Keeping apple slices from oxidizing

[wryter2000]

This forum never fails to answer my questions...

I believe there's something you can sprinkle on apple slices to keep them from oxidizing (turning brown). I don't want something that sweetens the slices as well. I believe what I want is ascorbic acid. Is that right? Where can I buy it?

BTW, I was experimenting with ravioli fillings, trying to approximate something I had in Italy. It was fresh pecorino and pear. Without the fresh pecorino, I tried goat cheese. When I mixed goat cheese with mashed up ripe pear, I got something that would be a wonderful dip for apple slices.

[unblock]

1. some health food stores have it

http://www.easylunchboxes.com/blog/6-ways-to-stop-fruit-from-browning/

[JHan]

2. The best thing I've read on this is from Serious Eats:

Where the writer recommends salt:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/09/how-to-prevent-apple-pear-browning.html

[Rollo]

3. Powdered Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

[CurtEastPoint]

4. Lemon juice?

[Iliyah]

10. Works!

[BigmanPigman]

11. Yes, they say that in a lot of cookbooks.

[ATL Ebony]

13. That's what I use -- yes, it works

[CurtEastPoint]

14. Hey, Atlanta...East Point here!

[ATL Ebony]

15. Hey Neighbor, hru?

[CurtEastPoint]

18. Good! Voted in the EP election today. Local politics!

[ATL Ebony]

19. Good, not familiar with EP politics. Let me know how it turned out.

[dem in texas]

16. Yes, Lemon Juice Works

When we lived in Nebraska, I used to buy apples by the bushel, then peel and slice to bag for freezing. I would fill my largest bowl with water and put in lemon juice. I don't remember the portion of lemon juice to water, just remember it didn't take a lot of lemons. As I finished peeling and slicing the apples, I'd give them a quick rinse and dump in the bowl with the water and lemon juice mixture. This kept the apple slices from browning. I would drain them and put them in bags to freeze. Once frozen, they did not turn brown. I got thee instructions from a Ball Jars canning and freezing booklet.

[MontanaMama]

5. I slice my apples

and toss them into a big bowl of lemon infused water. The lemon water doesn't impart any flavor to the apple. From there I dry them, make apple pie in a jar, applesauce or bread. I think you can buy ascorbic acid - but lemon water is cheap and easy and has worked well in my kitchen. I'm working on a mound of Macintosh apples from my back yard this week.

[Freddie]

8. Or toss sliced apples in a bowl of Sprite

There's enough lemon there to keep from browning, does not affect flavor.

[MontanaMama]

12. That is so interesting!

the Sprite doesn't sweeten the apples? Huh. I never knew!!

[irisblue]

6. There are several brands of Fruit Fresh...

Ascorbic acids & dextroses & other minerals. You can check online for the ingredients, you recall that ingredients go from most to least.
I have dipped my apple slices in 7up, yeah still some sugar, but a 12oz can of that is cheap.

[irisblue]

7. LOL. are we quick....LOL

[wryter2000]

9. Thanks, everyone

I knew I'd find an answer. Or in this case, several possibilities. I think I'll experiment with salted water and lemon water. If neither of those work for me, I'll find the vitamin C powder in the health food store. I never would have though of trying there.

[sinkingfeeling]

17. Fruit Fresh is sold in most grocery stores.