How does McDonalds keep the bags of apples in happy meals from turning brown? (2024)

FAQs

How does McDonalds keep the bags of apples in happy meals from turning brown? ›

Packaged apples found at McDonalds or in your local produce section are usually treated with a solution of calcium ascorbate (a blend of calcium and vitamin C) or citric acid (found in citrus fruit) to maintain freshness and color. Both are very safe to use on fruit that will be consumed.

A look at the ingredient list will tell you that it's not magic that keeps the McDonald's Happy Meal apple slices from browning but calcium ascorbate, which according to McDonald's is a mix of calcium and vitamin C that helps preserve the fruit.

“With the current sliced apple products sold at McDonald's, they use a lot of Gala and Empire apples, which we grow a lot of here in New York,” Gregg said. Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington Apple Commission (WAC), said the apples would have to come from U.S. growers.

Here's the short version: The best way to prevent browning is to soak the cut fruit in a saltwater solution (half a teaspoon of kosher salt per cup of water) for 10 minutes, then drain and store until ready to use.

Any type of citrus juice—lemon, lime, or orange juice—will work here; pineapple juice will do the trick too. These fruit juices contain citric acid, which slows the chemical reaction and prevents browning. (You can also sprinkle the fruit with powdered citric acid, but it may leave a strong sour flavor.)

The Nutritional Value of McDonald's Fruit Bag

McDonald's Fruit Bag is a healthy option for those who want to avoid fries. It contains a variety of fruits like apple slices, grapes, and mandarin oranges. The fruit bag is low in calories, with only 35 calories per serving.

McDonald's Apple Slices are a wholesome, tasty side made from real apples. Specially selected varieties mean our apple slices are always crisp and juicy, making for a tasty snack with 15 calories per labelled serving. Enjoy it as a Snack or Side to your meal!

Calcium ascorbate is very safe and is used on most of the sliced apples that you find in your produce department, so McDonald's apples shouldn't taste any different than those. You can always simply cut apples yourself if this concerns you.

Leo Dietrich & Sons' Story

At their orchard in Conklin, Michigan – on a plot of land that the family has owned since the 1850s – Leo Dietrich & Sons hand-pick apples at their peak of ripeness. This means they pick about 10,000 apples a day during harvest season.

To further protect the product's fresh flavor and color, the apple slices are dipped in a Vitamin C solution bath prior to packaging. McDonald's is achieving an estimated 7-10 days refrigerated shelf life for its Apple Dippers.

Which type of liquid will prevent the apple from turning brown? ›

How can we prevent apples from turning brown? To slow the chemical reaction, you can isolate the fruit in an anaerobic – or oxygen-free – environment. This is possible by placing lemon juice or pineapple juice on the apple. These liquids carry antioxidants which eliminate oxygen.

Apple Treatment Method: Lemon Juice

These slices fared almost as well as the citric acid-treated ones did — the lemon juice stopped the browning for almost seven hours. Taste-wise, the slices retained a lemon-fresh tartness, but were not as strongly acidic as those with citric acid.

To use this method to prevent apples from turning brown, create a water bath for your apple slices with a ratio of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of water. Soak the apple slices for 3 to 5 minutes, then drain and rinse them. This simple step should keep your apples from browning for several hours.

Just soak cut apples in lemon-lime soda, like 7-Up or Sprite, for about 10 minutes. Drain them and they're ready to use. Since the flavor is neutral, the fruit needs no additional rinsing. Apples soaked in the lemon-lime soda will look good for a couple days.

Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 cup water. Soak apples for 5 minutes, rinse and store in a plastic baggie. Spray slices with Eat Cleaner Fruit and Veggie Wash Spray and store in a plastic baggie. Let the slices brown and sprinkle with cinnamon to disguise.

Calcium ascorbate is very safe and is used on most of the sliced apples that you find in your produce department, so McDonald's apples shouldn't taste any different than those. You can always simply cut apples yourself if this concerns you.

Lemon juice and even ground cinnamon are often suggested for keeping sliced apples from turning brown -- and although they work to varying degrees of success, a simple salt water brine is by far the easiest and best way to prevent browning.

The clear winner was the salt water-soaked apple slices. The flesh remained creamy white and didn't brown at all. Like the lemon juice-soaked apples, you definitely need to rinse them and pat them dry because they will taste salty otherwise. From now on, this is the method I will be using to preserve my cut apples.