Apple with lemon juice

Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

Why do apples turn brown and what can you do about it? Do all apples turn brown at the same rate? Let’s try to answer these burning apple science questions with an apple oxidation experiment that is pretty quick and easy to set up at home or in the classroom. We paired this with our Apple 5 Senses Activity.

WHY DO APPLES TURN BROWN FOR KIDS

APPLE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES

All this week we are going to be enjoying real apple science activities while we practice reading one of our favorite Fall books, Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss. You can check out more Ten Apples On Top Activities .

BROWN APPLES

Ever found a bad spot on an apple or opened a container in a lunch box filled with apple slices that were once pearly white and now look a bit on the used up side. The bad spot is definitely not tasty but the slightly browned apples aren’t all that bad.

Is it safe to eat brown apples? My son tasted the brown slices of his favorite apple, the honey crisp, and declared them still ok. Not all apples are similar in their rate of browning!

How do you keep apples from turning brown? Lemon juice is often suggested as a solution for keeping apples from turning brown. Does lemon juice really work and how does it stop or slow the browning process?

Let’s try a simple apple browning experiment and find out!

WHY DO APPLES TURN BROWN?

There’s great science behind the process of why an apple turns brown or why rotten spots are brown. The simple science is that when an apple is damaged, or even cut into slices, the enzymes in the apple react with the oxygen in the air, which is called oxidation. The apple produces melanin to protect the apple which is the brown you see.

We watched this short video on Why do Apple Turn Brown? which digs deeper into the exact science of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes. It’s a mouthful!

HOW DOES LEMON JUICE STOP APPLES FROM BROWNING?

Lemon juice helps keep the apple from turning brown because it is full of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and it has a low (acidic) pH level. Ascorbic acid works because oxygen will react with it before it reacts with the polyphenol oxidase enzyme in the fruit.

APPLE OXIDATION EXPERIMENT

This is a great experiment to set up using the scientific method for kids. Also, print out our free science worksheets to record your observations. This experiment would also make for a cool why do apples turn brown science project.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Apples! (We used 5 varieties of apples since we had just completed our apple 5 senses science activity beforehand.)
• Lemon Juice
• Paper Plates, Knife, Small Cups
• Printable Journal Page

Click here to get your FREE apple experiment worksheets!

APPLE EXPERIMENT SET UP

1: Label paper plates with the name of each type of apple you are using.

2: Then cut two wedges of the same size out of each apple.

3: Place one wedge in a small dish and the other on the plate alongside the rest of the whole apple.

4: Squeeze a little lemon juice over each slice in the dishes and mix to coat evenly. Dump out excess juice. Do this for each apple.

5: Now wait and be patient. Record your observations.

If you want, set out a timer to get an accurate measurement of the time it takes for each apple to turn brown. This way you can record results in number of minutes for drawing conclusions later.

APPLE EXPERIMENT RESULTS

• Which apple turned first?
• Did they all turn equal shades of brown?
• Does the apple slice coated in lemon juice taste different than the plain apple slice?
• Does the brown apple slice really taste all that bad?
• Did the lemon juice really work?

BELOW WAS OUR QUICKEST TURNING AND DARKEST BROWN SLICE.

He went on to happily eat both slices of cut apple and found them tasty. Fall is a great time of year for exploring apples!

APPLE OXIDATION EXPERIMENT VARIATIONS

We investigated whether lemon juice stops apples from turning brown in the experiment above. Why not extend the learning and compare different ways to prevent cut apples from browning.

Источник

Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice Recipe

Our apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe makes a refreshing and therapeutic drink chock full of nutrients. Add it to your list of National Vinegar Day (November 1) recipes for a unique, vibrant drink.

Healthy, wholesome beverages don’t have to be dull and tasteless.

Our cucumber lemon detox water, this basic lemonade recipe, and now, this ACV drink are all testaments to that.

Apple cider vinegar has antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity properties. Incorporating it in this recipe is a great way to flatter your palate while obtaining plenty of nourishment.

Lemon juice, too, isn’t always so sharp. You can enjoy its subtle tang with sugar and honey in this recipe.

And just like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice provides vitamin C antioxidant benefits. That, plus limiting added sugar to recommended daily amounts, makes this drink a nutritious beverage you can frequently sip on.

To help you gain control over your diet, this article explains the benefits of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. It also illustrates how to prepare it and how often you can drink it to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar Drink?

Apple cider vinegar drink is a potent beverage for remedial purposes. You can occasionally use it for casual drinking while reaping its health benefits.

It’s a detox drink made with apple cider vinegar and water. And it’s common practice to add lemon juice, or other fruit juices, to make it less potent.

Take care not to drink straight apple cider vinegar! Consuming vinegar poses a great risk of eroding your teeth enamel.

One study shows how daily consumption of apple cider vinegar led to enamel erosion. So it’s recommended to dilute it before drinking and reduce the consumption of acetic drinks to maintain a toothsome experience!

Cinnamon and pepper are just some of the popular flavors that pair well with apple cider vinegar drink.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice

Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a household disinfectant and food preservative. But is there any science-backed evidence to support its many purported benefits?

The better question is, what is apple cider vinegar?

It’s a vinegar made by fermenting sugar (from crushed apples) to alcohol. The alcohol further converts to acetic acid, which composes 5-6% of the vinegar.

1. Anti-Diabetic

Acetic acid exhibits antioxidant and anti-cholesterol behavior. So it’s no surprise that consuming apple cider vinegar over eight weeks reduced blood lipids in patients with hyperlipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia refers to disorders that result in high levels of fat in the blood, like diabetes. Thus drinking apple cider vinegar can be an inexpensive approach to treating hyperlipidemia.

2. Weight Loss

Some animal studies also show how it may aid weight loss. Research shows how it improves metabolism, reduces and burns belly fat, and even suppresses rats’ appetite.

And though this research is limited to animals, we can hope that future studies on humans will present similar results.

3. Vitamin C

The other main component, lemon juice, is a renowned source of vitamin C. Its antioxidant properties make it a proven force against factors that may harm the body.

Consuming vitamin C helps to fight against aging. It improves your immune system and contributes to building collagen for skin health.

Besides drinking it in this juice, you can regularly have plain lemon water to give you radiant, healthier skin.

4. Less Sugar

Our recipe also incorporates honey and sugar for a sweet element that balances the flavors. And we know sugar is often the enemy, but it’s more acceptable in limited amounts.

We’ve made sure to add just over two teaspoons of sugar per serving. This is within the USDA recommended guidelines and is only 37% of the total daily added sugar limit.

How Often Should You Drink It?

You can drink apple cider vinegar and lemon juice daily. One 2016 study shows that daily consumption of 15ml vinegar was enough to positively affect hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

Some people may feel the need to drink excessive amounts of apple cider vinegar to improve overall being. But drinking large amounts like 8 ounces may lead to side effects such as osteoporosis.

Also, there’s no harm in incorporating straight apple cider vinegar in daily dishes like salads, condiments, and marinades. The problem may arise if you drink it straight without diluting it.

So take care to limit and mix apple cider vinegar with other ingredients. This is the most effective way to reap its benefits without risking conditions like enamel erosion.

Can You Substitute Lime Juice for Lemon Juice?

Yes, you can substitute lime juice for lemon juice. Lime and lemon can pass off as duplicates for their similar properties and tastes.

Nutritionally, lime and lemon juices contain similar amounts of vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium. The differences are negligible and enough to make them interchangeable for health purposes.

Taste-wise, lime juice is more tart. Replacing with lime juice gives more zest— even in this apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe.

You can try this healthy Pineapple Celery Juice recipe or this ACV with pineapple juice recipe to experience lime juice’s punch and taste.

But you can adjust the amounts in your beverage to make it less intense. And you’ll most likely find the overall taste to be the same.

How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar Drink and Lemon Juice

The main components in this drink are (you guessed it) apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and water. But to make it more palatable, this recipe includes fresh lemongrass, sugar, honey, and mint.

Start by placing the mint leaves in a pitcher and crushing them with a wooden spoon. Once they release their fresh aroma, add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, water, and sugar.

Stir the mix until the sugar dissolves. Then add honey and lemongrass.

Stir until well mixed and serve it warm or iced. Enjoy it as is, or alongside a healthy dish for a well-rounded, nourishing meal.

Make a substitute with buttermilk to create a bone-supporting dairy drink. Or swap in watermelon juice to make a great summer drink.

Calories

This apple cider vinegar and lemon juice recipe contains a minute 70 calories per serving. That’s an incredibly low amount providing numerous health benefits!

Its low-calorie profile makes this apple cider vinegar and lemon juice convenient for frequent and daily consumption. That, plus its fat-burning properties, makes it excellent for weight loss diets.

Most apple cider vinegar and lemon juice’s calories come from carbs in the form of sugars, followed by protein. It’s a negligible amount of carbs that you can also incorporate in a low-carb diet.

However, remember to monitor your overall sugar amounts. Even small portions can contribute to exceeding your daily sugar limit.

Take this recipe with a grain of salt and adjust some ingredients to your own taste and nutrition!

You can also try out our recipe for another ultimate summer drink or read this article to find delicious lemon juice recipes.

Источник

20 Favorite Apple Cocktail Recipes

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Apples have long been a favorite cocktail flavor. Whether it is apple cider, apple juice, or one of the tasty apple brandies, vodkas, or schnapps, the fruit is a great foundation for mixed drinks. This recipe collection offers plenty for apple lovers, from the most popular apple cocktails to some lesser-known though equally interesting drinks. And while apples may be most associated with autumn cocktails, many of these drinks are perfect for year-round enjoyment.

Apple Martini

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Appletinis for everyone! It’s the drink that adorns nearly every modern martini menu and one of the best-loved vodka drinks. The green apple schnapps recipe is always a hit. When you’re in the mood for something with less pucker, transform it into a dry martini with calvados and dry vermouth.

Apple Margarita

You can make margaritas in just about any flavor, and apple is no exception. This apple margarita recipe doubles up on the fruity flavor, adding both apple juice and apple liqueur. Which liqueur you choose will further define the tequila cocktail’s taste: go with bright green schnapps for a tart kick or another liqueur with a truer apple flavor. Blend it or shake it as you see fit; it’s fun either way.

Washington Apple

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Washington apple has delighted drinkers for a few decades. It’s made with Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, sour apple schnapps, and cranberry juice. Serve it up or on the rocks for a casual cocktail or mix up a round of shots for a party.

Jolly Rancher

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

If you have a bottle of green apple vodka in the bar, then you’re just a few steps away from enjoying a Jolly Rancher. This candy-like cocktail mixes the sweet-tart vodka with peach schnapps and cranberry juice for a fun and budget-friendly mixed drink.

Green Dublin Apple Cocktail

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

When you’re looking for a drink that puts sour apple schnapps to good use, mix up a green Dublin apple cocktail. Requiring just three ingredients, it’s a mash-up of an appletini and cosmopolitan with an Irish whiskey twist. Between the taste and color, it’s simply irresistible.

Honeymoon Cocktail

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

Michael Boyny / StockFood Creative / Getty Images

Recapture the feeling of the 1930s with the classic honeymoon cocktail from the iconic Brown Derby. For this drink, you’ll want to seek out a really good apple brandy to pair with Bénédictine, orange curaçao, and lemon juice. It’s a refreshing twist on the brandy sour you won’t want to miss.

Buying Apple Brandy and Whiskey

Apple brandy and apple whiskey were among the first liquors to take on the fruity flavor. Most often found classic cocktails, today’s options include some low-quality apple spirits that add flavoring ingredients and sweeteners, making them more like liqueurs. For the best-tasting cocktails, seek out true apple brandy and whiskey that is distilled from or infused with real apples. Craft distilleries are doing an excellent job of revitalizing these old-time spirits.

Star Cocktail

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

The star cocktail is another ideal way to show off apple brandy. The 19th-century recipe is the fruity spirit’s answer to the Manhattan, accenting apple brandy and sweet vermouth with a few dashes of bitters and gomme syrup. It’s a delightful dinner drink that will never go out of style.

Rustic Manhattan

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

For a modern interpretation of the Manhattan, you’ll want to grab some apple whiskey. It’s an easy ingredient to make at home using your favorite whiskey. While you’re at it, try a raspberry vermouth infusion, too. Combine the two with bitters, and you’ll have an impressive rustic Manhattan ready to share with friends.

Cranberry Margarita

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Tequila is an excellent venue for a fruit infusion as well. You’ll need to make the apple-cinnamon tequila for this cranberry margarita because you won’t find it at the liquor store. It takes about a week and mixes wonderfully with the cocktail’s triple sec, cranberry, and lime juice combination.

Chimayó

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Apple cider is, essentially, an unfiltered apple juice that tends to have a stronger flavor, so it’s perfect for mixed drinks. The Chimayó is one of the best apple cider cocktails and a specialty of New Mexico. Once you get a taste of tequila, apple cider, and crème de cassis, it will be difficult to drink anything else.

Apple Cider vs. Apple Juice

The way in which it is processed distinguishes apple cider from apple juice. However, there are times when the two are nearly identical in appearance and the name on the label is simply used for marketing.

• Unfiltered Apple Cider: True apple cider and cloudy apple juice are made by pressing the juice from fresh apples. It’s left unfiltered, which gives it a cloudy appearance, and needs to be refrigerated to prevent fermentation.
• Apple Juice: The translucent, golden-colored juice is filtered and sometimes pasteurized to make it shelf-stable. It may be labeled «apple cider,» particularly when mulling spices are added for flavor.
• Hard Cider: When apple cider is purposely fermented it creates a slightly alcoholic drink (around 6 percent ABV). Outside of the U.S., it’s often just called cider.
• Sparkling Cider: This nonalcoholic apple cider is carbonated. It makes a great substitute for sparkling wine when making mocktails like the baby Bellini.

Apple Cider Martini

Apple cider martinis can be very basic or rather intriguing; this recipe takes the latter approach. It combines vodka and apple cider and employs ginger liqueur for a touch of sweet spice. While not the most common ingredient, velvet falernum’s spiced sweetness makes the drink a taste sensation.

Apple Cinnamon Mule

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

The Moscow mule is a great drink because it’s both simple and refreshing. It is also the ideal venue for a little extra flavor, and that’s what you’ll find in the apple cinnamon mule. The recipe adds apple cider to the vodka-ginger beer base, then gets a hint of spice from a cinnamon stick garnish to create a favorite autumn flavor.

Apple Cider Mimosa

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

The mimosa is another excellent drink to play around with. When it’s time for an autumn brunch, mix up the apple cider mimosa. For this recipe, you’ll mix pear vodka and apple cider, then top it off with Champagne. Adding the cinnamon sugar rim is a delightful touch.

Old-Fashioned 101

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Apple cider, sage, saffron, and brown sugar are the featured ingredients in the old-fashioned 101. It’s a brilliant recipe for a robust bourbon and converts the old-fashioned into a fall drinking delight.

Caramel Apple Pie

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Butterscotch schnapps sweetens up this simple tequila cocktail wonderfully. The caramel apple pie is best with a reposado tequila because the barrel-aging is a nice match to the apple cider’s soothing qualities. Give it a squeeze of lemon, and the drink is ready for dessert.

May Day Cocktail

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Cloudy apple juice is called for in the May Day cocktail. It’s tossed into the blender along with fresh peaches, strawberries, passion fruit, and ginger, but it’s no innocent slushie! This cocktail recipe for two includes a good dose of rum, and it really is as delicious as it sounds.

Toffee Apple

Forget caramel-dipped apples and mix up a toffee apple instead. This simple rendition of the appletini uses citrus vodka, apple and lemon juices, and toffee syrup. That last ingredient is easy to make at home—all you have to do is melt the toffee candy in water.

Apple Sour

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

A shot of juice takes the classic whiskey sour into the world of apples. The apple sour recipe prefers bourbon and substitutes simple syrup with triple sec, then adds orange bitters. It’s the ideal drink for fresh-pressed juice or cider and a great way to use up your apple harvest.

Whiskey Cider Julep

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

The whiskey cider julep is inspired by the mint julep. It includes the same cooling combination of lime and mint, but switches from bourbon to Irish whiskey. Topping it with hard cider adds a unique contrast that works surprisingly well.

Orchard Catch Cooler

» data-caption=»» data-expand=»300″ data-tracking-container=»true»/>

Angry Orchard Hard Cider

For a cider cocktail that screams summer, the orchard catch cooler is a fabulous choice. The drink begins with a muddle of fresh basil and strawberries and adds fresh lime juice for a nice zing. It’s the ideal base for vanilla vodka and hard cider.

Prevent Brown Apple Garnishes

Apple garnishes are fitting for these cocktails, but it comes with one fundamental issue: cut apples turn brown quickly. It’s a natural reaction called oxidation that occurs when the white flesh is exposed to oxygen, and it affects other fruits like pears and peaches. There’s a quick trick to keeping your fresh apple garnish looking great:

1. Before cutting the apple, pour a small amount of lemon juice into a bowl.
2. Remove produce stickers and thoroughly wash the apple.
3. Cut a slice or wedge of apple and immediately dunk it into the bowl of lemon juice.
4. Shake off any excess juice and garnish the drink.

Источник