Imagine a scenario where you were trying this new and amazing apple salad recipe. But the moment you sliced the apples and left them out in the air for a few minutes, they turned into an unpleasant shade of brown. Now the whole salad is ruined because the apples look spoilt and unpleasant.
Sprite keeps apples from turning brown with the help of lime in it without altering its taste. Simply soak sliced apples in a bowl of sprite for 3-5 minutes. Let them dry then put them in a zip-top bag or an airtight container to prevent air contact and store them in the fridge for a maximum of 2-3 days.
Well, browning is one of the most unpleasant things which happen to fruit when it is sliced. It happens because of an oxidation reaction. Naturally, the cell structure of apples contains polyphenol oxidase enzymes. When the fruit is cut or bruised, the enzyme is exposed, and in the presence of oxygen, it oxidizes the phenolic compounds into o-quinones. The o-quinones then create the brown colored secondary compounds.
Browning is, therefore a reaction which cannot be avoided as long as the fruit gets bruised. However, you can learn a few hacks and pro tips to prevent the reaction from ruining the beauty of your apples once you cut them.
Does Sprite Prevent Apples from Turning Brown?
The simple answer is yes, you can use sprite to prevent your apple slices from turning brown after slicing.
The main ingredients used to make sprite are water, corn syrup, natural lemon and lime, and citric acid among other ingredients. The main active ingredient which will be helping your apple slices from turning brown once cut, is the lemon or lime in the sprite.
Lemon juice is known to inhibit the action of the enzyme polyphenol. When the bruised part of the fruit comes into contact with the acid in sprite, the enzymes are deactivated, and the fruit will not turn brown.
How to Use Sprite to Stop Apples from Turning Brown
You can use the regular sprite that you have in your fridge to stop sliced apples from getting that unpleasant brown discoloration. The process is simple:
- Rinse your apples under running water
- Slice them into the desired shapes
- Pour a room temperature cup of sprite into a bowl and wait for the gas to evaporate
- Add the sliced apples and allow them to soak for 3-5 minutes
- Drain the sprite and let the apple slices dry completely
- Put the now crisp and fresh slices in a zip lock bag. These will remain fresh and white for 2-3 days.
Pro Tip: The amazing thing about using sprite to prevent apples from turning brown is that it does not alter their taste in any way. If you have tried using lemon juice before, you probably noticed that the slices were left with a lingering bitter taste. This does not happen when you use sprite.
How to Store Sliced Apples to prevent them From Browning
The color and freshness of your apple slices depends on how well you will store them after you have treated them. Here are several storage hacks which can help your apples stay crisp and fresh for longer.
Cool Temperatures
You need to store your sliced apples in cool surroundings because high temperatures accelerate respiration in fruit, which increases the production of phenolic enzymes, speeding up the browning process. Temperatures in your fridge are ideal to keep the sliced fruit in perfect condition.
- Treat the apple slices with sprite, following the steps above
- Put them in a zip lock bag
- Store them in the top compartment of the fridge and ensure they stay cold.
Airtight Containers
Oxygen is the catalyst which facilitates the browning process. Therefore, in its absence, your apple slices will not discolor. Follow these simple steps:
- Slice your apples and treat them using sprite soda
- Get an airtight container such as a Tupperware with a lid
- Drop the slices inside and store them in a cool place
Water and Honey
Another simple hack that can help you keep your apple slices fresh for longer is honey.
- Stir in two or three spoons of honey in two cups of water
- Add the cut apple slices and let them marinate for about five minutes
- Drain the honey and water and store the slices in a cool place
There is a compound in honey which is effective in stopping the action of polyphenol enzyme in sliced apples.
It is important to note that these storage methods are meant to buy you time and keep your slices fresh for a little bit longer. After a day or two, your apples will eventually turn brown. It is, therefore, advisable to ensure that you do not slice the apples too long before they are eaten.
Also, remember that apples produce ripening enzymes even after they have been harvested from the tree. Only buy a few that will stay fresh for a few days for the healthiest salads and snacks.