The Best Way To Cut An Apple Without Any Fancy Tools

Out of all the fruits available, apples are one variety that is on constant rotation for many consumers. Not only are apples crunchy and sweet, but they also serve as a convenient snack to take along on a hike or to work since their firm texture makes them one of the most durable fruits available. Though sometimes instead of grabbing an apple on your way out the door, you'd prefer slices instead. As it turns out, you don't exactly need a specialized apple slicer to create perfectly even fruit portions.

For those who want to know how to peel and core an apple quickly and evenly, all you need is a sharp knife and a few mindful cuts. Hold an apple stem side up, and make an even slice directly next to the stem all the way through the apple. Continue to make additional cuts around the apple, creating roughly three or four even chunks. To slice these larger portions, lay the larger apple pieces flat on a cutting board, flesh side down and make even slices through the outer skin and flesh. While easy to use, this method isn't the only suitable way to cut an apple without specialized tools. 

Whether your goal is to enjoy more fresh apple slices or to be more efficient when prepping all the fruit needed for your Instant Pot applesauce, cutting around an apple's stem isn't the only effective approach. Alternatively, you can make even fruit portions by cutting through an apple's core, holding an apple upright on your cutting board and slicing the fruit directly through the center stem. Then cut the two remaining portions again in half, leaving you with four equally sized apple chunks. From here, use your paring knife to remove the inside sections of the apple core on all four pieces and cut the quadrants into equal slices.

Now if you're looking for convenience when removing an apple's core, you may want to make the jump and buy an apple corer or one of those gadgets that not only cores apples, but slices them effectively as well. However, if you want to get the job done with the materials you have, you can also core an apple with a sharp knife. To do this, insert your paring knife straight down into the apple four times around the stem. After potentially adding a few additional cuts, you should be able to push the core out with just a finger. Now that you have apple coring and slicing down, if you don't plan on using all your prepped apples right away, how can you keep these slices fresh while sitting in cold storage?

Pre-slicing apples for your cinnamon apple sheet cake may be a necessary part of your food prep for the week, but now that you need to wait a few days before assembling this highly-anticipated confection, how can you keep these apple chunks from turning brown? Luckily, with just a few simple ingredients, you can keep your apple slices fresh until they're added to your favorite baked goods or enjoyed alongside a mid-day sandwich. When cut apples are exposed to outside air, special enzymes inside the fruit's flesh cause an oxidic reaction which turns exposed apple flesh a darker shade. To avoid this, you can soak your apple slices in a saltwater solution, or a water bath with vitamin C powder added. You can also make a solution with water and honey since honey contains natural properties that also slow down the oxidation process. If you don't want to soak your apples, squeeze some of your favorite citrus juice directly onto the slices.

Regardless, cut apples only keep up to five days in the refrigerator, so once you treat sliced apples with one of the above remedies, keep them in a sealed plastic storage bag or airtight container until you're ready to use them. Limiting the amount of time cut apples are exposed to oxygen will slow down any potential browning. Armed with proper storage knowledge and a sharp paring knife, you're on your way to evenly portioned, crisp, and juicy apple slices.