5 Genius Hacks to Keep Apples and Pears from Turning Brown

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Fruits like banana, apple, pear, avocado, potatoes and artichokes are quite prone to discoloration. The basic science behind these fruits turning brown is the exposure to air. This leads to a reaction between enzymes in the fruits and the air around you.

5 Genius Hacks to Keep Apples and Pears from Turning Brown

Highlights

  • Nothing is as satisfying as a bowl of colourful fresh fruits
  • The science behind these fruits turning brown is the exposure to air
  • There are some ways through which you can slow the browning process
Nothing is as satisfying as a bowl of colourful fresh fruits. However, how much do we hate seeing our fruits turning brown within minutes of cutting them? Fruits like banana, apple, pear, avocado, potatoes and artichokes are quite prone to discoloration. The basic science behind these fruits turning brown is the exposure to air. This leads to a reaction between enzymes in the fruits and the air around you. When you happen to cut a fruit, cells within the fruits are affected and release an enzyme known as polyphenol oxidase. This enzyme then reacts with the air and other enzymes in the fruit to cause discoloration and in some cases may make them distasteful.
 
Therefore, once a fruit is cut, nothing can stop it from going through the oxidization process; however, there are some ways in which you can tend to slow down the process, if not completely keep it fresh.

These ingenious hacks will help in keeping the fruits from turning brown -
1. Toss Your Salad with Lime or Lemon JuiceThe basic way to keep your fruits from browning is to just toss them in some lemon juice. Anything that has acid will help to slow down the enzymatic reaction. Lemon contains ascorbic acid that not only lowers the pH level but also helps reverse the oxidation reaction keeping them fresh for a longer period.2. Sprinkle Some SaltSodium Chloride is yet another chemical that can interfere with the process of oxidation. If you are worried about making it way too salty, you can always switch to soaking them in salt water for some time. Once they are soaked, you can easily rinse them under running water to avoid the salty flavour in the fruits.
 
Sodium Chloride is yet another chemical that can interfere with the process of oxidation​
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3. Wrap a Rubber Band Around to Put them TogetherIf you are not eating the fruits immediately after cutting them, just tie the pieces tightly so that the pieces are not exposed to air. Suppose you have sliced your apple, just pack it again to look whole and secure the pieces using a rubber band. This will surely slow down the process of oxidation.4. Soak the Fruits in Ginger AleAny soda with citric acid can work best for your fruits. All you need to do is to soak them in ginger ale for a few minutes. The good part is that the flavours won’t be affected. Remember to add plain soda rather than the sweet one, otherwise you may end up eating a way too sweet fruit.
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5. Mix Them with Acidic FruitsOne simple trick is to just combine these fruits with acidic fruits like oranges, grapefruits or berries. Acid in the fruits will react with their counterparts and keep them from browning. So you can easily add more colours in your fruit bowl and make them look fresh for a longer period.
 
One simple trick is to just combine these fruits with acidic fruits like oranges, grapefruits or berriesDo share if you have any other hack to add to the list and enjoy binging on fresh and healthy fruits without worrying about them turning brown and unappetising.
 
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