The Type Of Apples You Can Store For The Longest

Considering a whopping 32% of food is wasted by the average U.S. household, it's important to learn how to make the most of yours so it doesn't end up in the trash (via Medical News Today). Preventing food waste can actually begin before you even make a trip to the grocery store; Mayo Clinic recommends going through your fridge, freezer, and pantry first, so you don't end up buying something you already have. And while you're cooking, don't toss out food parts just because you're used to doing so. A quick online search can help you find uses for fruits and veggies on the verge of going bad, as well as uses for things like chicken skin, squash seeds, and vegetable scraps, according to Healthline.

Perhaps the most important step in preventing food waste, however, is to use what you've got before it goes bad. And to do so, you'll need to make sure you're storing your food properly. To keep it simple, try to buy foods that last a long time — canned foods like beans and soups, rice, pasta, and honey are all great options, according to Real Simple. But you can't just live off pantry food, so Prevention explains that apples, pears, onions, and beets are some of the longest-lasting fruits and vegetables.

While all apples can last a long time, there is one type in particular that you can store for quite awhile without worrying about it going bad.

According to MasterClass, the apples with the thickest skin last the longest — this category includes the Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and McIntosh varieties. The Spruce Eats shares that softer, sweeter apples like Suncrisps will break down more quickly. It's possible to store these delicate varieties, but keep in mind that they'll last (at most) a few weeks.

As for the tougher apples, Practical Self Reliance explains that some types can keep for up to 14 months. Ideal conditions for long-term apple storage are cool, dark rooms — ideally basements or root cellars. If you have neither, one of the absolute best ways to keep apples fresh is simply to throw them in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator. You can even wrap them individually in a newspaper for optimum freshness. This will prevent bruising when you're rummaging around in the drawer as well as keep your apples away from foods that will cause them to go bad, like onions, garlic, and potatoes (via Stemilt World Famous Fruit).

In fact, apples can keep so well that fruit distributors sometimes sell them up to a year after they were picked. According to the USDA, some grocery store apples have been treated with a gas that inhibits ethylene, the substance that causes aging in fruit. While we won't be trying this method in our home kitchen, it's safe to say that you can stretch your apples out for a long time.