Cooking apples - Loads on the trees - how do I store them to make them last.

[Niecie]

We have got a couple of cooking apple trees which have a bumper crop this year. Rather than waiting for them to fall off by themselves and then letting them go rotten on the ground, this year I have tried to pick some (can't reach that many but still have a fair few). However, I now don't know how to store them to make them last as long as possible.

Not sure if this should be in food or gardening - I may try gardening later.

Anybody got any tips though?

Thanks.

[lilolilmanchester]

wrap each individual apple (perfect ones oly) in newspaper and store in a cool place (eg. garage) in a box.
If you haave bruised apples, use them to make chutney/apple jelly preserves, make apple sauce and freeze or apple crumble/eve's pudding etc and freeze. Would also welcome new ideas as we have had a bumper crop this year too.

[Niecie]

Thanks lilolil - I was wondering if I was supposed to wrap them. Do you bother to wash and dry them first or is that just add extra moisture which could lead to rotting?

Not sure what I am going to do with them - how about an apple cake? Probably won't use many of them but it would be nice. DS loves apple strudel so he might get that too. I think we might have to give some away too.

[lilolilmanchester]

We don't wash and dry them first, we do that when we use them. But if they are wet when you pick them, from rain/dew etc, you need to dry them before you store them. Even if wrapped, we've found that bruises etc are catching, so really only store perfect fruit and check them every now and again to ensure any rotting apples are removed. I have to say we're no experts, so happy to wait to hear other suggestions.

Most recipes I've got for using apples (e.g. cakes/scones) are lovely, but really don't make a dent in the apple mountain. I'd truly recommend apple chutney if you like that sort of thing, lasts for ages and much nicer than any shop bought jars.

[ChasingSquirrels]

lololil has said it all, my parents last into the new year that way.

[lilolilmanchester]

Chasing, think I know what you mean, but could be read as you wrap your parents in newspaper in a box to keep them fresh til the new year too.... hope that's not the case!!!!!

[cluelessnchaos]

Probably the completely wrong thing to do, but last year we picked our huge bumper crop, being the lazy sod I am we left them in buckets outside, the rain came in over night and by next morning, the apples were floating. Now I kept thinking god I must wrap the apples and store them away(have huge lovely veg rack for the purpose)but just never got round to it, and they lasted for ages, enough time for me to make oodles of pies, chutneys, sauces. I am sure there must be a reason not to do this but it worked for us and will be doing the same this year

[Niecie]

lol - I could try wrapping my father up like that - keep him out the way until N. Year. I think my mum would be grateful for the peace.

Thanks for the advice. I didn't think it was a good idea to wash them but thought I would check.

Unfortunately I am not a big fan of chutney so I may disappear under a mountain of apples unless I can think of something else. My grandparents would probably have made some sort of apple wine but that is beyond me too. Not a great cook I am afraid.

[ChasingSquirrels]

ohhhh pedants!

[DaisyMOO]

Does anyone have a good recipe for apple chutney? We always have masses that need using up.

[QueenofBleach]

Dorset apple cake will be going in our freezer this year.

[lilolilmanchester]

Sorry Chasing, I'm not really a pedant, your ambiguous post just made me laugh.
Daisy, will post apple chutney recipe tomorrow unless anyone else posts theirs in the meantime. Would LOVE a recipe for apple wine/apple gin/anything else alcoholic. Also for apple jelly/jam.

[ChasingSquirrels]

made me laugh aswell when I read it back, it is definately their apples not them you will be glad to hear

[lilolilmanchester]

Phew! But hope your parents last many, many years longer, wrapped in newspaper in a box in the garage or not!!!

[BadKitten]

turn them into cider or wine? If you are interested say and I'll give you a recipe (as long as I remember to check posts tomorrow as had a very nice homemade apple wine tonight)

[lilolilmanchester]

yes please badkitten...

[millie99]

Peel and slice then pack into bags and freeze ready to use in crumbles, cook into apple sauce etc

[BadKitten]

lilo just saw your post....

dhs apple wine:

6 lb apples - chopped - put in big pan, heat gently until soft. Squeeze through muslin cloth , to extract juice. Add water and squeeze again. Put in sterilised demi-jon with airlock. Add 1lb sugar and top up until nearly full. Allow to cool and add wine yeast. Put in airing cupboard . After a week top up to the top. Leave for two months. Transfer to cool place, add a crushed camden tablet and allow to settle until cleared or until fed up (couple of months at most). Transfer to sterilised bottles. Leave til thirsty. We are drinking last years now hic!

Works for pears too.

[BadKitten]

dhs apple cider:

dh says don't bother cos hes not very good at it!

[lilolilmanchester]

Thanks badkitten, sounds scrummy if I have the patience!
reminds me of me of my first day as a Boots Saturday girl. Had never heard of a demi-jon, and spent ages when someone asked for one looking in the "D" drawer (where we kept the dulocolax, disprin etc etc)... the regulars p'd themselves laughing when I told them what I was looking for, especially as when I brought one up from the store room the door closed behind me and smashed it.......

[DaisyMOO]

Apple jelly is brill - really easy to make because you don't have to do any peeling or coring, just chop them all up and away you go. Will post the recipe tomorrow too

[zaphod]

I've been trying to store cooking apples for YEARS. Last year again, I carefully went thru them, took out any with bad bits, wrapped them in paper, and put them in the shed for the winter. 3 months later, most of them had gone bad. THIS year, I will stew the apples, without sugar, and freeze them, then use as I need for apple sauce, stuffing, or crumbles.

Sadly, this entails defrosting the freezer sometime soon to make room...

[lilolilmanchester]

thanks DaisyMoo, let's swap chutney/jelly recipes tomorrow.

[BadKitten]

/waits with baited breath for apple jelly recipe. Could I try it with pears? Our apple trees all got some nasty thing this year that killed them. So we are down to our pear tree (and lots of raspberry canes which incidently make a lovely liquer)

and lol Lili - thats funny

[Furball]

last year I wrapped all mine and stored them in wooden crates. When i went to get some a few days later - mr mouse and must have been all of his freinds and family had nibbled and eaten each one - there were 3/4 tray loads!

This year we're going peeled and chopped them all up freeze the flat on a tray in the freezer then transfer to bags so as loose can be used as and when needed.

[DaisyMOO]

Right, apple jelly recipe. The following is for spiced apple jelly, but it works without the spices too.

2lb cooking apples, chopped, no need to peel or core (yay!)
2 lemons, sliced
25g fesh root ginger, chopped
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp cloves
sugar (see step 3)

1 Place apples and 3 pints of water in a prserving pan with the lemonds, ginger and spices. Bring to the boil and simmer for 45 mins to an hour, or until the apples are very soft.
2 Pour into a jelly bag and leave to strain for at least 2 hours. (I use one of the dc's old muslins )
3 Measure the juice and add 450g (1lb) sugar for each 575ml (1 pint) of juice
4 Dissolve over a gentle heat and then bring to a boil until setting point is reached. Remove any scum
5 Pour into cooled sterilised hars and seal.

I've no idea whether it would work with pears, but the recipe also works for qunices and you can make rowan and apple jelly by using 1/2 apples and 1/2 rowan berries.