How long do apples stay fresh?

Spoiled apples should be discarded because mold can produce harmful toxins, including patulin, which may cause illness, according to Healthline.

Before arriving at supermarkets, apples are often kept for several months in controlled-atmosphere storage. Distributors may use 1-methylcyclopropene, or 1-MCP, a gas that delays ripening by blocking ethylene, the natural plant hormone responsible for the process. Once removed from storage, the fruit begins ripening again.

Apples can stay fresh for up to six weeks in the refrigerator when stored properly. Image from Pexels.

At home, temperature plays the biggest role in determining how long apples stay fresh. Washing or cutting them can also reduce their shelf life.

Approximate storage times include:

Room temperature: Five to seven days
Pantry: Up to three weeks
Refrigerator: Four to six weeks
Cut apples: Three to five days in the refrigerator or up to eight months in the freezer
Applesauce: Seven to 10 days in the refrigerator or up to two months in the freezer
Cooked apples or apple pie: Three to five days in the refrigerator

Regardless of how they are stored, apples should be thrown away if they develop mold, soft spots, leaking liquid or a mushy texture.