Latina Kitchen Hacks: 3 Ways to Stop Fruits From Browning

Snacking on fresh fruits is certainly healthy. However, having them turn down after meticulously cutting them and storing them to have them on hand to eat can be a little off-putting. Although brown fruits don't taste any different than when they were freshly cut, they look a little less appealing because of their appearance. Part of the eating experience is our eyes and simply put, we eat what we like and fruits are no exception.

According to Serious Eats, not all fruits turn brown once cut; specifically, only fruits that contain the enzyme polyphenol oxidase. These enzymes cause oxidation of the polyphenols in the plant which causes reaction that produces the browning pigment, melanin.

Want to prevent fresh fruits such as bananas, apples and pears from turning brown? Here are some simple home remedies that will come in handy someday to keep fruits from browning:

1.) Salt water soak

Soaking polyphenol oxidase-rich fruits such as apples in salt water may help prevent browning. The simple solution is half a teaspoon of salt for every cup of cold water. According to Serious Eats who conducted the soak with apples, they still maintain their fresh color hours after having the salt solution rinsed.

This technique can be helpful especially if you're serving a fruit platter for guests. Prevent browning by soaking the fruits in salt water for 10 minutes, rinse them off and then pat it dry. It will take at least a couple of hours before they discolor.

2.) Lemon juice solution

This technique is a well-known one and it mainly used for preparing avocados and to add flavor in guacamole. Super Healthy Kids recommend mixing 1 tablespoon of lemon juice per cup of water. Lemon is a citrus fruit so other similar fruits like pineapples and oranges can be used as well.

Unless fruits are served as is, lemon juice can alter their natural flavors. This solution can be favorable for other fruit dishes that are mashed together as citrus juice can add another dimension of flavor.

3.) Carbonated soda/water soak

According to the Yummy Life, carbonated beverages can prevent fruits from oxidizing and turning brown. This technique is the most straightforward of all three because all you need are two things, carbonated soda or water and a bowl to put it in and then in goes the fruits.

This technique can be used if you're having fruit punches or to encourage kids to have more fruits. However, most soft drinks contain high-fructose corn syrup so this technique should be used sparingly.