Got a bounty of apples from your fall apple picking? Here’s how to put them to good use.
You can use an apple a day in more than one way
Apples are one of the most versatile fruits to cook and eat, but sometimes you buy just one too many. Don’t let that produce go to waste. There are so many other uses for apples that you’ve probably never heard of. Read on for some of the inventive ways to use apples—besides eating them!
Make an easy craft for kids
If you are ever babysitting or with your own kiddo and find that they are bored or whining, try making stamps with apples! All you have to do is get some paint or ink (preferably washable or water-based), cut the apple in half, dip the inside and press it on construction paper or cloth. You can experiment with all sorts of colors and create patterns, making this simple art activity a fun one. Check out these steps to make a stamper from fruits and vegetables.
Ripen green tomatoes
How’s that? You just became the proud owner of a bunch of green tomatoes? No sweat. You can quickly ripen them up by placing them—along with an already-ripe apple—in a paper bag for a couple of days. For best results, maintain a ratio of about five or six tomatoes per apple. One strategy for how to ripen an avocado also involves apples.
Give your core a workout
Put some extra punch in your crunch by placing an apple between your thighs and squeeze it while you do your crunches. Trying to hold the apple in place will make you work your hip flexors and adductors in addition to your abs. Hate crunches? This one trait could be the secret to a flatter stomach.
Fluff up hardened brown sugar
Brown sugar has the irritating habit of hardening up when exposed to humidity. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to make this a temporary condition. One of the best uses for apples is to soften brown sugar. Simply place an apple wedge in a self-sealing plastic bag with the chunk of hardened brown sugar. Tightly seal the bag and put it in a dry place for a day or two. Your sugar will once again be soft enough to use. Try these other food storage tricks to make food last longer.
Keep cakes fresh
Want a simple and effective way to extend the shelf life of your homemade or store-bought cakes? Store them with a half an apple. It helps the cake maintain its moisture considerably longer than merely popping it in the fridge. Seasoned bakers will also be surprised by these baking mistakes you’re probably making.
Roast a juicy chicken
If your roasted chicken tends to emerge from the oven as dry as a snow boot on a summer’s day, don’t fret. The next time you roast a chicken, stuff an apple inside the bird before placing it in the roasting pan. When it’s done cooking, toss the fruit in the trash, and get ready to sit down to a delicious—and juicy—main course. Follow this menu to host the best Thanksgiving ever.
Absorb salt in soups and stews
Salting to taste is one thing, but it is possible to overdo it. When you find yourself getting heavy-handed with the saltshaker, simply drop a few apple (or potato) wedges in your pot. After cooking for another 10 minutes or so, remove the wedges—along with the excess salt. Save your salt for any of these clever salt uses.
Clean your oily hair
If you ever find that your hair seems to be more oily than usual, put a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a pint of water, and rinse it through your hair after shampooing and conditioning in the shower or bath to help remove soap residue that can contribute to your oily hair. If you’ve over-styled, over-treated, or over-colored your hair, opt for one of the best hair masks for your hair type.
Give yourself a mini facial
Apples are great when it comes to reducing inflammation and the appearance of fine wrinkles. All you have to do: Peel an apple and grate the core and then apply it to your skin. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Apples aren’t the only fruit that has more than one use. Oranges pack more than a punch of vitamin C with these surprising uses.
Reader Interactions
