Availability: All year around
What to look out for
Go for unblemished, unbruised and ripe ones straight way. The best apples will be the ones that usually still contain the stem from the tree.
Apples that present bruises or cuts will be spoiled way faster and they can ruin a whole batch of good apples.
Storage
Apples can be stored in 3 different ways:
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- Counter/Basket: It’s possible to store apples into a short-term over the counter or on a basket. Just place the fruit into the coldest and darkest place in the kitchen.
- Fridge: Apples adore cold spaces, thus the fridge is probably the best place to store them. Place the apples inside the coldest drawer wrapped by a perforated plastic bag.
- Freezer: Freezing apples is another great way to preserve the fruit in case you have to many to eat straight away. To freeze the apples follow the following steps:
- Slices each apple into 4 pieces. Arrange all the pieces over a baking tray with parchment paper, making sure the pieces are not touching each other, and place the tray on the freezer for at least 3 hours.
- Take the tray off the freezer and arrange the apple slices into a freezer-friendly container or bag. The apples will keep fresh and tasty up to 6 months.
Benefits
Brain Protection
Studies have demonstrated that the compound called Quercetin inside apples may help to protect our brain against damages caused by oxidative stress. The compound can do it by regulating inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.
May Help with Asthma
As apple is a fruit that is rich in antioxidants and inflammatory properties, these same compounds can help in regulating the body’s immune response and protect against asthma.
May Prevent Cancer
The antioxidants present in apples may be beneficial in fighting certain types of cancers cells such as lung, breast, and digestive tract cancers.
Gut Health Promotion
Apples contain a specific type of fibre called Pectin. This particular fibre is linked to improvements in the gut-friendly bacteria, therefore apples may increase the protection against chronic diseases by feeding the right group of bacteria.
Lower Diabetes Risks
The anti-inflammatory effects from the compound Quercetin may lower the insulin resistance, thus reducing the risk of diabetes type 2 happening.