Question for filling: at what temperature should apples be stored?
The safety of the crop is ensured by maintaining appropriate conditions in the place where the fruit is stored.
One of the important requirements is storage temperature. If all conditions are met, apples are stored for a long time.
So, at what temperature should apples be stored at home in winter? Let's figure it out.
Content
Optimal temperature conditions for storage in winter at home
Like many other fruits, apples release ethylene during storage. This substance accelerates the ripening of fruits and affects the shelf life of vegetables and fruits that are nearby.
In addition to maintaining temperature indicators at the required level, Humidity should also be maintained within 85%.
| Variety | Temperature, C | CO2 concentration in chambers with RGS, %, V/V | O2 concentration in chambers with RGS, %, V/V | Possible storage duration, months. |
| Bessemyanka Michurinskaya | 0-1 | 3-5 | 3 | 5-6 |
| Grushovka vernenskaya | 0-1 | 3-5 | 3 | 5-6 |
| Aport Alexander | 0-3 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 6-7 |
| Mac | 0-2 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 6-7 |
| Delicious, Red Delicious | 0-1 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 6-7 |
| Renet Canadian | 3-4 | 3 | 3 | 6-7 |
| Stayman Winesep | 0-1 | 2-5 | 2-3 | 6-8 |
| Granny Smith | 0-4 | 2-5 | 2-3 | 6-8 |
| Zailiyskoe | 0-4 | 5-7 | 14-16 | 7-8 |
| Zailiyskoe | 0-4 | 3-5 | 3 | 8-9 |
| Cinnamon new | 0 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 7-8 |
| Pepin saffron | 0 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 7-8 |
| Welsey | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Jonathan and his clones | 3-4 | 5-8 | 13-16 | 7-8 |
| Jonathan and his clones | 3-4 | 3-6 | 2-3 | 7-8 |
| Mantuan | 0 | 3-6 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Renet Burchardt | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Renet d'Orléans | 0 | 3-5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Renet Simirenko | 2-3 | 3-5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Stark, Starkrimson | 0-1 | 3-5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Boyken | 0-1 | 3-5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Winter banana | 0-1 | 3-5 | 3 | 7-8 |
| Renet Chernenko | 0 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 7-8 |
| Idared | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 8-9 |
| Golden Delicious | 0-4 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 8-9 |
| Renet Champagne | 0-1 | 3-5 | 3 | 8-9 |
| Zarya Alatau | 0 | 2-3 | 3 | 8-9 |
| Northern Sinap | 0 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 8-9 |
| Rosemary white | 0 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 8-9 |
Is it possible to increase the degree above normal?
If the temperature in the room with apples is higher than +5°C, the fruit will begin to wither.
Designed for long-term storage It is advisable to place the fruits in suitable conditions during the first 24 hours after harvesting.
A delay of a couple of days is not critical for winter varieties, but if left in the heat for a long time, the harvest will be spoiled very quickly: the fruit will begin to wither and lose its taste.
What are the minimum values for fruits to withstand?
Winter apple varieties able to withstand temperatures down to -1°C at the storage location. If it is lower, the fruit may freeze.
Fruits are purchased:
- glassiness of the pulp;
- general softening.
Such manifestations can be prevented by controlling the temperature and preventing it from falling below the necessary level. All varieties of apples that have been frozen can acquire a glassy state.
For some species, the optimal storage indicator is +3°C - +4°C. When such fruits are in conditions of a critical temperature for them, even at 0°C, low-temperature decomposition can be observed, as a result of which:
- the skin turns brown;
- the flesh turns brown.
Cold (low-temperature) drilling of the pulp begins with first damaging the top layer located under the peel. Gradually the process spreads into the deeper layers.
Keeping the fruit at +3°C will help prevent spoilage of apples. Those that are demanding in this sense include:
- Jonathan;
- Cox Orange;
- Mekintosh;
- Canadian renet and some others.
The process of removing fruits from low-temperature cooling:
- Increasing the temperature in the storage to 0°C.
- Increase to +2°C.
- Aging 7-14 days.
- Analysis of the condition of the fruits.
Are changes bad?
Any changes in the conditions in which apples are found are extremely undesirable for the fruit. Temperature changes, especially sudden ones, have the greatest impact on the harvested crop.
If fluctuations occur within the acceptable storage range of +/- 1°C, then the harvest is not in danger. But if there are significant differences, the fruit will disappear and will not last all winter.
Unpretentious varieties
For long-term storage, winter varieties that have high storage capacity should be selected. Different varieties respond differently to low temperatures.
These frost-resistant varieties include:
- Pepin Saffron;
- Boyken and some others.
But most, even winter apples, have brown flesh. Such manifestations are typical for the following varieties:
- Parmen Winter Golden;
- Antonovka Ordinary and others.
Resistance to hypothermia during crop storage is associated with the structure of the pulp of the fruit itself and its viscosity.
Recommendations
Additional tips to help you better cope with storage problems apples:
Large fruits emit more ethylene than small ones, which is why the latter will begin to deteriorate faster. In this regard, pre-sorting must take into account both the variety and size of the harvested fruit.- If the fruits are stored in storage without preliminary sorting by variety, then if the temperature regime is violated, either upward or downward, the fruits must be sorted.
- If the required temperature is maintained, but the humidity decreases, the apples will begin to deteriorate. Fruits with thin integumentary tissues (Pepin saffron, Boyken, Welsey and others) are especially sensitive to such changes.
- Periodic ventilation will help eliminate excess ethylene released by stored fruit. But prolonged active ventilation can lead to the opposite effect - loss of pulp density and presentation.
A lot of useful and important information about storing apples can be found Here.
Conclusion
It is advisable to set the temperature regime for storing apples taking into account the variety and growing conditions. If this condition is met and high humidity is maintained, fruits placed in storage will be able to remain fresh and juicy for many months.
