Pack Apples in Lunch Boxes: 4 Best Ways!

Inside: Your kids love apple slices, but not brown, mushy ones? Use these clever hacks to pack apples in lunch boxes that won’t look brown by lunchtime.

Four ways to pack apples in lunch boxes, including cinnamon-sugar, citrus juice, pineapple juice, and salt water. — Want to pack apple slices that are fresh, crisp, and white by lunchtime? You can!

Apples are a no-brainer for kids’ lunch boxes. They’re affordable, available everywhere, and kids love em.

Trouble is, some kids don’t like biting into a whole apple in their lunch–especially if they have new, sensitive front teeth (or braces!).

But many kids are turned off by sliced apples that have turned brown. And packaged, pre-sliced apples from the grocery store can taste a little funny.

So here are 4 different ways to pack cut apples in your child’s lunch box that don’t turn brown, so they’re fresh-looking and appealing at lunch time.

Why do cut apples turn brown?

When you slice an apple, the flesh of the apple is exposed to air. That oxygen exposure triggers a chemical reaction that causes browning.

Which apples don’t brown as quickly?

Some apple varieties don’t tend to brown as quickly as others. They include:

Pink lady
Granny smith
Cosmic crisp
Empire
Cortland
Honeycrisp
Gala

Four apples sit on a wood table with text pointing to each one: honeycrisp, granny smith, cosmic crisp, and pink lady. — Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Cosmic Crisp, and Pink Lady are all slow to brown after cut.

Which apples brown the fastest?

These apples tend to brown more quickly than others:

Red Delicious
McIntosh
Fuji

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A can of pineapple juice, canister of salt, jar of cinnamon, and lemon and orange sit on a wood table to represent four ways to pack apples in lunch boxes that won't look brown. — Pineapple juice, cinnamon, salt, and citrus can all help you pack sliced apples that don’t look brown by lunchtime.

The Best Way to Pack Apples In Lunch Boxes

Here are four most effective methods for packing apples in lunch boxes, so they don’t turn brown by lunchtime.

1. Soak apples slices in saltwater

This may sound strange: salty apples?! But the apples don’t retain a salty flavor, and this was the most effective, easiest method I tried. The apples looked and tasted fresh five days later!

Why this works: The chloride in salt blocks the enzyme that causes browning.

How to do it:

Slice fresh apples into desired thickness
Fill a bowl with 1 1/2 cups cold water and dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in it
Soak cut-up apple in the salt water for 5 minutes
Drain and rinse apples, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you’re packing them in a lunch box, pat them dry so they’re not drippy.

An overhead shot of four bowls of salt water with apple slices in them, labeled as: granny smith, cosmic crisp, pink lady, and honeycrisp. — In my tests, all four varieties (plus Gala) stayed white and crisp for days after a saltwater soak.

2. Toss sliced apples in citrus juice

Instead of sprinkling apple slices with lemon juice (which some kids find too sour), toss them in a combo of lemon juice and orange juice. It adds a great tangy flavor. This was my boys’ favorite way to have apples in their lunch boxes. In fact, I even packed an extra container of them after my kid told me how much his friend liked them!

Why this works: The vitamin C in the citrus inactivates the enzyme that causes browning (lime juice also works if your kids like that flavor).

How to do it:

Slice apples thinly and place in a leak-proof airtight container
Squeeze a little bit of lemon juice and orange juice over the apples (enough to coat all the slices)
Shake gently to coat the apples and pack in a lunchbox in an airtight container (these will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator but are best eaten the same day).

3. Mix sliced apples with pineapple juice

Pineapple juice is another way to help prevent browning on apples. If your kids like the sweet, tropical flavor of pineapple juice, they may like this method best.

Why this works: The vitamin C in the juice inactivates the browning enzyme.

How to do it:

Slice apples and place in a leak-proof container.
Pour a little bit of pineapple juice over the slices
Shake gently to coat the apples and pack in a lunchbox in an airtight container (these will keep for 1-2 days in the refrigerator but are best eaten the same day).

4. Sprinkle cut apples with cinnamon and sugar

My kids grew up eating what we called “apple pie apples”, which are just apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

Why this works: It doesn’t prevent browning–the cinnamon-sugar simply disguises it (and adds a yummy, fall flavor). Choose an apple that doesn’t brown as quickly, such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or Cosmic Crisp.

How to do it:

Cut apples into slices.
Sprinkle cut sides with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (or lightly dust with plain cinnamon)
Pack in a lunchbox. These are best enjoyed the same day.

An overhead shot of two containers of apple slices on a wood table. — Keep sliced apples in an airtight container in the fridge.

Other ways to pack apples in lunch boxes

Spread apple slices with peanut butter: It’s a classic combo! Slice apples and spread one side with peanut butter (leaving room end to pick them up).
Sprinkle with ascorbic acid powder: This may have a scary-sounding name, but it’s actually just vitamin C in tablet form, sold as brands like Ball Fruit Fresh. It works the same way that citrus juice does to stop the oxidation process. Read more about it here.
Dip in sugar water: This method involves soaking apples in sugar and honey dissolved in water. It’s more costly that using salt water and not as effective. Get the how-to here.

FAQ About Packing Apples In Lunch Boxes

What’s the best way to cut apples?

Some people like using an apple cutter, which divides apples into eight equal wedges. My kids prefer more thinly-sliced apples, so instead of using an apple slicer, this is how I do it: Slice on either side of the apple core, then cut off the sides. Lay the flat side of the apple sections on a cutting board and cut into thin slices.

A sliced red apple sits on a cutting board alongside a knife. — This is the easiest way to thinly slice an apple.

What about the rubber band trick?

I’ve seen this apple trick all over in social media: slice an apple, put it back together jigsaw puzzle-style, then wrap a rubber-band around it. But in my tests, the apple still turned brown inside.

Are sliced apples safe for younger children?

Pieces of hard, raw fruits and vegetables like apples are considered a choking hazard for kids under four. For babies, apples should be cooked soft and mashed, and grated when babies are ready for finger foods. Here are some baby-led weaning tips for serving apples. For toddlers, slice apples thinly. See a full list of choking hazard foods from the CDC.

Are apples healthy for kids?

YES! Apples are a good source of fiber for kids, something most kids need more of. An apple’s pectin can boost gut health because it feeds the healthy bacteria in the intestine. Apples pack potassium and even a bit of vitamin C. Apples are also filling, ranking higher on the “Satiety Index” (a scale of how satisfying different foods are) even above bananas and yogurt.

4 Best Ways To Pack Apples in Lunch Boxes So They Don’t Look Brown

Why do cut apples turn brown?

Which apples don’t brown as quickly?

Which apples brown the fastest?