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[Home](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/) » [Lifestyle](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/blog/) » How to Keep Apples from Browning # How to Keep Apples from Browning [ *by* Amanda Keefer](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/author/amandak/) // September 5, 2018 *(last updated July 6, 2021)* This post may contain affiliate links, please read our [disclosure policy](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/privacy-policy-terms-of-use/).    *Are you looking for ways to **keep apples from browning** in your kids’ [lunchboxes](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/recipe-index/lunch/)? We tested out 6 popular methods to see which worked the best. Read on for the results\!*  ## How To Keep Apples Fresh for School Lunches **Apples are a lunchbox staple** in our house. My oldest will bite into an apple with no problem, but my youngest will only eat them if they’re sliced. And if there’s even a hint of browning, then she won’t touch them. Here at Healthy Family Project, we get this question all the time: “How do I keep apples from browning in lunchboxes?” And it’s a question I also needed answered\! Our team set out to find the answer. **We tested out 6 popular methods**, let the apples sit overnight, and tested them at lunchtime to see which performed the best. Some of the most popular methods we’ve seen on Instagram or Pinterest surprisingly got a thumbs down, and a few favorites stood out. **Check out our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/healthyfamilyproj) Live where we revealed the results and give each a taste test**\! > For more **tips on how to pick, prepare and store apples**, check out our [**Produce Tips section**](https://www.healthyfamilyproject.com/produce-tips/apples/). ***   ## **Method 1: Soda Water** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Add enough soda water to cover apple slices, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results The soda water did not help prevent browning. They weren’t quite as brown as the test apples, but I know my daughter wouldn’t come anywhere near these.   ## **Method 2: Lemon Juice** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Mix 1 part lemon juice and 1 part water. Add to apple slices, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results These looked great, but there was a little bit of the lemon juice flavor on the apples. If your child is sensitive to taste differences, this might not be the best method.   ## **Method 3: Salt Water** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Mix 1 tsp. salt and 1 cup water. Add to apple slices, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results Not quite as bad as the soda water, but not great. You couldn’t taste the salt, but again, my daughter would be returning these apple slices in her lunchbox.   ## **Method 4: Pineapple Juice** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Add enough pineapple juice to apple slices to cover and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results These were our moms’ favorite! No browning, and the pineapple juice gave the apples a sweeter taste. My daughter isn’t too keen on pineapple so the taste was off for her, but if your kids like pineapple, these will be a winner.   ## **Method 5: Apple Juice** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Add enough apple juice to apple slices to cover, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat. Or pack in lunches. ### The Results Another winner here. The apples had no browning, and the flavor remained true since we were using apple juice. Apple juice is also a staple in my fridge, which makes this super easy.   ## **Method 6: The Rubber Band Method** ### The Test 1. Slice apple around the core, keeping it intact. 2. Assemble slices back around the apple core and secure with a rubber band. ### The Results This method has been so popular on Instagram, Buzzfeed and Pinterest, but it did not work at all for us. The rubber band apple was even worse than our test apple. We’ll definitely stick to one of the other methods. ## **So, Which Is the Best Way to Prevent Apples from Browning?** **Our favorites were the apple or pineapple juice**, depending on your child’s sensitivity to taste changes. If they like pineapple or sweeter fruit, go with the pineapple juice. If they’re not a fan of pineapple or are sticklers on taste, go with the apple juice. **The lemon juice also works well**, but can alter the taste a bit.   > **Do you have a favorite method for keep apples from browning or another produce dilemma that we can help solve for you? Let us know in the comments below\!** [Back to School](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/back-to-school/) [How-to’s](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-tos/) [Lifestyle](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/blog/)   ### About the Author #### Amanda Keefer Amanda’s marketing, public relations and community outreach experience spans 20 years. She is the mom of two girls, a Boxer dog, and a Sulcata Tortoise. You can hear her as the host of the Healthy Family Project podcast, find her cooking alongside her girls in videos on the Healthy Family Project Instagram feed or spot her out volunteering with her family. When not in the office, Amanda can be found with her family on the tennis courts or at the dance studio. [More by Amanda »](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/author/amandak/) ### You May Also Like... [ 4 Easy and Healthy Asparagus Recipes](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/healthy-asparagus-recipes/ "4 Easy and Healthy Asparagus Recipes") [ Easter Healthy Tips: A Dietitian’s Guide to Celebrate with Flavor and Balance](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/easter-healthy-fun-tips/ "Easter Healthy Tips: A Dietitian’s Guide to Celebrate with Flavor and Balance") [ The Best Products from Expo West 2026 (A Mom’s Honest Review)](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/expo-west-2026-mom-approved-products/ "The Best Products from Expo West 2026 (A Mom’s Honest Review)") ### 6 Comments on How to Keep Apples from Browning [Leave a comment »](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#reply-title) 1.   **Katie** — August 13, 2019 @ 9:46 pm [Reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#comment-14556) Some varieties of apples brown less too. One that I always did was to take a vitamin C pill and dissolve it in water then soak the apples. Citric acid (available in the baking asile, I think) would work too. 2.   **Sarah** — September 16, 2018 @ 12:07 am [Reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#comment-14340) Where can I find the post after you kept the apples in the fridge for a few more days? I’d love to prep the apples several days in advance. -   **Amber Bloom** — September 17, 2018 @ 2:32 pm [Reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#comment-14344) This is the post! We found the pineapple and apple juices were the best several days later 🙂 3.   **Di** — September 11, 2018 @ 1:51 pm [Reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#comment-14336) Orange Juice works very well -   **Marissa H.** — August 13, 2019 @ 1:47 am [Reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#comment-14555) You need to let the apple sit in the salt water for 10 minutes. You can even give them a light rinse after. I do this all the time and they apples don’t brown for the entire day\! 4.   **FRANCES** — September 10, 2018 @ 2:38 am [Reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#comment-14335) I cut the apples into very small chunks and put in applesauce. Great if one likes chunky applesauce\! ### Leave a Reply [Cancel reply](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/how-to-keep-apples-from-browning/#respond) [](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/about-us/) ### Welcome\! 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This post may contain affiliate links, please read our [disclosure policy](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/privacy-policy-terms-of-use/). *Are you looking for ways to **keep apples from browning** in your kids’ [lunchboxes](https://healthyfamilyproject.com/recipe-index/lunch/)? We tested out 6 popular methods to see which worked the best. Read on for the results\!*  ## How To Keep Apples Fresh for School Lunches **Apples are a lunchbox staple** in our house. My oldest will bite into an apple with no problem, but my youngest will only eat them if they’re sliced. And if there’s even a hint of browning, then she won’t touch them. Here at Healthy Family Project, we get this question all the time: “How do I keep apples from browning in lunchboxes?” And it’s a question I also needed answered\! Our team set out to find the answer. **We tested out 6 popular methods**, let the apples sit overnight, and tested them at lunchtime to see which performed the best. Some of the most popular methods we’ve seen on Instagram or Pinterest surprisingly got a thumbs down, and a few favorites stood out. **Check out our [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/healthyfamilyproj) Live where we revealed the results and give each a taste test**\! > For more **tips on how to pick, prepare and store apples**, check out our [**Produce Tips section**](https://www.healthyfamilyproject.com/produce-tips/apples/). ***  ## **Method 1: Soda Water** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Add enough soda water to cover apple slices, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results The soda water did not help prevent browning. They weren’t quite as brown as the test apples, but I know my daughter wouldn’t come anywhere near these.  ## **Method 2: Lemon Juice** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Mix 1 part lemon juice and 1 part water. Add to apple slices, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results These looked great, but there was a little bit of the lemon juice flavor on the apples. If your child is sensitive to taste differences, this might not be the best method.  ## **Method 3: Salt Water** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Mix 1 tsp. salt and 1 cup water. Add to apple slices, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results Not quite as bad as the soda water, but not great. You couldn’t taste the salt, but again, my daughter would be returning these apple slices in her lunchbox.  ## **Method 4: Pineapple Juice** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Add enough pineapple juice to apple slices to cover and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat or pack in lunches. ### The Results These were our moms’ favorite! No browning, and the pineapple juice gave the apples a sweeter taste. My daughter isn’t too keen on pineapple so the taste was off for her, but if your kids like pineapple, these will be a winner.  ## **Method 5: Apple Juice** ### The Test 1. Slice apples, and place in airtight container. Add enough apple juice to apple slices to cover, and let sit 1-2 minutes. 2. Pour out extra liquid, place lid on top, and refrigerate until ready to eat. Or pack in lunches. ### The Results Another winner here. The apples had no browning, and the flavor remained true since we were using apple juice. Apple juice is also a staple in my fridge, which makes this super easy.  ## **Method 6: The Rubber Band Method** ### The Test 1. Slice apple around the core, keeping it intact. 2. Assemble slices back around the apple core and secure with a rubber band. ### The Results This method has been so popular on Instagram, Buzzfeed and Pinterest, but it did not work at all for us. The rubber band apple was even worse than our test apple. We’ll definitely stick to one of the other methods. ## **So, Which Is the Best Way to Prevent Apples from Browning?** **Our favorites were the apple or pineapple juice**, depending on your child’s sensitivity to taste changes. If they like pineapple or sweeter fruit, go with the pineapple juice. If they’re not a fan of pineapple or are sticklers on taste, go with the apple juice. **The lemon juice also works well**, but can alter the taste a bit.  > **Do you have a favorite method for keep apples from browning or another produce dilemma that we can help solve for you? Let us know in the comments below\!**  ### About the Author #### Amanda Keefer Amanda’s marketing, public relations and community outreach experience spans 20 years. She is the mom of two girls, a Boxer dog, and a Sulcata Tortoise. You can hear her as the host of the Healthy Family Project podcast, find her cooking alongside her girls in videos on the Healthy Family Project Instagram feed or spot her out volunteering with her family. When not in the office, Amanda can be found with her family on the tennis courts or at the dance studio.