Many people don’t know this but apples can be used to soften the skin of other fruits and vegetables. Just place your apple in water for a few minutes and it will naturally soften the skin on the other fruit or vegetable. Apples work best on softer skinned produce like bananas, pears, and tomatoes.
Apples are a popular fruit and for good reason. They’re tasty, versatile, and perfect for snacking or baking. Sometimes however, apples can be a bit too crisp for your liking. Here are some tips for softening them up.
Great Ways to Soften Your Apples
1. Microwave the Apples
If you want to speed up the ripening process, then microwaving your apples is a great way to do it.
You can just put them in for about 30 seconds and this is going to help them become softer.
This is a great option if you want your apples to be a little bit softer, but don’t want to wait for them to ripen on their own.
Just make sure that you pierce the skin of the apple with a fork before microwaving it or you could have some problems with the apple exploding.
If you’re in a hurry, then microwaving is definitely one of the best ways to soften your apples.
You can also use this method if you have apples that are starting to go bad because it will get rid of any bacteria that might be on the fruit.
Just remember that not all apples are going to respond well to microwaving, so you’ll want to check the skin of your apples before this.
If there are any black spots on them or if they seem under-ripe, then microwaving might not be a great option for those particular fruits.
Microwaves can also cause some browning in apples since they heat up everything through radiation and this is going to speed up the process of oxidation.
If you want to stop this from happening, then just use a damp paper towel when microwaving your apples.
One drawback with microwaves is that they can cause some moisture loss in fruits and vegetables because they are so powerful, but it might be worth the trade-off if you’re in a hurry.
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2. Sautee the Apples on Your Stove
If microwaving the apples isn’t something that you want to do, then it would be a good idea to use your stove.
This will work especially well if you have an electric range or any other type of surface that uses coils underneath it.
Start out by heating up some butter on top of the stove and adding in the apples after that.
You’ll want to use a softening agent such as cinnamon, sugar or honey in order to make the apple even softer.
After they become a bit more pliable, you can then start mashing them up with a fork or spoon and add whatever you like to them.
This is definitely one of the best methods for making apples that are perfect for your baby.
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3. Boil Apples in Water
Boiling the apples is another way to soften them up and you can do this by simply filling up a pot with water.
Make sure that your apple slices are covered in the boiling water before turning down the heat to let it simmer for several minutes.
If possible, try adding some sugar or honey into it as well since this can help to soften the apples up even more.
One thing that you should keep in mind is that boiling isn’t going to be as effective as microwaving or sauteeing them on a stove, so it might take a bit longer for your apples to get soft enough.
It can definitely work well for those who don’t have a microwave or for those who want to do something on the stove.
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4. Allow the Apples to Ripen
If you want to allow the apples to ripen on their own, then you can place them on the counter. This will usually take a few days, but it’s going to be worth it in the end.
You should keep an eye on them and make sure that they don’t get too soft or overripe.
If you want to speed up the process, then you can place them in a brown paper bag on the counter.
The apples will generate ethylene gas and this is going to help with the ripening process.
You should also be aware that if you have too many apples, they might start to rot before they become soft enough to eat.
Apples are a fruit that many people love and they’re also one of the most popular types of produce to give to babies.
The issue is that not every apple will be as soft as you would like it to be, but there are ways to soften them up so they’re perfect for your baby.
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Eat Your Soft Apples First
If you have a bunch of apples and some of them are softer than the others, then it would be a good idea to eat those first.
This is going to help to get rid of any bacteria that might be on the fruit.
Just remember that not all apples are going to respond well to microwaving, so you’ll want to check the skin of your apples before this.
If there are any black spots on them or if they seem under-ripe, then microwaving might not be a great option for those particular fruits.
Microwaves can also cause some browning in apples since they heat up everything through radiation and this is going to speed up the process of oxidation.
Can apples heat?
Yes, apples can heat when microwaved. The radiation from the microwave will cause the apple to heat up and this is something that you need to be aware of before cooking them.
Make sure that you are keeping an eye on your apples so they don’t start to cook too much or get too soft.
If they do become over-cooked, then they might not be good for eating anymore.
Store Apples in a Cool Place
If you have some leftover apples, then it would be a good idea to store them in a cool place.
This could be inside of your refrigerator or even just in a regular kitchen cabinet.
You should also make sure that aren’t stored near any fruits that will cause the apples to go bad faster than usual.
This is definitely one of the best ways to keep your apples in good shape for an extended period of time so you can eat them whenever you want.
They’ll also be great when they are added to other recipes since their taste and texture won’t have changed at all.
Another thing that you can do is freeze any extra or soft apple slices if needed, but this isn’t always necessary most of the time.
There are some fruits like bananas that don’t respond well to freezing, but it should work out fine with apples as long as they aren’t completely frozen solid when put back into storage later on.
If this is the case, then you might need to let them thaw out a bit before cooking or eating them.
Conclusion
There are definitely some great ways that you can soften your apples so they’re perfect for your baby.
Whether you want to use a microwave, stovetop, or even just allow them to ripen on their own, there are definitely options for everyone.
This is going to be a lot healthier than using store-bought baby food which is usually loaded with extra sugars and unhealthy ingredients you don’t need.
Apples are incredibly healthy even when eaten by older children or adults, but it can be especially useful if your child is just starting to develop a taste for solid foods.
Make sure that you are introducing them to a variety of different fruits and vegetables so they can get the most out of their diet.