Did you know that making a solution of citric acid and water to soak fresh apple slices (or pears for that matter) prevents them from browning? I didn’t, until just a couple of days ago. It’s nothing more than an alternative to using fresh lemon juice, but it is much more effective and longer lasting.

Simply dissolve about a 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid powder in about 1 cup of cold water (to taste, really) add toss your freshly sliced apples into the solution as you chop them. It’s that easy! And depending on the variety of apple, the tartness of the acid can actually help to enhance the tartness of the apple!

So far, my best use of this new trick has been pre-slicing apples for a fruit and cheese platter a few hours before serving it at a party. Another great use is to store the apples in the solution in your fridge, making healthy snacks readily available!

Citric acid is available at Whole Foods, or most likely any shop that carries a large selection of vitamins and supplements.

Filed Under: Cool Stuff