How important it is for our children to eat fruit! It is recommended to include between 2 and 3 pieces a day in children’s diet. The apple then becomes a healthy, versatile and delicious alternative that you can include in your child’s lunch box. Cutting them is an ideal option to turn apples into a quick snack ideal for any time of the day. However, one of the most common drawbacks they face is their rapid oxidation, which can cause them to lose their freshness and flavor.
Oxidation can alter the color and texture of the apple and make it less appetizing to children. Fortunately, there are several mother’s tricks that will help you keep the fruit fresher for longer. The popular TikToker Dayana Fuentes, a ‘real mom’, as she defines herself, has shared some of these tips in a video that has already achieved more than 76,000 likes. You only need a container of water large enough to submerge the pieces of cut fruit and kitchen paper.
Once you have cut the apples, fill a bowl with cold water and submerge the pieces. Next, add a few drops of squeezed lemon juice, stir and let it sit for five minutes. The citric acid in lemon will help slow the oxidation of the fruit, keeping its color and flavor fresher for longer. Next, take the cut fruit out of the bowl and place the portions on a piece of kitchen paper to dry well. They will be ready to put in your child’s lunch box! This is a trick that you can also apply when you want to include the apple in a fruit salad or a cake.
Salt has been used as a natural food preservative since time immemorial. That is why we can also use it for the case at hand. Simply dilute a tablespoon of salt in a bowl of cold water and soak the apple pieces for five minutes. Then, you can use a strainer to drain them well and, finally, use kitchen paper to finish drying the apple.
The same strategy can also be applied, but changing the lemon juice or salt for honey. Dilute two tablespoons in a container with cold water, add the apple portions and let them rest for five minutes. Then dry them well, et voilà! This way you will prevent them from oxidizing and you will have your child’s snack ready.
