Store and preserve autumn treasures correctly
Kira Zabe
October 1, 2024
In this article, we will help you to store apples correctly, which ones are best suited for this purpose and how you can easily keep them for up to 12 months.
September and October are our golden harvest months when it comes to long-lasting fruit and vegetables. Have you also been able to harvest lots of apples, pears, plums or quinces from the garden? Or were provided for by friends and family?
This is often a double-edged sword. Because everyone is happy about the great treasures that can be used to prepare all sorts of great things. But perhaps you also ask yourself how dishes can be modified so that you don't have to eat the same thing every day. After all, food can quickly become stale or even spoil if it is not eaten. That would be annoying, wouldn't it?
We want to help you with this issue and bring more variety into your diet with our tips and recipes. Our app also ensures that you don't miss any food expiring, saving you money. If you don't know it yet, give it a try!
Our first recommendation and also the best-known way to preserve ripe fruit for longer is preserving it. This prevents rapid spoilage and the preserved food can easily be kept for 12 months. Preserved food can easily be integrated into other meals in different variations.
Puree is a must!
Whether applesauce, raspberry purée, pear purée, apricot purée, plum purée, rosehip purée, coconut purée or nut purée. Puree is the easiest version of preserving.
It's very simple with puree. Whether for pancakes, porridge, pancakes or on cakes. There are no limits to your preferences.
Storing fruit correctly
Have you ever felt the same way, you have lots of apples and they rot faster than you can eat them? We know this problem too. In addition to the type of apple, the most important thing here is correct storage. Only the daily requirement should be stored in the fruit bowl. Everything else should be stored in a cool, dark place, such as the cellar. Humidity levels of 85 to 90 % are ideal here. It is also important to store apples separately from other fruit and vegetables. This is because apples affect their ripening process. If the apples are undamaged, clean and dry, they can keep until spring without any problems.
The apple variety, what makes the difference in storage?
Not every apple can be stored without problems. There are early/summer, fall and winter apples. With this list, we want to make it easy for you to get a better overview of the shelf life.
Granny Smith
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate in a cool place (0-4°C)
- Shelf Life: Up to 6 months
- Storage Tip: Keep in a plastic bag with holes to retain moisture while allowing air circulation.
Honeycrisp
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate in a crisper drawer
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Keep away from other fruits to prevent rapid ripening due to ethylene gas.
Fuji
- Best Storage Method: Store in a cool, dark pantry or refrigerate
- Shelf Life: Up to 5 months (refrigerated)
- Storage Tip: Wrap individually in paper to prevent bruising and rot.
Gala
- Best Storage Method: Store in the refrigerator
- Shelf Life: 1-2 months
- Storage Tip: Place in a perforated plastic bag to maintain humidity levels.
Golden Delicious
- Best Storage Method: Store in a cool, dry place or in the fridge
- Shelf Life: 3-4 months
- Storage Tip: Store loosely in the crisper drawer for maximum freshness.
Pink Lady (Cripps Pink)
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate in the crisper drawer
- Shelf Life: 3-4 months
- Storage Tip: Avoid storing near strong-smelling foods, as they can absorb odors.
Red Delicious
- Best Storage Method: Store in the refrigerator
- Shelf Life: 2-4 months
- Storage Tip: Keep in a breathable bag to maintain texture and prevent softening.
McIntosh
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Handle carefully to avoid bruising, as they are softer apples.
Braeburn
- Best Storage Method: Refrigerate or store in a cold room
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Wrap in paper or store in a perforated bag to ensure air circulation.
Jonagold
- Best Storage Method: Store in a cool, dry place or refrigerate
- Shelf Life: 2-3 months
- Storage Tip: Keep away from direct sunlight and check regularly for spoilage.
Other methods
Compote is another way in which you can extend the shelf life of many types of fruit and vegetables. You can also store it for up to 12 months or even longer without any problems. It is important to do a visual inspection from time to time. After all, it's easy for a jar to become airy or perhaps contaminated at the beginning. Use our app to help you keep track of how much of what you have left and by when it needs to be used up.
Good preparation is everything!
This saying is not far-fetched and is an important tip when it comes to adding variety to your diet. Because instead of eating potato pancakes with apple sauce 3 days in a row, you can easily make delicious changes to your meals. Here we show you 3 ways to not only cover lunch, but also to spice up breakfast and dinner in a varied way.
Breakfast:Pancakes with apple sauce*
In between meals:Applesauce cake*, yogurt with applesauce
Lunch:Schupfnudeln with apple sauce
Dinner:Bread with peanut butter and apple sauce
Tip:Applesauce can also be used as an egg substitute. One egg is replaced by 70 grams of puree. Give it a try!
The tomato
The tomato is a vegetable that can also be preserved very quickly by canning, without long preparation. When you think of tomatoes, you probably first think of a delicious sauce that you can prepare. But with a little thought, you can also add variety to your plate.
If you make a tomato compote, you can easily make fantastic variations for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It tastes delicious on toasted white bread, ala bruschetta or on buttermilk biscuits for breakfast. A tomato and basil compote is also delicious with grilled meat or vegetables. It will keep in the fridge for around a month without any problems. If you want to keep it for even longer, boiling it down is essential.
You can easily make a sugo from boiled tomatoes to conjure up a delicious tomato sauce. This means that the often popular dish of pasta with tomato sauce can be whipped up in no time at all. Cooked tomatoes or vegetables are also very suitable for preparing casseroles. Whether as lasagne, moussaka or a vegetable quiche. There's plenty of room for your creativity here.
So, are you itching to get started right away? Great, then get to the jars. But don't forget! With all the storage jars in your hand, it can be easy to lose track of the shelf life and forget which one to use first. To prevent this from happening, our app helps you keep track digitally. Check right now whether everything is still in the green zone. Not using the app yet? Then download it now and test it for free.
We hope you enjoy preserving your fall treasures!
Smantry: Not perfect – but made with a lot of heart
Many of our users write to us that theyhave been looking for exactly this kind of app for a long time. At the same time, we also read reviews that say:“Good idea, but …”
And that’s exactly what we want to talk about openly today.
An app for everyday life – not for perfection
Smantry is designed to make everyday life easier: manage groceries, stay on top of things, waste less.
Your feedback shows us that this is already working well for many of you:
- Inputs are quick and straightforward
- The scanner reliably detects most products
- Editing and making changes is easy
- Our support is perceived as fast, friendly, and solution-oriented
We’re really glad to hear that – because that’s exactly what we’re building Smantry for.
Why some things are (still) not perfect
What you often don’t see from the outside: Smantry is developed by a very small team.
Right now we are 5 people, and none of us works full-time on the app. We do this alongside other projects, jobs, and commitments – with a lot of passion, but limited resources.
That doesn’t explain everything, but it provides context:
- Some functions take longer
- Technical issues (e.g. with premium activations) unfortunately happen sometimes
- Not every idea can be implemented right away
Frequently asked questions from your reviews
Why a subscription?
The subscription allows us to cover server costs, ongoing development, updates, and support in the first place. Without continuous revenue, Smantry would not be able to exist in the long term.
"Why isn’t the bug I reported being fixed?"
Sometimes there are several bugs at the same time and we have to prioritize the ones that affect core functions. That can mean that a different bug gets fixed first. We always try to resolve everything quickly – but unfortunately we can only do it step by step.
Why doesn’t Premium sometimes work right away?
Subscriptions are managed through the app stores. In rare cases, synchronization issues can occur. That’s annoying, but not intentional – our support team will always help you with this personally.
Where we want to go
Smantry is meant to get better – not just on paper, but in real everyday life.
This includes:
- more features from the web app
- better stability
- more flexibility with categories
- clearer communication
Your feedback plays a central role in this.
In conclusion
We’re not a corporation.
We’re a small team that believes in a good idea and is putting it into practice step by step.
If Smantry is helping you – even if everything isn’t perfect yet – we really appreciate your trust, your feedback, and of course a fair rating in the App Store 💛
Thank you for being part of this development.
Power outage in Berlin: Why preparation and prepping are more important today than ever
An unexpected power outage in Berlin has recently shown how quickly our daily life can become unbalanced. Traffic lights went out, card payments stopped working, and many households were suddenly without light, internet, or cooking facilities. Such events highlight: emergency preparedness and prepping are not about spreading panic, but rather a sensible and responsible preparation for real risks.
Power Outage – A Real Risk for Major Cities
Whether it's technical malfunctions, construction work, or extreme weather conditions: A Blackout or regional power outage can occur at any time. Especially in large cities like Berlin, the effects are immediately noticeable. Without electricity, many basic systems no longer function – from supermarkets to ATMs to communication.
The most important question is:
Am I prepared for this?
Prepping: Preparedness instead of fear
Prepping does not mean preparing for apocalyptic scenarios. Rather, it's about everyday readiness:
- remain capable of acting
- be able to provide for the family
- Reduce stress and uncertainty
- not be immediately dependent on external help
The power outage in Berlin demonstrates: Just a few hours without electricity can cause major problems.
Stockpiling food as a key to emergency preparedness
A well-thought-out food supply is the foundation of any emergency preparedness. Experts recommend having supplies for at least 7 to 14 days. These include:
- non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, canned goods
- Drinking water
- long shelf-life snacks
- Baby food or special diet
- off-grid cooking options (e.g., gas stoves)
Yet many households quickly lose track: What's available? What's missing? What's about to expire?
Digital preparation with the Smantry App
Here comes the Smantry App into play – your digital companion for prepping, preparation, and stockpiling. The app helps you to plan your supplies in a structured way and to keep track at all times.
With the Smantry App you can:
- Easily capture food supplies digitally
- Define minimum quantities for emergencies
- Monitor expiration dates and prevent food waste
- prepare specifically for power outages, blackouts, and crises
- Integrating prepping step by step into daily life
This makes emergency preparedness simple, transparent, and efficient.
Prepare now instead of improvising later:
👉 Download the Smantry App and start your digital emergency preparedness today.
Power outage in Berlin as a wake-up call
The power outage in Berlin was an eye-opener for many people. It demonstrates how quickly familiar structures can collapse – and how important it is to be prepared. Those who take precautions in time remain calm, safe, and independent.
Conclusion: Take precautions now instead of reacting later
Power outages, supply shortages, and crises are part of the reality of our time. With a well-thought-out food stockpiling and digital tools like the Smantry App you can make your emergency preparedness simple and effective.
👉 Start your preparation now
Download the Smantry App and gradually build up your personal emergency preparedness – before the next power outage occurs.
Discover the app now and be prepared.
🍂 Cozy Autumn Leftover Cooking – Comfort dishes made from what's available
When the rain taps on the window and the tea cup becomes a permanent guest, the most beautiful kitchen time of the year begins: autumn. And what could be a better match than stylish leftover cooking – dishes that are not only sustainable but also truly exciting.
Autumn leftover cooking means: use instead of waste, but with a touch of sophistication. Here are some more unusual ideas to turn leftovers into small culinary highlights.
🧀 1. Pumpkin Gnocchi from leftover roasted vegetables
Do you have some leftover roasted pumpkin or sweet potato from the day before? Perfect!
Mash the vegetables, mix them with some flour, salt, and grated Parmesan, shape them into small gnocchi, and briefly cook them in salted water until they float to the surface. Then toss them in sage butter and top with chopped walnuts.
→ Tastes like Italy, looks like fine dining – and it's all made from leftovers!
🥖 2. Rustic bread salad with grapes and goat cheese
Tear stale bread into pieces, toast in olive oil until golden brown.
Add a few grapes (wrinkled ones are especially sweet), arugula or lamb's lettuce, crumbled goat cheese, and roasted hazelnuts. Mix with a dressing of balsamic vinegar, honey, and mustard.
→ A fall twist on the classic Panzanella – sweet, salty, crunchy, perfect!
🧅 3. French onion tart with leftover vegetables and puff pastry
Got some leftover puff pastry in the fridge? Make a tart out of it!
Caramelize onions in butter, add some leftover vegetables (e.g., leeks, mushrooms, or spinach). Spread on the pastry, top with a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese, and bake until golden brown.
→ Wonderfully aromatic, especially with thyme or rosemary.
🍎 4. Apple Sourdough French Toast with Vanilla Rum Butter
A piece of stale sourdough bread is soaked in a mixture of milk, egg, vanilla, and a dash of rum, fried in a pan, and served with fried apple slices and a rum butter.
→ Luxurious, yet made entirely from leftovers – perfect for a Sunday breakfast in pajamas.
🥬 5. Risotto made from leftover vegetables with lemon and herb oil
Chop the vegetable scraps finely and cook with a handful of rice into a creamy risotto.
A dash of lemon juice and some leftover herbs (parsley, basil, arugula) blended with oil make a fresh herb oil as a topping.
→ The acidity of the lemon beautifully enhances the earthy autumnal notes.
☕️ Bonus Tip: Using leftovers in a dessert glass
A few spoons of leftover compote?
Some leftover cake or cookies?
Layer it all with yogurt or mascarpone in a glass – and you have an autumnal "trifle" that looks like it came straight from a café in Copenhagen.
🍁 Conclusion
Autumnal leftover cooking is not a last resort, but a playground for creativity. When you look at ingredients with open eyes – not as leftovers, but as opportunities – small, exquisite dishes full of soul and flavor emerge.
Why we never stop refining Smantry ✨
At Smantry, we don't believe in 'finished'.
An app that is meant to accompany people in their daily lives is never complete – it grows, changes, and evolves. Just like the people who use it. 💛
We regularly pay attention to every detail:
How does a click feel? Is the path to a function clear enough? Does the idea behind a new view come across intuitively?
Sometimes it's just tiny things that make the difference – a better-placed button, a simplified overview, or a sentence that suddenly becomes clearer.
What drives us is the idea that Smantry should feel easy, familiar, and meaningful.
We want you to open the app and feel: "Ah, this is exactly how it should work."
Of course, not everything always goes perfectly. But that's exactly the point: We take the time to listen, to observe, to reconsider. Every piece of feedback, every use case, every new idea helps us to understand a little better what really matters.
Smantry is not a rigid product for us – it's a living process. A collaborative project that grows step by step.
And every update, every small improvement is a sign that we are on the right track:
A path to an app that doesn't feel like technology, but like support.
Towards a daily life that becomes simpler. Towards clarity, structure – and maybe even a bit of ease. 🌿
We're staying on it.
Because we are convinced that good things take time – and that it's worth creating them with heart.
Your
Smantry-Team