November 02, 2022 by Natalie Alibrandi
Are Bruised Apples Safe To Eat?
Nali Consulting were featured as food scientists on the website Well + Good.
Our food consultant Natalie Alibrandi sets the record straight on the subject of bruised apples. Be sure to check out our highlights and the full article below.
Bruised apples are safe to eat.
To preserve your apples for longer keep them in the fridge and away from high-ethylene-producing fruits (avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, figs, green onions, kiwi, pears, potatoes, and tomatoes).
The best think to do with a bruised apple is to: eat it quickly - before the bruising develops further OR, grate it into some yoghurt where you won't notice the effects of any bruising OR, if you’re feeling adventurous, rustle up a Tarte Tatin - all you need is butter, sugar, apples and puff pastry (which you can buy pre-rolled from all good supermarkets and grocery stores).
Publisher: Well + Good
Full Article: Okay, are bruised apples really safe to eat?
Date first published: November 2, 2022
Food and Beverage Journalist: Maki Yazawa, Linkedin
Image credits: Well + Good, Photo: Stocksy/ Gabriel (Gabi) Bucataru
Contributor at Nali Consulting: Natalie Alibrandi, Linkedin
Key contributions from Nali Consulting:
Is it safe to eat a bruised apple, according to a food scientist?
Although you might initially think “yuck” upon seeing a big brown bruise on your Honeycrisp, food scientist Natalie Alibrandi, a London-based food scientist and CEO of Nali Consulting, says a bruised apple isn’t much of a cause for concern (or disgust) at all. “Apples with bruises are perfectly safe to consume—in fact, I encourage eating them rather than throwing them away, which causes unnecessary food waste,” Alibrandi says. This, according to the expert, is because fruit that has turned brown due to oxidation (like a brown avocado) isn’t going to harm you as long as it doesn’t show signs of fungal or bacterial contamination.
How to prevent an apple from browning even more
Once an apple gets bruised, it will likely come into contact with oxygen and be prone to spoilage more quickly. To slow down the process, Alibrandi suggests stashing it away from other fruits that emit gasses that expedite the ripening process (and lead to further browning). The high-ethylene-producing fruits she highlights include avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, figs, green onions, kiwi, pears, potatoes, and tomatoes. Another way to preserve apples even longer is by storing them in a refrigerator.
What can you do with bruised apples?
Alibrandi says you can cook with them, which will help conceal any visible blemishes. “If the apple seems less desirable to eat raw, then it’s recommended to cook the apples and make them into applesauce, pies, or crisp,” she says.