How to Keep Apples Fresh in Kids' Lunches

Prevent apple slices from browning in your kid's lunches.

Soon after apples are cut, they will begin to change color. If left untreated, a cut apple will turn completely brown by the time lunch comes along. To make sure your kids eat the apples you pack in their lunches, it is important to keep them fresh. The sight of a brown apple can be unappealing to an adult, let alone a child. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to slow down this color change and keep the apples looking and tasting fresh. Does this Spark an idea?

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Lemon juice
Lime juice
Ascorbic acid
Salt
Ginger ale
Plastic bag
Plastic container

Instructions

- 1
  
  Squirt lemon or lime juice over the slices of apples in your kid's lunches. The acidity of these juices will deactivate the enzyme that causes the browning.
- 2
  
  Mix ascorbic acid in water, and dip slices of apple into this mixture. This solution will prevent browning just as lemon or lime juice does.
- 3
  
  Fill a bowl with water, dissolve salt into it and then soak the apple slices in this saltwater for 10 seconds or so to prevent the apples from browning.
- 4
  
  Soak the slices of apple in ginger ale for 10 minutes to prevent browning.
- 5
  
  Place the apple slices into an airtight plastic bag or container. The less exposure the apple has to air, the less susceptible it will be to browning. This is because oxygen causes an enzyme in the apple to turn it brown.
- 6
  
  Consider choosing apple varieties that are less prone to browning. Some of these varieties include Granny Smith and Cortland.