Shopping Guides

Puppies are awesome. Dogs have always been considered “man’s best friend”. But for many, they’re a member of the family. If you’re getting a new pupper, be sure that your home is ready and welcoming with this new puppy checklist.

Pup Up the Volume

What can be more exciting than receiving a new puppy into your family?

By this point, you’ve probably already done some research about what dog breeds are best for your particular home. This will be dependent on whether you have babies, children, or other pets. Regardless, when the time comes to bring your new puppy home, whatever the breed, it’s going to need the tender loving care you just can’t wait to give it.

To help, we’ll take you through some questions you might have, as well as supply you with that all important new puppy shopping list and checklist. Alternatively, you can skip straight to the free printable puppy supplies list if you wish.

Puppy Checklist FAQs

What’s the most important thing on the puppy checklist?

Honestly, a good guide.

Whilst our new puppy checklist will give you a good range of products to buy, and preparations to make, it doesn’t include the vast amount of knowledge that goes into raising a pup.

Dogs are intelligent creatures with unique personalities. Until you get your’s home, you’ll never know how they’re going to behave, respond to you or your family, or what problems they’ll have. Therefore, take the time to swot up on tips and techniques on how to raise and train you pupper. This will help make sure that the time you have with your new pet is as golden as a retriever.

This doesn’t have to be a massive expensive book. There’s plenty of great information from owners and owner associations online. Plus, be sure to read a little ahead for later stages in your doggo’s life so you know what’s coming next.

Do I really need to check local laws?

Yes, for you and your puppy!

Raising a puppy can be expensive business at the best of times, so the last thing you want to do is get slapped with a hefty fine. For example, in the UK, if your pup doesn’t have a full identity tag on its collar, regardless of whether it’s been microchipped or not, you could face a fine of £5,000.

The worst case scenario is that you break a law and your beloved new dog is taken from you. Remember, ignorance is not a defense.

Can I do without dog training?

Most likely.

However, you should at least be prepared to enlist the help of a trainer just in case you’re really struggling to train your puppy. Reading a good guide will certainly give you a decent fighting chance of getting Rover to roll over and not chew up your most beloved possessions. But sometimes even the best owners need a little extra help.

Make sure you have the details and the funds for dog training just in case it comes down to it.

What should I do and expect for puppy’s first night in the house?

This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult events in your new puppy’s new life.

Remember, they have known nothing but the immediate comfort of their mother and littermates up until the point you’ve taken them home. So it’s not going to be easy.

Most guides will recommend the following:

• Make sure your puppy has gone outside to do its “business” beforehand
• Take the puppy outside to play before going to bed to tire it out
• Don’t sleep with your puppy in your bed. Falling out or getting squashed underneath you will injure it. Plus, the puppy might soil or wet itself during the night.
• Keep the puppy in a dog crate in the bedroom
• Expect it to whine or howl during the night. This will lessen as the puppy gets used to its new surroundings and to being alone.

Your New Puppy Checklist

Now that you’re a little more prepared, we present to you your puppy shopping list and checklist so you’re ready to receive that fluffiest new member of your family.

Ethical eating has become a hot topic recently, especially with consumers seemingly lurching towards veganism. Many food brands have started releasing vegan products, such as the infamous Gregg’s vegan sausage roll in the UK. But whilst veganism is seen as the apex of ethical eating, is a vegan grocery list really that much better than a vegetarian one?

Veg, Glorious Veg!

Whether you like it or not, we all need to be eating more vegetables and less meat. The #1 ranked looks at eating more legumes and veg and reducing meat in order to achieve optimal healthy eating. The new looks at scaling back both meat and dairy to an absolute minimum. is fast becoming another ideal, reducing meat, but not eliminating it, with the goal or making people healthier, more ethical, and being more sustainable.

However, the number of people enjoying meatless diets is increasing. More people are becoming vegetarian and vegan than ever before. January 2019 saw the most successful Veganuary yet, with over 250,000 people officially taking part in the campaign.

So, if we’re rebuking meat, what is the best alternative? Should you go vegetarian and allow yourself dairy and other animal products? Or go the whole plant-based hog and plump for veganism?

We’ll look at several important areas and compare both vegan and vegetarian shopping lists, to see which is better.

Vegetarian vs Vegan Grocery List

What’s cheaper?

Whether the economy is in boom or bust, there’s never a bad time to be cost conscious. So, for many, the cost of a vegetarian or vegan shopping list will be one of the most important factors.

The good news is that being vegetarian or vegan is generally cheaper than buying meat.

However, keeping the costs down depends entirely on how you practice your vegetarianism or veganism.

If you stick to just vegetables, you’ll do just fine. You can even save more money by making sure you have plenty of  or frozen food on your vegetarian or vegan food list. These are generally cheaper than fresh food and is proven to be .

Prices will start to rack up if you start buying meat substitutes, like plant-based beefburger imitations, non-dairy cheese, and the like. They’re delicious and can help curb your urge for these types of food, but they come with a hefty price tag. However, their growing popularity does mean they’re slowly becoming more reasonable. Opting for organic food is another factor that will make your vegetable grocery list dearer.

The one thing that is definitely more expensive is dairy-free milk alternatives. Soy, rice, almond, cashew, and coconut milk are all much more expensive than dairy milk, making a vegetarian grocery list more affordable.

What’s healthier?

Research has found that vegetarians and vegans are generally much healthier than meat-eaters, and tend to live longer. However, some have said that they also generally tend to have healthier lifestyles, so this shouldn’t be put this solely down to their diets.

However, eating only vegetables is certainly a great way to cut back on unhealthy things like saturated fat found in meat. Also, increasing your fiber intake keeps you full for longer, meaning you’re less likely to reach for unhealthy snacks.

Vegetarianism is considered quite healthy as you don’t lose out on the healthy nutrients you need. For example, getting your protein, which most people usually get from meat, is no problem as you can rely on nuts and seeds as a high protein food source. Items in this category rich in protein include chia seeds, sesame seeds, peanut butter, and seed butter. This is also true for veganism.

However, the very important vitamin B12 can be a problem for vegans. It is responsible for making nerves, red blood cells, and DNA. This vitamin can be found in eggs and dairy, but not in vegetables.

This means it’s more difficult for vegans to get crucial B12 into their bodies. They’ll have to opt for fortified cereal and milk alternatives or buy dietary supplements. Therefore, a vegan shopping list puts you at more risk of developing B12 deficiency.

What’s more convenient?

Let’s face it. Eating out is a pain for both vegetarians and vegans. Restaurants often offer uninspiring and bad value vegetarian meals, if they offer any at all. It’s even more difficult for vegans as eggs, butter, honey, sour cream, and cheese are completely out of the question.

When it comes to a vegan or vegetarian shopping lists, these can be as convenient or inconvenient as you make them. Relying on buying standard fruit, vegetables, and legumes to fill your stomachs will be easy to do in most places.

But if you start opting for more obscure food items like nutritional yeast, or particular substitutes like wheat or soy protein, it becomes a little more difficult to find stockists.

The inconvenience doesn’t stop with restaurants and shopping lists when it comes to veganism. Veganism is generally not just confined to your vegan shopping list. If you’re vegan, you also need to avoid animal products such as leather clothes and shoes, or even paintbrushes made from animal hair. However, this does depend on how “strict” a vegan you are.

Vegetarianism, however, can be much more flexible. Whether you want to couple your diet with more ethical lifestyle choices is up to you. As for grocery shopping, it’s not that much of a chore unless you make it so.

What’s more ethical?

Now we’re getting into the meat (pardon the pun) of our comparison: ethics.

One of the main reasons many people turn either vegetarian or vegan is because of the meat industry’s practices. It can be pretty brutal. Even if animals are free-range and given organic feed, they’re still being slaughtered at the end of the day. There are also a lot of environmental issues that the meat industry is being criticized for (see below).

However, the dairy industry can be just as hideous. Cows are artificially inseminated to produce calves in order to get them to lactate more. They are also given chemicals to constantly lactate and produce unnatural levels of milk. Male calves are slaughtered or sold the make veal, whilst female calves are put in tiny pens before going through the same process as their mothers.

Some dairy farms don’t even let cows out into the open air, keeping them inside giant structures 365 days a year!

Eggs can also be just as cruel, with hens being kept in tiny cages if they’re not free-range.

So, vegan is more ethical right?

Well, not exactly.

Whilst it does exonerate itself from animal cruelty, some vegan products cause human cruelty. For example,  has seen workers suffer low-paid and slave-like conditions, suffering from debilitating burns on their hands due to exposure to chemicals used in the de-shelling process. There are similar stories about other “healthy” and “ethical” foodstuffs such as almonds and quinoa too.

Savvy vegans and vegetarians can ensure they buy products that avoid these pitfalls. But on a whole, it’s hard for either diet to be completely ethical without a lot of research, education, know-how, and resources.

What’s more sustainable?

Whilst ethics is a vastly important issue, the environment is just as important these days. But which shopping list is more sustainable?

The animal industry alone contributes a lot to global warming and climate change because of the . But is switching to a more plant-based diet really going to save the earth?

Not quite.

Soy production has caused mass deforestation due to the amount of land needed to grow them. Avocado production is also draining natural water resources in some areas, causing droughts.

Then, the carbon-cost of produce distribution needs to be taken into account. Most Western climates aren’t adept at growing many grains and legumes such as brown rice, lentils, quinoa, and soy. Therefore, they have to be flown or sailed half-way across the world to get to you, using fossil fuels. The same can be said about avocados, bananas, coconut oil, and even maple syrup. If you're eating out of season, even local items like sweet potatoes are grown and flown to you from other countries.

Also, unless you’re going organic, these farms will also be using pesticides which is causing a decrease in soil quality as well as polluting rivers. Not to mention the concerns about residual chemicals entering humans via non-organic fruit and veg.

This makes an entirely plant-based solution far from perfect until more sustainable agriculture methods are implemented. But it is better than the sizable detriment to the environment the animal industry is having.

And the Winner Is…

Vegetarian shopping list!

This is because it is better on cost and health.

But that’s not to completely discredit a vegan diet. Many may still want to pursue this as they consider it more ethical, although this is more complicated than you might think. It also has the potential to be more sustainable, providing bad plant-agriculture practices can be improved.

Whatever you decide, the message is clear: eating less or no meat is better for both you and the planet.

Environmental issues are becoming more and more important these days. In 2018, we turned our attention towards single-use plastic and the impact it has on our oceans. The palm oil industry also came under scrutiny for its deforestation of rainforest and putting at risk the survival of orangutans. In 2019, why don’t we look at how to reduce food waste using a weekly shopping list calculator?

Why Should We Avoid Food Waste?

As much as reducing your own food waste is very important, it must be noted that households are not solely responsible for food waste. A lot of it is created by the growers. Some is also wasted by supermarkets, who discard produce that doesn’t “look right”, or hurriedly bin products that are still safe to eat but are close to their “use by” or “sell by” date.

But in developed countries, a major amount of food waste is created in the home. In these countries, households can contribute up to 30% of food waste.

The most obvious reason we should avoid wastage of food is that a lot of it ends up in landfills. It makes up 12.5% of what goes into the waste system, even when some of it (around 2%) does end up getting composted or recycled. The problem is that whilst this seems like a small part of waste, food waste makes up for 34% of methane emissions: a gas that is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its contribution to climate change.

Whilst there are many wider negatives to food waste, you can reap some great personal benefits. Firstly, you can save money. The average American household can throw away up to . This can buy you a comfortable vacation for your family.

Next, if you include good meal planning as part of your food waste solutions, it can help control or even lose weight. This is because one way to help reduce food waste is to control your portion sizes. By scaling back your portions to recommended sizes, and shopping accordingly, you can tackle both overeating and reducing the amount of food you throw out at the same time.

So what are we waiting for? Let’s work out how you can build your weekly shopping list. Alternatively, you can skip straight to our free printable weekly shopping list template and calculator should you wish.

Dos and Don’ts

Do

Plan meals - if you plan your meals in advance you can calculate exactly what you need to buy. This will also save you time as you can then get everything you need in a single shop (if possible) rather than popping in and out of stores during the week.

Use a shopping list - by using a grocery list you’re more likely to stick to what you need when at the grocery store and not be tempted to succumb to impulse buys or supermarkets . If you’re trying to throw away less food, the last things you want to be doing is buying extra items that you don’t need. You risk wasting these additional bits and bobs or let these derail your original plan and creating food waste there instead.

Buy some kitchen scales and a measuring jug - most people don’t use weighing scales when preparing food. You probably don’t weigh out 1oz/30g of cereal for breakfast, which means it’s highly likely that you’re actually serving up something closer to 60g: that’s double the recommended serving! If you don’t already own some kitchen scales, investing in some will really help you make sure you’re keeping to the correct portion sizes. Likewise, a measuring jug will help you do the same with liquid.

Have some backup food - this is quite important for the first few weeks as you adjust to your new regime. You might find you’ve not calculated items properly, or find it difficult to stick to smaller, recommended portions sizes. You can use our template to enable you to prepare basic meals at a moment’s notice.

Find out how to store items properly - most people will just bung all dry goods into the pantry and everything else in the refrigerator or freezer. But sometimes this isn’t the best way to store things. By using the guides in our section, you can find out how to optimally store items and ensure they don’t go bad too quickly. You might even be able to extend the life of them for even longer than you’d expect. Longer lasting food means less unexpected waste.

Keep an inventory - this is because it’s likely you’re going to have spare quantities of ingredients. Food often comes packaged in quantity or weight that doesn’t divide easily into the number of portions you need. If this does happen, make a note of the amount left over, and be sure to subtract this from your shopping list for the following week.

Learn the difference between “Sell by”, “Use by”, and “Best Before” - by learning these distinctions you can make better decisions on whether something needs to be thrown out or not, and avoid throwing out good food too early.

“Sell by” is used by supermarkets to indicate when food should be sold before in order to maximize the freshness of the produce in the buyer’s home. 

“Best before” tells you when for how long the product will taste best for. Many products are still perfectly safe to eat after their “best before” date. They just might not be as tasty as eating them before that date.

“Use by” is the date which indicates when a product is most likely going to expire and become bad. However, these can be quite generous, meaning sometimes a product can still be perfectly fresh and safe to use not long after this date. It’s a good idea to learn how to better determine whether something has gone bad or not, and use or throw out accordingly. However, if you’re unsure, it is best to err on the side of caution to avoid food poisoning.

Don’t

Be tempted to buy food in bulk - buying in bulk is very tempting as the price per unit or weight is usually significantly cheaper. However, unless you’re absolutely certain you’re going to use all of it, buying in bulk can turn out to be a more expensive way of shopping and will end up creating more food waste.

For example, imagine you use only 4 onions a week. You could buy a bag of 10 onions for $5 ($0.50 per onion), instead of 4 individual onions for a total of $4 ($1.00 per onion). However, if you only use the 4 onions and throw away 6, you actually have ended up paying $2.50 an onion: that’s more than double the price of buying them individually. Plus, you’ve just created a load of food waste.

What are the recommended food portions?

It is recommended that a person eat no more than the following recommended portions per day:

Be aware that these are only guidelines. Depending on how active you are, you may want to increase the number or size of portions you have.

For this, we’ll be using recommended portion sizes for adults only, as defined by various dieticians and government agencies. Children under the age of 12 need smaller portions, which can be up to 60% of adult sizes, especially for toddlers and babies.

Protein

Meat

1 portion = 60-90g/3-4oz

This is about the size of a deck of cards. Using this portion size a 300g pack of chicken breasts (which is about 2 whole breasts) should provide 3-4 portions, and a 500g of ground beef should provide 5-6 portions.

Fish

1 portion = 140g

It is recommended that we eat at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, or sardines. 1 pack of 2 salmon fillets should provide 2 portions, whilst a 160g can of tuna should provide 1-2 portions.

Eggs

1 portion = 2 medium eggs

A half dozen (6) eggs contain 3 portions.

Plant protein (legumes etc)

1 portion = 150g

A 220g (drained weight) can of beans should provide up to 2 portions.

Carbohydrates

Pasta and grains

1 portion = 75g

A 500g bag of pasta or rice should provide 6-7 portions.

Bread

1 portion - 1 medium slice

This means that 1 sandwich actually contains 2 portions of carbohydrates.

Cereal

1 portion = 30g

A 750g box should provide 25 portions.

Dairy

Milk

1 portion = 250 ml

1 liter of milk should provide 5 portions. However, the recommended amount you should put on your cereal is 125ml. This means 1 liter of milk should provide 8 breakfast portions.

Yogurt

1 portion = 125ml

A 500ml tub of yogurt should provide 4 servings.

Cheese (hard)

1 portion = 30g

A 350g block of hard cheese contains 11-12 portions. A portion is also approximately 1 slice of sliced cheese.

Produce

Fruit & Veg

1 portion = 80g

80g is equivalent to 1 carrot, 1 apple, 1 pear, 10-12 grapes, or ½ bell pepper. It’s also around 3 heaped tablespoons of peas or sweetcorn.

Dried fruit

1 portion = 30g

This is the equivalent of 1 heaped tablespoon.

Weekly Shopping List Template and Calculator

As everyone’s shopping is different, and as families create their own unique meal plans, it’s not possible to come up with a definite weekly shopping list. However, what we can do is provide you with information about how to better figure out what you need, and the means to work out the amount you need to put on your .

This  will also help you calculate how many portions of each food group you require and help you keep to your portion goals when shopping for your weekly meals. You can even use it as a basis to help build your own.

You say tom-ay-to. I say tom-ah-to. Who cares! They’re delicious. Whilst most of us will probably buy the more often than not, there’s still something great about taking the time to make a homemade tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes, or slicing up some nice big juicy ones to put straight into your salad. Regardless of how you want to use them, you should still beef up your knowledge about how to store tomatoes to get the most out of them.

How to Store Tomatoes

Can tomatoes be kept on the countertop or in the pantry?

Unripe - the countertop at room temperature or a cooler pantry is the best place to ripen your tomatoes. Unripe tomatoes are usually green or have patches of green skin on them. They will also be hard when lightly squeezed.

To ripen naturally, first remove any stalks or stems. Then, rest the tomatoes “scar” side down. Removing the stems stops moisture escaping via the stem. Storing them upside down helps to prevent air and extra moisture entering the tomato via the scar which would cause mold to grow and make them go bad.

If you want to ripen them quickly, place them in a breathable bag. Ideally, this will be a paper bag. But a plastic bag with some holes punched in it will suffice. This will trap ethylene gas that tomatoes produce whilst they ripen. This will then get reabsorbed to make them ripen quicker.

You can also store tomatoes in a paper bag with other ethylene-producing produce such as or bananas.

Ripe - if ripe, tomatoes are best eaten as soon as possible, or stored in the fridge (see below)

Can tomatoes be kept in the refrigerator?

Unripe - unripe tomatoes should be stored on the countertop or in the pantry (see above). This is because putting them in the fridge significantly slows down the ripening process. In some cases, the ripening process will be stopped all-together, meaning the tomatoes will never become ripe.

Ripe - if you have ripe tomatoes that you are unable to use immediately, you should put them in the fridge. This will significantly slow down or even halt the ripening process, keeping them from going bad too quickly.

Some advice says that you should take refrigerated tomatoes out of the fridge and place them on the counter for 24 hours before you wish to use them. This will help them regain some flavor lost during the refrigeration process.

Can tomatoes be kept in the freezer?

Unripe - the freezer is not a good place for storing tomatoes that are unripe. They are best stored on the countertop or in the pantry (see above).

Ripe - if you have a lot of ripe tomatoes that you aren’t going to use for a while, you can freeze them. To do this, first, wash and pat them dry. Then, place them on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch each other, before putting them into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container.

Because the freezing process damages the cells, the tomatoes will be soft when thawed. This means that they will only be good for cooking with. They will not be good to use or eaten fresh. However, the freezing process does loosen the skin, making them much easier to peel.

How long do tomatoes last?

How to Tell When Tomatoes Have Gone Bad

Look - the most reliable sign of whether a tomato has gone bad is mold. This mold will look like dark green or black spots on the skin of the tomato, as well as a fuzzier white kind.

If the skin shows sign of wrinkling, it has also gone bad.

Bad tomatoes also tend to leak fluid. If you pick up a tomato and notice that there is fluid underneath it, then it has gone bad.

Feel - if a tomato is soft or mushy when given a light squeeze, it has gone bad.

Smell - if you find that a tomato is producing a bitter or putrid smell, then it has gone bad.

We already extolled the virtues of canned goods and why it can be just . We also gave you a list of . Now we’ll give you the lowdown on how to store canned food. Will you discover that you’re doing something wrong? Or is there a way for you to improve your canned food storage technique?

How to Store Canned Food

Can canned food be kept in the pantry?

Unopened - the pantry, or the pantry space you have in your kitchen, is absolutely the best place for you to store unopened cans. However, that is dependent on the condition of the can prior to storage. Make sure the can has no dents in it. Dents can cause microscopic holes in the can, letting air into the otherwise sealed environment, causing the contents to spoil.

If you find a can with a dent in it, it may still be good to use. Open the contents and check to see if it’s gone bad (see below). If it is still good, use immediately. However, dented cans are not recommended for long term storage.

If you’re unsure about what space in your kitchen would make for a suitable makeshift pantry, it needs to meet the following criteria:

• Cool
• Dry
• Out of direct sunlight
• Unlikely to go below freezing (0c/32f)

Once placed in this optimal canned goods storage environment, you should be able to use them up to, or even past, the printed date on the can.

Opened - once opened, the contents of any can should be emptied and stored in the fridge or freezer (see below)

Can canned food be kept in the refrigerator?

Unopened - there is really no need to keep canned food in the fridge. These are best stored in a pantry (see above).

Opened - if you’re not using a can’s full contents at once, then you need to make sure you store the remaining food safely. One thing you shouldn’t do is put the tin with the leftovers still in it straight into the fridge. However, this advice is not because doing so can make you seriously ill.

Yes, , a potentially fatal disease that many people still link with commercially canned food, is still a possibility. But it is only a likely threat from canning facilities that maintain poor hygiene standards, or home canned food. In the UK, EU, and the USA, food facilities are kept to very high safety and hygiene standards.

The best way to reduce the risk of exposure to botulism is to not only ensure that the canned goods you buy are undamaged (see above) but to also check to see if the contents have gone bad (see below).

The main reason for not storing open cans and their contents directly in the fridge is because some of the can’s coating may be corded by the food making it taste bad. This is particularly the case with food of high acidity, like tomatoes. Also, once opened, leaving the contents exposed to air can make it spoil quicker, putting you at risk from general food poisoning.

Therefore, empty the remaining contents along with any residual water, syrup, or brine, and place in an airtight container or jar. Then, place this at the back of the fridge to keep it extra cool and lasting longer.

Can canned food be kept in the freezer?

Unopened - placing unopened canned food in the freezer is a bad idea. Any liquid in the cans will expand causing them to burst. The pantry really is the best place for them.

Opened - whilst this is possible, it is not generally advised to do so this.

How Long Does Canned Food Last?

*It is recommended you consume canned food no longer than 1 year after the expiry date. Although, canned goods are likely to still stay good for longer.

How to Tell When Canned Food Has Gone Bad

Look - a very reliable way to know if canned food has gone bad is to look at the can. If the can is bulging, then it’s incredibly likely the contents have gone bad. The bulging is caused by gas that is produced as food rots and mold grows.

When opening, if liquid spits or foams out of the opening, it is very likely to have gone bad.

Lastly, if there is any visible mold on the food inside the can, throw it out.

Smell - canned food that has gone bad will also have developed an unpleasant odor which will release once the can is opened.

Taste - if you suspect the contents to have gone off, we do not recommend tasting. Even tasting a small bit of canned food can put you at risk of contracting botulism. If there are no other signs of spoilage, if the food doesn’t taste as expected, then it’s likely to have gone bad.

Apples are quite possibly the world’s most famous fruit. An apple is anecdotally responsible for the theory of gravity. One is even the symbol of one of the world’s most successful tech companies. They’re as well-known as they are tasty. In the USA, 2,500 apple varieties are grown. It’s no wonder apple pie is considered “the” American desert. Whilst they’re delicious and full of vitamin C, fiber, and even boron, do you know how to store apples to get the most out of their shelf life?

How to Store Apples

Can apples be kept on the countertop?

Whole apples - they certainly can. But this is only best if you plan on eating your apples within 2-3 days of buying them.

To store, make sure the countertop area is cool and dry. However, you absolutely must not store them close to other fruit and vegetables, especially oranges, bananas, avocados, and potatoes. The ethylene gas produced by these quickens the ripening process and will make them go bad very quickly.

You’ll also want to make sure other apples you store nearby are in good condition. The phrase, “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch” is true in both people and apples. This is because the riper something is, the more ethylene it produces. A bad or overripe apple will quicken the ripening process of other produce around it.

Also, try to make sure the apples don’t touch each other. In places where apples have touched each other, the area develops a soft spot, which can make them go bad quicker.

Another thing to be aware of is that apples tend to take on the flavor and aroma of any strong smelling produce nearby. So, if you don’t like your apples tasting like onions, keep them as far away from these as possible.

Sliced apples - these are best stored in the fridge or freezer (see below)

Pulped apples - these are best stored in the fridge or freezer (see below)

Can apples be kept in the refrigerator?

Whole apples - apples keep perfectly fine in the fridge. Indeed, they keep quite well here for longer than they do on the countertop. This is great if you’ve bought a few more than you can eat in 2-3 days. They can be stored inside or outside a plastic bag. If you’re putting them in a bag, puncture some holes in it to ensure decent air circulation.

Like storing on the countertop, keep them away from other ethylene producing fruit and vegetables. To prevent the skins from touching each other, you can wrap them individually in newspaper or baking parchment. But, as putting them in the fridge slows down any ripening and rotting, this isn’t as imperative.

Furthermore, make sure your fridge is clean. Just like apples can pick up the taste of nearby onions, you definitely don’t want your apples tasting of unclean fridge!

Sliced apples - the trickiest thing about storing apples once they’ve been sliced is to stop them turning brown. The most tried and tested trick is to soak them in lemon juice for 2-3 minutes. Then, put them in a ziplock bag and place inside the fridge. Some people say that salt water, or even citrus-flavored soda, works even better.

However, you should remember that once you start to prepare any fruit or vegetables, their nutrient levels start to decrease rapidly. So, if you’re not going to eat your apples as soon as possible after you’ve sliced them, they’re not going to be as full of nutrients as they would be if you eat them immediately.

Pulped apples - once pulped, these should be placed in a zip-lock bag or a plastic container before being placed in the fridge. You can combine the pulp with some lemon juice to prevent it from going brown.

Can apples be kept in the freezer?

Whole apples - whilst this is possible, it isn’t advised. This is because the freezing process destroys a lot of the apple's cells. This means it’ll be quite soft once thawed. This will make it unsuitable for eating, and also difficult to chop or prepare. You’re better off slicing or pulping apples before freezing them.

Sliced apples - arrange the slices on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment, and then place in the freezer. You can brush some lemon juice over the slices to prevent them from going brown. Make sure your freezer is on a high setting so that smaller ice crystals form within the apples, keeping their structural integrity as much as possible. Once frozen, remove them from the baking sheet and place them inside a plastic container or zip-lock bag to store in the freezer.

Pulped apples - place inside a plastic container or zip-lock bag and then place in the freezer.

Can apples be kept in the pantry?

Whole apples - putting apples in the pantry is more of a long-term storage solution. It’s mainly for those who might have quite a few apple trees in their garden and therefore will be harvesting a lot of apples.

The amount of time you can keep apples in the pantry varies between apple varieties. Thick-skinned apples, such as Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious, are far more suitable for long-term storage.

First, make sure you pick the best apples to store long-term. Avoid storing apples that are bruised or are a little soft. Not only will these individual apples not last as long, but they may also cause other apples around them to rot quicker. Next, to ensure they don’t touch each other. Wrap them individually in newspaper or baking parchment.

The best way to store them in the pantry is in a shelving unit. Also, you need to make sure the pantry is cool enough (between 0-2c/30-35f) to ensure they last the longest. Make sure the pantry temperature doesn’t dip below freezing as this will significantly damage your apples.

How Long Do Apples last?

How to Tell When Apples Have Gone Bad

Look - an apple has gone bad is that if there is visible mold on it. Another thing you should look for is small holes that are either caused by burrowing insects. Because the hole exposes the flesh inside, it is likely that the inside of the apple has started to go bad, even though the appearance otherwise looks fine.

The skin should also be smooth. If it is crinkly and dull, it means the apple has gone bad.

Make sure you don’t mistake a bruise for a bad apple. Bruises will make the skin in a certain area dark in color, and it will also look like a dent in the apple.

Feel - feel is probably the best signifier of a bad apple. Apples should be firm when squeezed. If it is soft, then it has definitely gone bad.

The apple flesh underneath a bruise will also feel soft. Check to see if it looks like a bruise (see above). If the apple is merely bruised, the flesh should only be soft in the affected area.