Apples will last 6 months longer if stored in 1 kitchen spot

It's peak apple picking season, and plenty of apples are just waiting to be added to our crumbles, pies, muffins, and tarts. Not to mention, all the healthy apple-based smoothies and juices that can help boost your immunity for the coming winter.

A tiny bit of knowledge when it comes to properly storing your apples can go a long way - in fact, with this method, apples won't just last for weeks, but for months.

You can do this with any kind of apples, and they'll last up to 6 months - even cooked and stewed ones!

Your freezer is ideal for ensuring apple longevity. You won't need any special equipment, but you'll definitely want to follow a few key steps. Tesco's Real Food advises gently rinsing your fresh apples first to remove anything on the surface.

Scrub them dry with a clean tea towel and lay them flat on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Make sure they're not touching each other and simply pop them into your freezer. There's no need to cover. To avoid freezer burn, do not leave your apples for more than 2 hours.

Once frozen solid, the final step is to simply bag them up - into a freezer bag they go, with a label of what's inside and the date of freezing. Defrosted apples will be perfect for blending into your juices.

Freezing sliced apples will, of course, make them quicker to use in recipes. They'll be ready to go for your muffins, pastry fillings, chutneys, pie fillings, apple tarts, and smoothies. Simply prepare them as you would for snacking (wash, peel, core, and chop).

To prevent browning, dip the slices for a few moments in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 250ml of water. Leave to to dry on a sheet of kitchen roll and lay them out on a baking tray. Don't let them touch each other and freeze for a few hours until solid. Pour into a freezer bag, label, and store.

Lastly, for cooked or stewed apples, you'll want to make sure they are completely cooled first. Portion into small plastic containers or individual freezer bags and pop into the freezer.