Store and preserve autumn treasures correctly
Kira Zabe
October 1, 2024
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.
McIntosh
- 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!
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!
Sharing supplies together – why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend – it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together – as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
👉 The shared economy doesn't stop with cars – it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.
At last, it's here: The categorization of articles 🎉
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you – and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- 🥦 More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- ⏱️ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling – jump straight to the right category.
- 👨👩👧👦 Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- 🌍 Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs – whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality ✨
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app – fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned – as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
👉 Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests – your input might directly influence the ongoing development.