Morrisons has confirmed the best way to store apples, revealing they can last up to 14 days longer when kept in the fridge rather than a fruit bowl. Fresh fruit spoiling quickly is a common frustration, often caused by ethylene gas, a natural substance that accelerates ripening. Apples are among the highest producers of ethylene, making proper storage crucial.
Why the Fridge Works
The supermarket explained that households often waste fruit by keeping it in the most obvious place—the fruit bowl. When multiple fruits are stored together, they all emit ethylene gas, speeding up ripening. Warm kitchen temperatures further amplify this effect. In contrast, the cold environment of a fridge slows ethylene production, significantly extending the shelf life of apples.
Food Waste in the UK
This advice comes as fresh fruit and vegetables account for a major share of UK food waste. According to The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), fresh produce tops 2.5 million tonnes per year of edible food waste. Jackie Baily, Senior Manager of WRAP's Love Food Hate Waste Campaign, said: "We see fresh produce as the real kitchen victim when it comes to food waste. Because most fruit and veg is sold packaged, we have to buy what we're given, not what we need, and that means a lot goes to waste."
Baily added: "As a result, our bins have a diet that most nutritionists would envy. And we're a long way from breaking our food waste habit because of this packaging." WRAP suggests that selling fruit loose could help break the UK's £1,000-a-year food waste habit.
Practical Tips
- Store apples in the fridge, not the fruit bowl.
- Keep apples separate from other ethylene-sensitive fruits and vegetables.
- Only keep in a fruit bowl fruits you plan to eat within a few days.
By making this simple switch, households can reduce waste and save money while enjoying fresher fruit for longer.
