Apple Season Is Back: 6 Smart Kitchen Hacks to Remove Wax & Chemicals
This article presents six practical and natural methods to safely remove wax and chemical coatings from store-bought apples, enhancing their safety and freshness. Methods include soaking in warm water with baking soda, vinegar washes, lemon juice rinses, saltwater scrubs, boiling water treatments, and peeling the skin if necessary. Always rinse apples under running water after cleaning.
Apples, a popular winter fruit, are often coated with wax or chemical preservatives to prolong shelf life, which some consumers prefer to remove before eating. The article outlines six effective kitchen hacks: soaking apples in warm water mixed with baking soda for 10–15 minutes, which helps in removing wax and surface residues; vinegar washes using a solution of one part white vinegar to three parts water for disinfecting and chemical removal; lemon juice rinses that utilize citric acid to dissolve wax and add a fresh aroma; saltwater scrubs where salt acts as a mild abrasive to clean the surface effectively; pouring boiling water over apples briefly to soften the wax for easier removal; and peeling the apple skin as a last resort to eliminate all coatings, though with some nutrient loss. It also advises rinsing apples under running water after each method to remove residual substances. These tips offer practical, safe, and natural options for consumers wishing to enjoy apples free from added waxes and preservatives.
