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# Why Apple Slices Turn Brown and How to Stop Sliced Apples from Browning ### PickYourOwn.org - *Find a pick-your-own farm near you! 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[AddToAny](https://www.addtoany.com/ "Share Buttons") [More…](https://www.pickyourown.org/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm#addtoany "Show all")  Looking for Why Apple Slices Turn Brown and How to Stop Sliced Apples from Browning in 2026? Scroll down this page and follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, [see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions](https://www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm). There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above. If you are having a hard time finding [canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6H38F74/ref=nosim\?tag=ehso-20). If you have questions or feedback, [please let me know](https://www.pickyourown.org/feedback.htm)! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our [disclosure policy](https://www.pickyourown.org/disclaimer.htm) to learn more. ## Why Apple Slices Turn Brown and How to Stop Sliced Apples from Browning # Why Apple Slices Turn Brown and How to Stop Sliced Apples from Browning You get a beautiful apple, slice it, put it in a plastic bag in your child's lunch. That afternoon your child comes home from school and there in the lunch pail is the uneaten sliced apple, all brown and mushy. When asked when he or she didn't eat it, you child says "It looked brown and gross!" ## Why did the apple turn brown? When you slice an apple the cut cells of the apple are exposed to oxygen in the air. Enzymes, called polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the apple's chloroplast cells react to this apparent injury by converting some naturally occurring phenolic compounds into another type of compound called o-quinones. Then these colorless o-quinones react with other naturally occurring compounds in the apple to create the brown-colored secondary compounds. ## Some apples seem to brown faster than others While most plant tissues contain PPO, the level of PPO and the phenolic compounds, varies between varieties of fruits. This is why some varieties like Granny Smith brown less and les quickly than others, like Red Delicious. Also PPO levels vary due to weather, growing conditions and the maturity of the fruit. ## What can you do to stop the browning? There are several ways: 1. Dip the apple slices in a bowl of water (say 2 quarts) mixed with 1/2 cup of lemon juice, (it only take 1 part of lemon juice to 16 parts water) or 2. Sprinkle the cut slices with [FruitFresh](https://amzn.to/3gAkVdW) or similar citric acid and stir gently to coat all sides, or 3. Immediately dip freshly cut apples in sugar or sugar syrup, which coats the cut apples preventing oxygen from coming into contact with the cut cells, or 4. Blanch the apples; immersing them in boiling water for 60 seconds, then using a slotted spoon to scoop them out and cool them in ice water for a couple of minutes. This slows the enzymes. ## References: 1. [Preservative Treatments for Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables,](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Preservative%20Treatments%20for%20Fresh-Cut%20Fruits%20and%20Vegetables&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fucanr.org/sites/zann_test/files/28711.pdf) Elisabeth Garcia and Diane M. Barrett, Dept. of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis 2. [Scientific American](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Scientific%20American&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=experts-why-cut-apples-turn-brown), July 30, 2007 3. [Wiki-How](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Wiki-How&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Cut-Apple-from-Turning-Brown) 4. [Wafler Nursery](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Wafler%20Nursery&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waflernursery.com/apples.php) [](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CS5CH82?th=1&linkCode=li2&tag=ehso-20&linkId=62dabc017bc278c56c164e797b71229d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il) [ ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BYCFU?th=1&linkCode=li2&tag=ehso-20&linkId=62dabc017bc278c56c164e797b71229d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_il) ### Looking for canning equipment and supplies? [**Water bath canner** with a jar rack](https://amzn.to/3JxlwrA) **[Electric pressure canner](https://amzn.to/4087rrX)** **Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves**: [Presto 23Qt](https://amzn.to/3YwPbsi) or [T-fal 22Qt](https://amzn.to/3JzhNtT) [**Canning scoop** (this one is PERFECT)](https://amzn.to/3Z2nKVF) [**Ball Blue book** (most recent version)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0778801314/ref=nosim?tag=ehso-20) [**Jars:** 8oz canning jars for jams](https://amzn.to/3n8pz6o) [**Lids:** Regular canning lids](https://amzn.to/3Z7sJEt) [Wide mouth canning lids](https://amzn.to/464ylnw) **Want to start your own Podcast, Blog, Vlog, etc? This [GoPro kit has EVERYTHING you need](https://amzn.to/3LQo61c)**[: all accessories](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DG4V58L9?&linkCode=ll1&tag=ehso-20&linkId=8cb8a1b227b472aa1a7c3d8f0d7699c7&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) ### Find Other types of farms: **[Easter egg hunts](https://www.easteregghuntsandeasterevents.org/US.php)** **[Children's consignment sales](https://www.consignmentsalefinder.org/US.php)** [**Farm markets** and roadside stands](https://www.localfarmmarkets.org/USfarmmarkets.php) [**Road trips** and camping resources](https://www.roadtrippingandcamping.com//US.php) [**Local Honey**, apiaries, beekeepers](https://www.localhoneyfinder.org/US.php) **[Local Meat, Milk and Eggs](https://www.localmeatmilkeggs.org/US.php)** [**Consumer fraud** and scams information](https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/) [**Home canning supplies** at the best prices on the internet\!](https://www.pickyourown.org/canningsupplies.htm) [**Maple Syrup Farms**, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals](https://www.maplesyrupfarms.org/) [**Environmental** information and resources](https://www.ehso.com/contents.php) **[Farms For Your Event](https://www.farmsforyourevent.org/)** for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc. [**Festivals** - local fruit and vegetable festivals](https://www.pickyourown.org/festivals.php) **[Pumpkin patches and corn mazes](https://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/USpumpkins.php)** [**Christmas Tree Farms** and lots](https://www.pickyourownchristmastree.org/USxmastrees.php) Get the most recent version of [the Ball Blue Book](https://amzn.to/3na4CYG) **Canning and preserving, making jams, salsa, sauces, pickles, etc is SO easy with our [step by step directions](https://www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm)! Just about all you need is a canner and canning jars\!** [**Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker**, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. 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 Looking for Why Apple Slices Turn Brown and How to Stop Sliced Apples from Browning in 2026? Scroll down this page and follow the links. And if you bring home some fruit or vegetables and want to can, freeze, make jam, salsa or pickles, [see this page for simple, reliable, illustrated canning, freezing or preserving directions](https://www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm). There are plenty of other related resources, click on the resources dropdown above. If you are having a hard time finding [canning lids, I've used these, and they're a great price & ship in 2 days](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6H38F74/ref=nosim\?tag=ehso-20). If you have questions or feedback, [please let me know](https://www.pickyourown.org/feedback.htm)! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our [disclosure policy](https://www.pickyourown.org/disclaimer.htm) to learn more. ## Why Apple Slices Turn Brown and How to Stop Sliced Apples from Browning You get a beautiful apple, slice it, put it in a plastic bag in your child's lunch. That afternoon your child comes home from school and there in the lunch pail is the uneaten sliced apple, all brown and mushy. When asked when he or she didn't eat it, you child says "It looked brown and gross!" ## Why did the apple turn brown? When you slice an apple the cut cells of the apple are exposed to oxygen in the air. Enzymes, called polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the apple's chloroplast cells react to this apparent injury by converting some naturally occurring phenolic compounds into another type of compound called o-quinones. Then these colorless o-quinones react with other naturally occurring compounds in the apple to create the brown-colored secondary compounds. ## Some apples seem to brown faster than others While most plant tissues contain PPO, the level of PPO and the phenolic compounds, varies between varieties of fruits. This is why some varieties like Granny Smith brown less and les quickly than others, like Red Delicious. Also PPO levels vary due to weather, growing conditions and the maturity of the fruit. ## What can you do to stop the browning? There are several ways: 1. Dip the apple slices in a bowl of water (say 2 quarts) mixed with 1/2 cup of lemon juice, (it only take 1 part of lemon juice to 16 parts water) or 2. Sprinkle the cut slices with [FruitFresh](https://amzn.to/3gAkVdW) or similar citric acid and stir gently to coat all sides, or 3. Immediately dip freshly cut apples in sugar or sugar syrup, which coats the cut apples preventing oxygen from coming into contact with the cut cells, or 4. Blanch the apples; immersing them in boiling water for 60 seconds, then using a slotted spoon to scoop them out and cool them in ice water for a couple of minutes. This slows the enzymes. ## References: 1. [Preservative Treatments for Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables,](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Preservative%20Treatments%20for%20Fresh-Cut%20Fruits%20and%20Vegetables&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fucanr.org/sites/zann_test/files/28711.pdf) Elisabeth Garcia and Diane M. Barrett, Dept. of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis 2. [Scientific American](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Scientific%20American&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=experts-why-cut-apples-turn-brown), July 30, 2007 3. [Wiki-How](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Wiki-How&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Cut-Apple-from-Turning-Brown) 4. [Wafler Nursery](https://www.pickyourown.org/PYORD2.php?PAGGE=/appleslices_stopfrombrowning.htm&NAME=Wafler%20Nursery&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waflernursery.com/apples.php)