Apples are a healthy choice at the office. They’re high in fiber and water, making it a filling snack your doctor would probably approve of. They’re also an excellent source of Vitamin C.

This popular fruit can be found at any grocery store, especially June through November (when apples are in season). If you forgot about eating some apples you bought recently, you might be wondering if they’re still safe to eat. This article covers how you can tell.

How Long Before an Apple Goes Bad

These estimates vary across different varieties, but apples generally stay fresh and edible for up to 2 weeks outside of a refrigerator, and up to 6 weeks inside one.

This goes considerably down after an apple has been cut. Apple slices can last up to 5 days. This doesn’t mean that the apple becomes completely inedible, but its flavor may not be as pleasant, or the texture may not be as crisp or crunchy.

Speaking of crispy apples, read up on the newly released Cosmic Crisp Apple today!

When to Throw Away a Rotten Apple

The easiest way to tell if an apple has gone bad is if there’s mold on it. If you find mold on your fruit, throw it away immediately because the mold can quickly spread to other fruits or food nearby.

Mold can be extremely detrimental to your health by affecting your respiratory system and causing illnesses. A little browning may be normal, but if you see any abnormal color or texture, toss the apple out.

Other ways to tell if an apple has gone bad is if the texture is exceedingly mushy or has holes throughout it from insects or animals. A fresh, healthy apple should not leak any juice if minimal pressure is applied. Conversely, if the apple is rock hard, it may be dried out and is likely too old to safely eat.

What Makes an Apple Spoil or Rot?

You may notice that fruits like bananas and pears go bad faster when stored together. Apples work the same way. They naturally produce ethylene which makes fruit ripen faster. Before apples hit grocery shelves, harvesters will inhibit ethylene to extend their shelf lives in storage.

To avoid your apples from spoiling too quickly, we discuss the best ways to keep this in mind and where to store apples.

What is the Best Way to Store Apples?

It’s acceptable to store apples at room temperature, but if you aren’t planning on eating them soon, they last much longer in the office refrigerator. When storing apples in the refrigerator, keep them away from other fruits and in its own drawer or section, if possible.

If your apple has already been cut or sliced, store it in a Ziploc bag or plastic container. If you do decide to store apples on your office kitchen counter, make sure they are nowhere near sources of heat such as stoves, ovens, sunny spots, etc. Healthy office snacks for the kitchen go a long way toward building a happy and productive workplace.

What Are Some Ways to Use Extra Apples?

Instead of throwing out apples that are close to spoiling but don’t look pleasant to eat on their own, you can use the uglier ones as ingredients. There are several foods and beverages you can create with apples.

If you find yourself with an excess of apples and no way to eat them all before they go bad, recipes that call for large amounts of apples include applesauce, pies, jams, cider, and much more.