How Long Can a Refrigerated Apple Last?
A properly stored refrigerated apple can last about 4 to 6 weeks, maximizing its freshness. To achieve optimal results, it's best to place apples in a plastic bag with holes or in a crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Keeping apples away from other fruits is crucial as apples emit ethylene gas, which can cause other fruits to ripen and spoil more quickly.
Indications of Freshness
If an apple looks and tastes fine, it is still good to consume. However, if it starts to get brown and mushy or mealy, it's best to discard it or use it for making apple sauce with some lemon juice to act as a preservative. It's generally simple to tell if an apple is still good — just take a bite. With proper storage, apples can last up to a month or more most times.
Storage Conditions and Lifespan
The condition of your fridge can significantly affect the longevity of the apples. If your fridge is in good condition, apples can last a few weeks. I have found apples that I bought nearly two weeks ago to be fresh. However, sometimes apples can become damaged faster due to damage in transit.
Apples are usually sold either in bins where you can choose individual fruits or in bags punctured with holes. Apples produce ethylene gas, which hastens ripening, so they should be allowed to "breathe" and stored away from other fruits. Loose apples can last 6 to 8 weeks if refrigerated. If placed in the appropriate crisper drawer with minimal humidity, they can last two to four weeks.
It's important not to wash apples before storing them in the fridge. More specifically, if you keep apples in the produce bin of a refrigerator with the humidity level set on low, they should stay crisp and edible for at least a few weeks. In fact, apples are the least perishable of all fruits.
Practical Experiences
I have had a bag of “Royal Gala apples” in my fridge for two weeks, and they are still fine. Additionally, when I touch apples and notice slight deterioration, I usually peel or core them and use them as a topping on yogurt.
From my experience at supermarkets, apples generally stay reasonably fresh and firm for a week to ten days. Two weeks is the maximum I would say, and by then, one or two may get spoiled. However, if you consume one or two apples daily, consuming them within a week or ten days is not a problem, even if you buy a dozen or more.