Whenever we cut an apple for lunch or breakfast, after a few minutes its color starts changing and it starts looking brown or black. The changed color of the apple not only looks bad but also tastes strange. If you too are facing this problem and are unable to eat the cut apple because it is tasteless, then now you can try a special and effective remedy. We are talking about lemon juice. Yes, applying a little lemon juice on the cut apple prevents the apple from turning black and keeps it fresh for hours.
Why does apple not turn black after applying lemon juice?
Applying lemon juice to a cut apple isn't just a home remedy, but rather, there's a deep chemistry behind it. Let's understand why lemon juice doesn't darken a cut apple.
1. The real reason why apples change color
According to a report from the University of California's Agricultural and Food Sciences Research Center, whenever we cut an apple and let it sit for a while, an enzyme called "polyphenol oxidase" is exposed to air. Upon contact with oxygen in the air, a chemical reaction begins, gradually forming a brown layer on the apple's surface, turning it black.
2. Scientific effect of lemon juice
People have been using lemon juice for a long time, but few know the reason behind it. Lemons contain citric acid and vitamin C, which lower the pH level of the apple's surface. The enzymes stop working when exposed to an acidic environment. Furthermore, lemons act as a shield, blocking oxygen from the air from reaching the apple's enzymes, keeping the apple's original color intact and preventing it from turning brown.
The right way to keep cut apples fresh
If you're worried about cut apples turning brown or black, you can easily use lemon . Applying a little lemon juice to cut apples will keep them fresh. The slight sourness of the lemon, combined with the apple's natural sweetness, enhances its flavor.
Try this remedy if you don't have lemon, If you don't have lemon juice readily available, you can try these simple methods:
Soak sliced apples in salted water for 5 minutes, then remove and pack them in a tiffin. This will also prevent the apples from turning brown or black.
Instead of lemon, you can also apply a few drops of pineapple or orange juice on the cut apple.
If you used to hesitate to pack a cut apple in your lunchbox because it would change color, you can now keep it fresh for hours by adding a few drops of lemon juice. This won't alter its color or taste.
