This 18th-century food storage hack could keep produce fresh for months

New York Post - Apr 26th, 2025

A resurfaced video from 'The Acadian Garden and Apothecary' YouTube channel demonstrates an ancient technique for storing apples, allowing them to remain fresh for months without refrigeration. Host Danae explains how wrapping apples in newspaper and storing them in a cool, dry place can prevent spoilage by reducing ethylene exposure, a natural plant hormone that accelerates decay. This method, rediscovered from historical practices before refrigeration, highlights the importance of selecting fresh, unmarred apples to ensure longevity. Danae also shares additional storage mediums like sawdust and grains, emphasizing the necessity of aerated materials to trap airflow and slow ripening.

This technique underscores the historical significance of apples in American households, where they were integral to daily life, particularly in the production of hard cider. Danae references Eric Sloane's book 'A Reverence for Wood' to illustrate how families stored apples for extended periods in the past, highlighting the role of traditional knowledge in contemporary food preservation. The video not only revives a forgotten practice but also provides a cultural lesson, explaining the origin of the saying 'one bad apple ruins the barrel,' thus linking linguistic history with practical food storage advice.

Apple Storage The Acadian Garden And Apothecary Danae Food Preservation Ethylene Historical Techniques Refrigeration Alternatives

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article presents an intriguing historical food preservation method with a focus on wrapping apples in newspaper. While it is written clearly and engages readers interested in historical practices, it lacks strong sourcing and verifiability, limiting its accuracy and credibility. The primary source of information is a YouTube channel, which may not be authoritative enough for historical claims. The story could benefit from a more balanced presentation of different perspectives and additional expert input to enhance its reliability. Overall, it appeals to a niche audience interested in sustainable living and historical practices but lacks broader public interest or impact potential.

Accuracy

The story presents a historical food storage technique involving wrapping apples in newspaper to keep them fresh for months. While the method is intriguing, the historical accuracy of using newspaper for this purpose lacks direct evidence. Newspapers were not widely available in the 1700s for such use, and the story doesn't provide verifiable sources to confirm this method's historical prevalence. Additionally, the claim that apples could be stored for two years as cited from Eric Sloane’s book requires further verification, as the story does not provide direct evidence or quotes from the book. The explanation of ethylene's role in fruit ripening is scientifically accurate, but attributing this knowledge to 18th-century practices is questionable since ethylene was not identified until the 20th century.

Balance

The article primarily presents a single perspective on historical apple storage methods, focusing on the technique shared by the YouTube channel host. While it provides a historical context for apple storage, it doesn't explore alternative viewpoints or methods that might have been used historically. The story could benefit from balancing the presented method with other historical preservation techniques or expert opinions on the feasibility of the method described. However, it does mention different materials like sawdust and sand, which adds some variety to the perspective on storage methods.

Clarity

The article is written in a clear and engaging manner, making it accessible to a general audience. The language is straightforward, and the structure logically presents the information about the storage method, its historical context, and the scientific explanation of ethylene. However, the lack of detailed sourcing and verification might confuse readers seeking to understand the factual basis of the claims. Overall, the tone is neutral and informative, contributing to its clarity.

Source quality

The primary source of the information is a YouTube channel, which may not be the most authoritative source for historical or scientific claims. While the channel might provide educational content, it lacks the rigorous vetting process of academic or peer-reviewed sources. The article also references Eric Sloane’s book, but without direct quotes or citations, the quality of this source remains unverified within the story. The reliance on these sources without additional corroboration from experts or historical records limits the credibility of the claims.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of providing detailed sources or evidence for the claims made. While it mentions a book and a YouTube channel, it does not include direct citations or quotes, making it difficult for readers to verify the information independently. The methodology behind the storage technique is explained, but the historical context and scientific basis are not thoroughly detailed or sourced, leaving gaps in transparency regarding how these conclusions were reached.