Fruit shopping isn’t nearly as easy as grocery shopping. Fruits are perishable and generally stay fresh for just a few days or less in your fridge or your countertop. When you go fruit shopping, only the most skilled eye or an experienced buyer can tell apart a rotten fruit from a fresh one. Sellers use all kinds of tricks and methods these days to make the fruits appear fresh and shiny when they are actually half way through being rotten already.
If you know how to pick the right fruit, you will never go home with a bag full of half rotten fruits. Same goes for apple shopping. For a fruit that gets rotten too quickly, not every apple out there should be picked and put in your cart. This guide will tell you how to pick the best apple from a fruit cart in the street or a shopping mart.
Pick up the apple and examine it for its firmness. Gently press a small area on the apple to see if it leaves a dent. If it does, the apple isn’t fresh. Soft and squishy apples are to be avoided. Be sure to pick up the one that’s noticeably firm to touch.
See the colourThe colour of a fruit can tell a lot about its quality. Visually examine the apple for its colour and health. There are certain markings on the fruits that indicate decay. If the apple’s skin has bruises in dark colour, it’s an obvious sign of decay. Small scuffs or specks do not indicate decay and are a natural part of fruits.
Sniff the fruitAnother way of checking if the apple isn’t decaying or rotten is to do the sniff test. Bring the apple close to your nose and sniff it a little. If it gives off a fresh, citrusy aroma, it’s ready to be eaten. Whereas, if the apple gives off a rotten, pungent, or putrid smell, that reminds you of decomposing garbage, don’t buy it.
Check the stem of the fruitThe stem part of the fruit also tells what it’s going to look like in the centre. Sometimes the apples start to rot from the middle but the decay hasn’t spread to the outer part of the fruit. To check whether the fruit is fresh or rotten, check the stem part of the apple. If it shows a dark spot and deeper indentation in black colour, it’s probably already decayed. Abort mission!
