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Wrapping each apple individually in newspaper and storing them in a single layer in a shallow box keeps them firm and eatable for three to six months without a fridge, and the best keeping varieties can go even longer. I’ve done this every autumn since we started growing our own trees, and it’s the difference between using up a full harvest and watching half of it turn to mush in the crisper drawer.
Why Wrapping Apples in Newspaper Keeps Them Fresh
Newspaper solves three problems at once. It stops one rotting apple from spreading mold to its neighbors, it slows the moisture loss that causes shriveling, and it limits how much ethylene gas each apple picks up from the ones sitting next to it. Ethylene is a natural gas that ripening fruit gives off, and it speeds up softening and spoilage in anything stored nearby.
The first year I skipped the wrapping step and just piled the apples straight into a box, I lost nearly a third of them within a month. One soft spot on a single apple had spread rot through the whole layer underneath before I noticed. Now every apple gets its own sheet of newspaper before it goes in the box, no exceptions, and I haven’t lost a batch that way since.
How to Wrap and Store Apples So They Last
Use plain black-and-white newsprint, wrap each apple loosely so a little air can still move around it, and arrange them in a single layer in a shallow box or basket somewhere that stays around 30-35°F (-1 to 2°C). Tear a full sheet of newspaper into quarters and stack them, set an apple on top, fold the paper up and around it, then give the corners a light twist to hold it closed. You don’t need it airtight, just secure enough that it doesn’t fall open before the box is full.
Skip glossy inserts and colored sections. Modern black-and-white newsprint mostly uses soy-based ink, but colored and glossy pages are more likely to carry inks with a different chemical makeup, and that’s not worth the risk on something you’re going to eat.
I reuse the flats that mason jars come packed in for this. They’re the perfect depth for a single layer, and I’ve got a stack of them left over from canning season. A cool pantry, unheated garage, closed-in porch, or root cellar all work, as long as the temperature doesn’t drop low enough to freeze the fruit. If the air where you’re storing them runs dry, mist the newspaper itself lightly with water once a week rather than misting the apples directly.
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Not Every Apple Is Worth Wrapping
Thin-skinned, early-harvest apples tend to soften and bruise within a few weeks no matter how carefully you store them, so save this method for apples bred to last. Granny Smith, Fuji, McIntosh, Winesap, Honeycrisp, Northern Spy, and Rome are all known to hold up well in long-term storage, and I’ve had Honeycrisp keep well past the new year sitting in an unheated shed.
Give every apple a squeeze test before you wrap it. If it gives at all under light pressure, eat it now instead of storing it, since it won’t firm back up in the box.
FAQs
How long do apples last wrapped in newspaper?
Most apples wrapped in newspaper and stored around 30-35°F (-1 to 2°C) keep for three to six months, and some of the best keeping varieties can last eight months or longer in a good cellar or unheated garage.
Can I use paper towels or brown paper bags instead of newspaper?
Yes, paper towels, brown paper, and butcher paper all work the same way newspaper does. The goal is simply keeping the apples from touching each other, not anything specific to newsprint. Newspaper is just the cheapest option most people already have on hand.
Do apples need to be washed before storing them in newspaper?
No, store apples unwashed. Washing strips the apple’s natural protective coating and adds moisture that encourages mold, so wait until you’re ready to eat or cook with them before rinsing.
How often should I check on apples in storage?
Check once a week. Unwrap a handful at random to look for soft spots or mold, and pull out any apple that’s started to spoil right away, since one rotting apple can take down its neighbors fast.
This trick costs nothing beyond a stack of old newspaper and a spare box, and it’s kept my family eating our own apples clear through winter more than once. Wrap a batch this season and you’ll wonder why you ever bothered clearing fridge space for them.
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