How to Tell If Apples Are Bad

Signs Apples have gone bad

1. Soft, mushy, or mealy flesh. An overripe apple feels spongy and the texture turns grainy and dry. It’s not harmful if otherwise clean, but it’s not pleasant, so use it in applesauce or toss it.
2. Wet brown rot patches. Wide, soft, tan-to-brown patches that sink in are rot. Cut away only if the rest is firm; if the rot covers a large area, discard it.
3. Mold on the skin or at the stem. Fuzzy white, green, or blue growth means mold. Small spots on a very firm apple can be cut out generously, but moldy soft apples go in the trash.
4. Leaking juice or sticky skin. Sticky liquid on the skin means the fruit’s cells are breaking down. Throw it away.
5. Fermented or sour smell. A boozy or vinegary smell shows fermentation, and the apple is past use.
6. Deeply wrinkled skin. Wrinkled skin means the apple has lost moisture. It might still be edible if firm, but it will be leathery and dull.

Looks weird, but it's fine

• Brown flesh after slicing. Enzymes cause this browning in minutes. A squeeze of lemon juice slows it, and it’s safe to eat.
• Small bruises. A firm apple with a bruise can be eaten after cutting out the bruised part.
• Waxy or dusty film on the skin. Apples naturally produce a thin waxy bloom. Rinse and rub it off.

How long do Apples last?

How to store them

• Keep apples in the crisper drawer, ideally in a perforated bag, to keep them crisp for weeks.
• Don’t store them near other produce, since apples release ethylene that speeds ripening and spoilage next to them.
• Remove any bruised or soft apple promptly, since one rotting apple can spoil the rest.

Use it up before it turns

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Frequently asked questions

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