Store and preserve autumn treasures correctly
Kira Zabe
In this article, we will help you to store apples correctly, which ones are best suited for this purpose and how you can easily keep them for up to 12 months.
September and October are our golden harvest months when it comes to long-lasting fruit and vegetables. Have you also been able to harvest lots of apples, pears, plums or quinces from the garden? Or were provided for by friends and family?
This is often a double-edged sword. Because everyone is happy about the great treasures that can be used to prepare all sorts of great things. But perhaps you also ask yourself how dishes can be modified so that you don't have to eat the same thing every day. After all, food can quickly become stale or even spoil if it is not eaten. That would be annoying, wouldn't it?
We want to help you with this issue and bring more variety into your diet with our tips and recipes. Our app also ensures that you don't miss any food expiring, saving you money. If you don't know it yet, give it a try!
Our first recommendation and also the best-known way to preserve ripe fruit for longer is preserving it. This prevents rapid spoilage and the preserved food can easily be kept for 12 months. Preserved food can easily be integrated into other meals in different variations.
Puree is a must!
Whether applesauce, raspberry purée, pear purée, apricot purée, plum purée, rosehip purée, coconut purée or nut purée. Puree is the easiest version of preserving.
It's very simple with puree. Whether for pancakes, porridge, pancakes or on cakes. There are no limits to your preferences.
Storing fruit correctly
Have you ever felt the same way, you have lots of apples and they rot faster than you can eat them? We know this problem too. In addition to the type of apple, the most important thing here is correct storage. Only the daily requirement should be stored in the fruit bowl. Everything else should be stored in a cool, dark place, such as the cellar. Humidity levels of 85 to 90 % are ideal here. It is also important to store apples separately from other fruit and vegetables. This is because apples affect their ripening process. If the apples are undamaged, clean and dry, they can keep until spring without any problems.
The apple variety, what makes the difference in storage?
Not every apple can be stored without problems. There are early/summer, fall and winter apples. With this list, we want to make it easy for you to get a better overview of the shelf life.
Granny Smith
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate in a cool place (0-4°C)
- Shelf Life: Up to 6 months
- Storage Tip: Keep in a plastic bag with holes to retain moisture while allowing air circulation.
Honeycrisp
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate in a crisper drawer
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Keep away from other fruits to prevent rapid ripening due to ethylene gas.
Fuji
- Best Storage Method: Store in a cool, dark pantry or refrigerate
- Shelf Life: Up to 5 months (refrigerated)
- Storage Tip: Wrap individually in paper to prevent bruising and rot.
Gala
- Best Storage Method: Store in the refrigerator
- Shelf Life: 1-2 months
- Storage Tip: Place in a perforated plastic bag to maintain humidity levels.
Golden Delicious
- Best Storage Method: Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge
- Shelf Life: 3-4 months
- Storage Tip: Store loosely in the crisper drawer for maximum freshness.
Pink Lady (Cripps Pink)
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate in the crisper drawer
- Shelf Life: 3-4 months
- Storage Tip: Avoid storing near strong-smelling foods, as they can absorb odors.
Red Delicious
- Best Storage Method: Store in the refrigerator
- Shelf Life: 2-4 months
- Storage Tip: Keep in a breathable bag to maintain texture and prevent softening.
Keep track of supplies, groceries and durable products before small price increases turn into unnecessary extra costs.
Discover SmantryMcIntosh
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Handle carefully to avoid bruising, as they are softer apples.
Braeburn
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate or store in a cold room
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Wrap in paper or store in a perforated bag to ensure air circulation.
Jonagold
- Best Storage Method: Store in a cool, dry place or refrigerate
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Keep away from direct sunlight and check regularly for spoilage.
Other methods
Compote is another way in which you can extend the shelf life of many types of fruit and vegetables. You can also store it for up to 12 months or even longer without any problems. It is important to do a visual inspection from time to time. After all, it's easy for a jar to become airy or perhaps contaminated at the beginning. Use our app to help you keep track of how much of what you have left and by when it needs to be used up.
Good preparation is everything!
This saying is not far-fetched and is an important tip when it comes to adding variety to your diet. Because instead of eating potato pancakes with apple sauce 3 days in a row, you can easily make delicious changes to your meals. Here we show you 3 ways to not only cover lunch, but also to spice up breakfast and dinner in a varied way.
Breakfast:Pancakes with apple sauce*
In between meals:Applesauce cake*, yogurt with applesauce
Lunch:Schupfnudeln with apple sauce
Dinner:Bread with peanut butter and apple sauce
Tip:Applesauce can also be used as an egg substitute. One egg is replaced by 70 grams of puree. Give it a try!
The tomato
The tomato is a vegetable that can also be preserved very quickly by canning, without long preparation. When you think of tomatoes, you probably first think of a delicious sauce that you can prepare. But with a little thought, you can also add variety to your plate.
If you make a tomato compote, you can easily make fantastic variations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It tastes delicious on toasted white bread, ala bruschetta or on buttermilk biscuits for breakfast. A tomato and basil compote is also delicious with grilled meat or vegetables. It will keep in the fridge for around a month without any problems. If you want to keep it for even longer, boiling it down is essential.
You can easily make a sugo from boiled tomatoes to conjure up a delicious tomato sauce. This means that the often popular dish of pasta with tomato sauce can be whipped up in no time at all. Cooked tomatoes or vegetables are also very suitable for preparing casseroles. Whether as lasagne, moussaka or a vegetable quiche. There's plenty of room for your creativity here.
So, are you itching to get started right away? Great, then get to the jars. But don't forget! With all the storage jars in your hand, it can be easy to lose track of the shelf life and forget which one to use first. To prevent this from happening, our app helps you keep track digitally. Check right now whether everything is still in the green zone. Not using the app yet? Then download it now and test it for free.
We hope you enjoy preserving your fall treasures!
More blog posts
Organize your cosmetics: How to stay on top of everything (and avoid unnecessary waste)
Do you know that?
You’re looking for your favorite cream and instead you find three half-used ones.
Last summer’s lipstick is buried somewhere at the very bottom.
And with the mascara you’re wondering: Can I still use this… or is it better not to?
Cosmetics can quickly become confusing. And just like with food, something happens here that many people underestimate:Products are bought twice, forgotten, and ultimately thrown away.
But it can be done differently.
Why organizing your cosmetics is so important
Cosmetics, just like food, have a limited shelf life.
The problem: it’s often less visible.
Many products bear the so-called PAO symbol (Period After Opening), for example:
- 6M → 6 months shelf life after opening
- 12M → shelf life of 12 months
- 24M → Shelf life 24 months
👉 But: Who actually remembers exactly when something was opened?
The result:
- Uncertainty in use
- Skin irritation caused by expired products
- unnecessary new purchase
- more trash
The solution: Organize your cosmetics like your pantry
With the Smantry app you can not only manage your groceries –
but also organize your cosmetics smartly.
And this is where it really gets exciting.
How to use the app for your beauty products
1. Record all products
Simply add your cosmetic products in the app:
- Face creams
- Make-up
- Hair products
- Sunscreen
- Perfume
💡 Tip: Create categories like “Skincare,” “Makeup,” or “Haircare” so you can find everything again more quickly.
2. Record opening date
This is the game changer.
As soon as you open a product:
👉 enter the opening date in the app
This way you can always keep track of:
- how long you have been using it
- whether it is still safe
💡 Especially important for:
- Mascara (very short shelf life!)
- liquid products
- Natural cosmetics
3. Keep an eye on shelf life
Even though cosmetics don’t have a classic “best before” date:
👉 You can set your own reminders
👉 or sort by usage time
This is how you immediately recognize:
- which should be used up soon
- which has been open for a long time
4. Avoid duplicate purchases
How many times have you bought something and only realized at home:
"But I’ve already done that…"
With your digital overview, that won’t happen anymore.
👉 Take a quick look in the app before buying
👉 see what you really need
This saves:
- Money
- place
- Resources
Sustainability starts in the bathroom
Cosmetics is an often underestimated area when it comes to sustainability.
Many products:
- contain microplastics
- come in elaborate packaging
- are disposed of when half full
With better organization, you can:
✔ Use up products completely
✔ Consume more consciously
✔ Reduce your waste
Bonus: Less chaos in your head
Keeping things tidy in the bathroom also means:
- less stress in the morning
- clearer routines
- more conscious decisions
You just know what you’ve got.
And that changes more than you’d think.
Conclusion: Small habit, big impact
Organizing cosmetics might sound trivial at first.
But it isn’t.
Because this is exactly where the following are hiding:
- unnecessary expenses
- unconscious consumption
- avoidable waste
👉 With the Smantry app, you create transparency
👉 and take another step towards a more mindful everyday life
Challenge for you:
Open your bathroom today, pick 5 products and enter them into the app.
Include the opening date.
You’ll be surprised how quickly the way you look at your own things changes.
🌸 Spring Recipes 2026: 5 Viral TikTok & Instagram Food Trends
Spring brings back not only sunshine and fresh ingredients – but also a new wave of food trends on TikTok and Instagram.
This year it’s less about classic “healthy bowls” and more about contrasts, textures, and surprising combinations.
Here are 5 new, unusual trend recipes that you definitely haven’t seen a thousand times before – but will soon be seeing everywhere.
🍓 1. Whipped feta with warm strawberries & chili honey
Why it’s trending:
Creamy + sweet + spicy = exactly the flavor combo that’s going viral right now.
Here’s how it works:
- Blend feta with a bit of yogurt and olive oil until creamy
- Briefly roast the strawberries in the pan
- Drizzle with chili honey
- Serve everything on the feta
Why it’s perfect for spring:
Fresh strawberries + a hint of heat → surprising and elegant
🥒 2. Crispy Rice Paper Rolls (Inside-Out Style)
Why it’s trending:
Rice paper is currently being completely reimagined – crispy instead of soft.
Preparation:
- Moisten rice paper
- Fill with leftovers (vegetables, rice, herbs, tofu or chicken)
- Fry in the pan until crispy
- Then slice it and serve it inside-out
Twist:
With peanut-lime dip or mango-chili sauce
🍋 3. Lemon pasta with caramelized butter & burrata
Why it’s going viral:
Minimalist pasta plus a “luxury finish” is huge on Instagram right now.
How it works:
- Slowly brown the butter (for a nutty flavor!)
- Add lemon juice + lemon zest
- Toss with the pasta
- Place the burrata on top and tear it open
Foodie tip:
Top with roasted pistachios → extra crunch
🥬 4. Crunchy Herb Salad with Baked Lemon Rice
Why new:
Not the salad itself – the texture is the real star.
Preparation:
- Pre-cook the rice, then bake it in the oven until crispy
- Roughly chop the fresh herbs (parsley, dill, mint)
- Cucumber & spring onions with it
- Mix with lemon dressing
- Sprinkle crunchy rice on top
Trend factor:
“Soft + Crunch” is currently one of the biggest food trends
🍰 5. Frozen yogurt bark with spring toppings
Why it’s popular on TikTok:
Snackable, pretty, looks healthy – perfect for Reels.
Here’s how it works:
- Spread yogurt onto a baking tray
- Top with berries, edible flowers, and nuts
- Freeze and break into pieces
Upgrade:
Fold in white chocolate or a matcha swirl
🌼 What these food trends have in common
The viral spring recipes of 2026 are all about:
- Contrasts (creamy vs. crunchy)
- simple ingredients with a twist
- visual aesthetics (Instagram-worthy!)
- quick preparation
The best part: you don’t need any fancy equipment or pro skills—just the desire to try something new.
🚀 Conclusion: Spring = time to experiment
The new food trends show:
It’s no longer just about “healthy” or “simple”, it’s about an experience on the plate.
If you’re in the mood to make your kitchen a bit more exciting, these recipes are the perfect way to kick off the culinary spring.
👉 Call to action
Which recipe will you try first?
Share your result on Instagram with #SmantryFrühling🌸
Download the app and check right away what you already have in your pantry. That’s how spring can begin!
New version available: What’s new in Smantry V1.25.0
We are continuously working to make Smantry even clearer, more stable, and more helpful in everyday life. That’s why we’re excited to give you a first look at the new version:
Version 1.25.0 is now available for you.
Here are the most important new features.
New settings area with profile overview
The settings have been revised and made clearer.
In the new profile sectionyou’ll now find all the key information about your account in one central place – from language settings and premium features to account settings.
This way you can more quickly see which features are enabled and manage your settings more easily.
Blog preview directly on the dashboard
From now on, you’ll see the latest blog posts displayed directly in the dashboard.
This keeps you up to date on new features, updates, and tips related to Smantry at all times. The blog preview serves as a handy add-on and gives you a quick overview of news, helpful tips, and important posts about the app.
Articles are automatically merged when moved
A small but very helpful improvement:
When you move an item to another storage location and an identical item already exists there, the quantities are now merged automatically.
This ensures:
- more clarity
- fewer duplicate entries
- a cleaner inventory list
Simplified onboarding
New users in particular should be able to find their way around Smantry quickly. That’s why the onboarding process has been revised and simplified.
Getting started in the app is now even more clearly structured and guides you step by step through the most important features.
Improved email verification
We’ve also made some important improvements behind the scenes.
The email verification process has been optimized, so new accounts can be confirmed more reliably.
This ensures a more stable sign-up process and fewer issues during registration.
Additional bug fixes
In addition, various minor issues have been fixed, including those affecting:
- Account connections
- Navigation within the app
Our goal is to make Smantry a bit more stable and pleasant with every update.
Update now
Version 1.25.0 is already running and is available as an update.
Many thanks to everyone in the community who regularly sends us feature requests, feedback, and bug reports. You’re helping us make Smantry better step by step. 💚
Smantry: Not perfect – but made with a lot of heart
Many of our users write to us that theyhave been looking for exactly this kind of app for a long time. At the same time, we also read reviews that say:“Good idea, but …”
And that’s exactly what we want to talk about openly today.
An app for everyday life – not for perfection
Smantry is designed to make everyday life easier: manage groceries, stay on top of things, waste less.
Your feedback shows us that this is already working well for many of you:
- Inputs are quick and straightforward
- The scanner reliably detects most products
- Editing and making changes is easy
- Our support is perceived as fast, friendly, and solution-oriented
We’re really glad to hear that – because that’s exactly what we’re building Smantry for.
Why some things are (still) not perfect
What you often don’t see from the outside: Smantry is developed by a very small team.
Right now we are 5 people, and none of us works full-time on the app. We do this alongside other projects, jobs, and commitments – with a lot of passion, but limited resources.
That doesn’t explain everything, but it provides context:
- Some functions take longer
- Technical issues (e.g. with premium activations) unfortunately happen sometimes
- Not every idea can be implemented right away
Frequently asked questions from your reviews
Why a subscription?
The subscription allows us to cover server costs, ongoing development, updates, and support in the first place. Without continuous revenue, Smantry would not be able to exist in the long term.
"Why isn’t the bug I reported being fixed?"
Sometimes there are several bugs at the same time and we have to prioritize the ones that affect core functions. That can mean that a different bug gets fixed first. We always try to resolve everything quickly – but unfortunately we can only do it step by step.
Why doesn’t Premium sometimes work right away?
Subscriptions are managed through the app stores. In rare cases, synchronization issues can occur. That’s annoying, but not intentional – our support team will always help you with this personally.
Where we want to go
Smantry is meant to get better – not just on paper, but in real everyday life.
This includes:
- more features from the web app
- better stability
- more flexibility with categories
- clearer communication
Your feedback plays a central role in this.
In conclusion
We’re not a corporation.
We’re a small team that believes in a good idea and is putting it into practice step by step.
If Smantry is helping you – even if everything isn’t perfect yet – we really appreciate your trust, your feedback, and of course a fair rating in the App Store 💛
Thank you for being part of this development.