What is the best way to store apples?

[BlueMoon]

I have a few bushels here I'd like to store for the winter.

Knowing only that one rotten apple spoils the bunch, what should we do?

 

[bluebirdfarm]

we keep ours in a cold room in an uncoverd container, if you close them up airtight the gas from ripening will make them go bad or ripen faster.
LOL , the oldtimers used to dig a hole in the ground and put in the apples , cover with mulch to store for winter !!!!
good luck !

 

[Pumpkinpup]

I have heard people say you can store them in sawdust in a barrel in a cool place such as a cellar. I don't know how true that is.

 

[Ottoman]

Root callers has always been the most popular storage for many, many, years. Storag in sawdust does work very well. A layer of sawdust, then Apples would be placed in the sawdust so no Apple would touch each other, then another layer of sawdust. This barrel would be placed in a Root callers.

Try this experiment; dig a hole in your ground about 2 foot deep, place a thermometer in the hole and cover it with a piece of wood. After about 4 or 5hr check you thermometer and see what the tempter is where you live. Now check your refrigerator and see how cold it is.

Squirrels will bury apples in the fall and they will keep all winter.

I live in North Florida and the tempter under the ground is 72 year round.

Another way to store apples is by drying them. this is more work but I have had dry apples last over a year. I built a very large wood box, paint it black, made a screen wire as a shelf, and a glass cover. I would slice the apples, dip them in a solution of lemon juice and water,{this keeps them from turning brown] arrange them on the screen wire where they are not touching each other and set it in the sun. In one day I could do a bushel of apples. I would string them and hang them in the kitchen.

 

[BlueMoon]

Thank you - I am always amazed at how knowledge BYC'ers store!