Storing apples

Early varieties must be eaten more or less as they ripen, but any ripening from late September can be easily stored in a cool, dark place. Never be tempted to store even slightly damaged fruit, so pick them very carefully, holding the apple in the palm of your hand and twisting gently so that it comes free from the branch. If it does not come away easily then leave it – whatever it looks like.

We now store ours in large metal drawers with perforated bottoms (originally used for keeping day-old chicks in a battery farm), which is ideal as the metal stays cold and retains humidity but is well ventilated. But this was serendipity and for years we stored them on wooden racks which are much easier to source or make. The important thing is to keep them cool, dark and humid but frost free.

I do not wrap mine individually although if you were to do so – my father always used squares of newspaper – they would keep even better.