One person took to the popular online forum to ask how to store their “bumper crop” of cooking apples to “make them last as long as possible”.

While many people responded to the thread, a user who goes by the name “cluelessnchaos” responded with a unique method they discovered by accident.

They wrote: “Probably the completely wrong thing to do, but last year we picked our huge bumper crop, being lazy we left them in buckets outside, the rain came in overnight and by next morning, the apples were floating.

“Now I kept thinking god I must wrap the apples and store them away (I have a huge lovely veg rack for the purpose) but just never got round to it, and they lasted for ages, enough time for me to make oodles of pies, chutneys, sauces.”

The Mumsnet user admitted that they didn’t know exactly why it worked, but that they were so impressed with the results that they did it again the following year.

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This unusual storage solution goes against expert advice, especially that given by British Bramley apple growers, the Glass Brothers.

They said: “Late Bramley apples will keep for at least four or five weeks before fruit is ready for cooking or consumption. Depending on the variety, Bramley apples picked early will keep for several months, if the fruit is treated correctly and wise storage is employed.

“As long as the fruit is kept in storage conditions which allows air to circulate, Bramley apple varieties – usually used as cooked apples and dessert apples – can be picked from the apple tree when unripe.

“To protect them from weather conditions, store ripening Bramley apples indoors.”

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Among other recommendations was a more logical storage solution that had been tried and tested.

The forum member who goes by the name “lilolilmanchester” recommended wrapping each individual apple in newspaper and storing it in a cool place, like a garage or box.

They warned that only “perfect” apples should be stored in a garage as the bruises can spread if stored among healthy, ripe fruits.

The Mumsnet user said: “We don’t wash and dry them first, we do that when we use them. But if they are wet when you pick them, from rain/dew etc., you need to dry them before you store them.

“Even if wrapped, we’ve found that bruises catch, so really only store perfect fruit and check them every now and again to ensure any rotting apples are removed.

“If you have bruised apples, use them to make chutney/apple jelly preserves, make apple sauce and freeze or apple crumble and freeze.”

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