup of water and soak apple slices for five minutes. Rinse and serve.
This option works wonderfully but there are still going to be brown spots appearing after an hour or two. If you want to keep the slices fresh looking for a little longer, however, this is the best way to do it.