Today is Apple Day!

Since 1990, 21 October has been the host to Apple Day. A day where the apple is celebrated for its heritage and its vast variety, which if we are not careful, are at risk of losing.

Nowadays, we visit the supermarket and only experience around 12 different varieties of apple, when in fact there are around 2,500 varieties grown in the UK alone. The apple is one of the most diverse fruits there is, so why not try something new on this day of celebrating it. Check out this website to see which apple you want to try next!

While there are many different varieties, we can value each apple.

Here are a few helpful tips on how to store, use and value your apples.

Storage

FRIDGE – The best place to store your apples is the fridge, where they will stay fresher for longer.

FREEZER – If you have too many apples to manage, why not freeze them? They can be stored in your freezer in an airtight container or bag.

DRY – Use a food dehydrator to dry out any apples you have. They’ll last as a snack for longer.

For more storage tips visit the Love Food Hate Waste website.

Cooking and baking

You could try…

• Making a cake with them – try out this french apple cake recipe you won’t regret it!
• Blitzing them into an apple and banana smoothie – this recipe can help you use up any over ripe bananas too.
• Apple sauce – a quick and easy accompaniment to any dish.
• An apple crumble – if you have leftover apple sauce why not use this as the filling. If not, this one requires few ingredients. All you need is flour, butter, sugar, and apples.
• Apple crisps – this is one if you don’t want to compost the apple peels. Simply follow this recipe for a nice afternoon snack.

Less perfect apples

If you’ve noticed some apples lying in the bottom of the fridge that haven’t been used yet, why not put them in a smoothie or cook them down into an apple sauce or crumble. Although they might look wrinkly, and soft, they might just need a bit of trimming and can still be saved from the bin.

Composting

Eating all the apple is the best option, however, if you do have any leftovers, including the core or any peelings, the next best place for them is the compost bin. While apple cores and peelings are quick to break down, whole apples will take a bit longer. So, if you want to speed up the process, it’s best to cut the apple up before you place it in the compost bin.

You can purchase a discounted compost bin via Get Composting. If you want to learn more about composting visit our composting page. Happy composting!

Let us know what you did with your apples this Apple Day by emailing wasteprevention@leics.gov.uk