A staggering 88 apples are being discarded by each British household annually, contributing to a nationwide waste of 2.4billion apples, according to recent research conducted by supermarket chain Aldi.
This is part of the larger issue of food waste, with over half (54%) of the UK population confessing to disposing of excessive amounts of fresh produce weekly, costing an eye-watering £468 per year.
Apples, like many fruits, require specific storage conditions to retain their freshness. Food waste expert Kate Hall offers some simple but effective advice to combat this problem.
She suggests storing apples in the low-humidity drawer of your fridge, also known as the crisper, which is designed to provide increased airflow, ideal for thicker-skinned fruits such as apples. Excessive moisture can cause spoilage, so correct placement is crucial.
Kate explains: “Thin-skinned, high-moisture foods like salad leaves should be stored in high-humidity drawers, while thicker-skinned produce like apples should be stored in low-humidity drawers.”
Additionally, it’s important to monitor your fridge temperature – maintaining it at 5C or below can slow down the ripening process and keep your apples crisp and fresh.
Kate also warns: “Certain fruits and veggies like bananas, apples and tomatoes emit high levels of ethylene gas (a natural gas that’s produced as fruit ripens), which can cause your other ethylene-sensitive produce, such as berries, cherries and grapes, to ripen and ruin faster – so keep them separate!”
While pre-slicing apples for afternoon snacks might seem like a time-saving hack, Kate suggests otherwise. Cutting apples exposes them to air, causing them to brown and spoil faster.
Instead, it’s best to keep them whole until you’re ready to consume or bake with them. It’s worth mentioning that similar care can extend the life of other produce too.
For instance, Kate advises storing potatoes in the fridge to triple their shelf life. Likewise, bananas should be hung in a cool, dry place or frozen for extended freshness, while berries should only be washed once before storage to prevent excess moisture.
A study by Aldi reveals bananas as the most wasted item, with 115 discarded per household annually, amounting to a staggering 3.2billion nationwide. Tomatoes and potatoes are not far behind, with 99 of each thrown away every year.
The research also suggests that age may influence food waste habits, with 55 percent of those aged 45-59 believing their generation is most concerned about reducing waste.
However, families face unique obstacles with 28% claiming that having children makes it harder to minimise waste.
