Inside: Your children love apple slices, however not brown, mushy ones? Use these intelligent hacks to pack apples in lunch containers that received’t look brown by lunchtime.
Apples are a no brainer for teenagers’ lunch containers. They’re reasonably priced, accessible all over the place, and children love em.
Bother is, some children don’t like biting into a complete apple of their lunch–particularly if they’ve new, delicate entrance tooth (or braces!).
However many children are turned off by sliced apples which have turned brown. And packaged, pre-sliced apples from the grocery retailer can style a bit of humorous.
So listed below are 4 other ways to pack reduce apples in your baby’s lunch field that don’t flip brown, so that they’re fresh-looking and interesting at lunch time.
Why do reduce apples flip brown?
While you slice an apple, the flesh of the apple is uncovered to air. That oxygen publicity triggers a chemical response that causes browning.
Which apples don’t brown as shortly?
Some apple varieties don’t are likely to brown as shortly as others. They embody:
- Pink girl
- Granny smith
- Cosmic crisp
- Empire
- Cortland
- Honeycrisp
- Gala
Which apples brown the quickest?
These apples are likely to brown extra shortly than others:
- Crimson Scrumptious
- McIntosh
- Fuji
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The Greatest Method to Pack Apples In Lunch Packing containers
Listed here are 4 best strategies for packing apples in lunch containers, so that they don’t flip brown by lunchtime.
1. Soak apples slices in saltwater
This will sound unusual: salty apples?! However the apples don’t retain a salty taste, and this was the best, easiest way I attempted. The apples appeared and tasted contemporary 5 days later!
Why this works: The chloride in salt blocks the enzyme that causes browning.
Methods to do it:
- Slice contemporary apples into desired thickness
- Fill a bowl with 1 1/2 cups chilly water and dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in it
- Soak cut-up apple within the salt water for five minutes
- Drain and rinse apples, then retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge. For those who’re packing them in a lunch field, pat them dry so that they’re not drippy.
2. Toss sliced apples in citrus juice
As an alternative of sprinkling apple slices with lemon juice (which some children discover too bitter), toss them in a combo of lemon juice and orange juice. It provides an excellent tangy taste. This was my boys’ favourite technique to have apples of their lunch containers. In actual fact, I even packed an additional container of them after my child advised me how a lot his buddy preferred them!
Why this works: The vitamin C within the citrus inactivates the enzyme that causes browning (lime juice additionally works in case your children like that taste).
Methods to do it:
- Slice apples thinly and place in a leak-proof hermetic container
- Squeeze a bit of little bit of lemon juice and orange juice over the apples (sufficient to coat all of the slices)
- Shake gently to coat the apples and pack in a lunchbox in an hermetic container (these will maintain for 1-2 days within the fridge however are greatest eaten the identical day).
3. Combine sliced apples with pineapple juice
Pineapple juice is one other method to assist stop browning on apples. In case your children just like the candy, tropical taste of pineapple juice, they might like this methodology greatest.
Why this works: The vitamin C within the juice inactivates the browning enzyme.
Methods to do it:
- Slice apples and place in a leak-proof container.
- Pour a bit of little bit of pineapple juice over the slices
- Shake gently to coat the apples and pack in a lunchbox in an hermetic container (these will maintain for 1-2 days within the fridge however are greatest eaten the identical day).
4. Sprinkle reduce apples with cinnamon and sugar
My children grew up consuming what we referred to as “apple pie apples”, that are simply apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.
Why this works: It doesn’t stop browning–the cinnamon-sugar merely disguises it (and provides a yummy, fall taste). Select an apple that doesn’t brown as shortly, comparable to Honeycrisp, Pink Woman, Granny Smith, or Cosmic Crisp.
Methods to do it:
- Reduce apples into slices.
- Sprinkle reduce sides with a combination of cinnamon and sugar (or flippantly mud with plain cinnamon)
- Pack in a lunchbox. These are greatest loved the identical day.
Different methods to pack apples in lunch containers
- Unfold apple slices with peanut butter: It’s a basic combo! Slice apples and unfold one aspect with peanut butter (leaving room finish to select them up).
- Sprinkle with ascorbic acid powder: This will have a scary-sounding title, however it’s really simply vitamin C in pill type, bought as manufacturers like Ball Fruit Fresh. It really works the identical method that citrus juice does to cease the oxidation course of. Read more about it here.
- Dip in sugar water: This methodology entails soaking apples in sugar and honey dissolved in water. It’s extra expensive that utilizing salt water and never as efficient. Get the how-to here.
FAQ About Packing Apples In Lunch Packing containers
What’s one of the best ways to chop apples?
Some individuals like utilizing an apple cutter, which divides apples into eight equal wedges. My children choose extra thinly-sliced apples, so as a substitute of utilizing an apple slicer, that is how I do it: Slice on both aspect of the apple core, then reduce off the perimeters. Lay the flat aspect of the apple sections on a reducing board and reduce into skinny slices.
What concerning the rubber band trick?
I’ve seen this apple trick throughout in social media: slice an apple, put it again collectively jigsaw puzzle-style, then wrap a rubber-band round it. However in my assessments, the apple nonetheless turned brown inside.
Are sliced apples protected for youthful kids?
Items of onerous, uncooked fruit and veggies like apples are thought of a choking hazard for teenagers beneath 4. For infants, apples needs to be cooked mushy and mashed, and grated when infants are prepared for finger meals. Listed here are some baby-led weaning tips for serving apples. For toddlers, slice apples thinly. See a full list of choking hazard foods from the CDC.
Are apples wholesome for teenagers?
YES! Apples are supply of fiber for teenagers, one thing most youngsters want extra of. An apple’s pectin can enhance intestine well being as a result of it feeds the wholesome micro organism within the gut. Apples pack potassium and even a little bit of vitamin C. Apples are additionally filling, rating greater on the “Satiety Index” (a scale of how satisfying completely different meals are) even above bananas and yogurt.
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