When you hear about a new Apple product you probably immediately think of the latest technological advancement but in December 2019 supermarkets were hit with a literal launch of an apple that quickly sent the culinary world into a frenzy. Horticulturalists at Washington State University unveiled a new apple variety called WA 38 better known to regular consumers as Cosmic Crisp. It was an instant hit according to the Yakima Herald-Republic earning rave reviews that praised every aspect of the fruit from its bright red skin to its texture which is just as otherworldly and crunchy as its name suggests.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 CNBC | 2020-02-24 17:46:38 |  209,044 Views |
How the Cosmic Crisp is Taking Over America's Favorite Apples
From a culinary perspective the Cosmic Crisp is a very versatile apple because its flavor balances both sweet and tart notes. It would make a great base for any apple-based dessert like caramel pies but as much as it’s been praised for its flavor and texture the Cosmic Crisp has an even bigger claim to fame. Leading up to its release the development team at Washington State claimed that Cosmic Crisp apples could last up to a year when refrigerated. It almost sounds too good to be true… and it almost is.
The Cosmic Crisp was developed with storage in mind. One of the issues the development team wanted to address was the seasonal availability of apples. In the United States most apples are harvested in the fall so by the time summer rolls around fresh local apples are no longer available. During the summer apples sometimes have to be imported to U.S. stores and they often don’t taste as good as fresh domestic apples. The Cosmic Crisp was developed with the goal of producing an apple that could be eaten 12 months after harvest and still taste great. They achieved this goal but only to a certain extent.
According to Washington State University Cosmic Crisp apples can be stored for up to 12 months but not in your standard home refrigerator. They're designed to be stored in controlled atmosphere storage a commercial system that regulates temperature just like your refrigerator but also controls oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to better prevent spoilage. According to Washington State Cosmic Crisp apples last about four months in refrigerated air only a third of the time. However four months is still longer than other apple varieties most of which only last up to two months in the refrigerator. You'll have the best chance of maximizing the fruit's shelf life if you store your apples in the crisper drawer.
