Apple Slinky … and Why We Love it …

Apple Slinky 001

 

Are you looking for a way to get your kids to eat their apples?  Well, look no further because I found it with an Apple Slinky.  I first discovered these many years ago and since then it has proved to be one of the most used devices in my kitchen.

 

Basically, the Apple Slinky will core, slice and peel an apple with the turn of a handle and in only a few seconds.  You can choose whether to leave the skin on or off.  A few years ago I managed a local School Tuckshop and I introduced this gadget for the kids … the sale of apples skyrocketed because it was such a fun way for kids to eat an apple.  This little gadget is quite ingenious as it not only peels and cores the apple but it turns the apple into a long “spring” or “coil” … and kids just love it.

 

Apple Slinky 002

 

I’ve had mine for a couple of years and from memory I paid around $30 for it.  I’m not sure what the current price would be but you should be able to pick one of these up at most kitchen stores.

 

Apple Slinky 003

 

My girls usually have an apple slinky after school/uni or on the weekends but if you do want to send an apple to school here are a couple of methods you can try to prevent the apple from browning:

 

  • Squeeze lemon or lime juice over the surface of the cut apple to prevent it from browning.  This can add a “tart” or bitter flavour to the apple, which some children may not enjoy but it does work.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon salt to 500ml, water and mix.  Place the cut apple in the mixture and leave for 3 or 4 minutes.  Remove from the salt solution and rinse thoroughly.  This should prevent the apple from browning for quite a while and, if you rinse the apple well, It won’t taste salty.
  • This is the method I use. Cut the apple in quarters (leaving the skin on) and remove the core from each wedge.  Wrap each apple quarter separately (but immediately) in plastic wrap (Glad wrap/cling film) being careful to remove all the air.  The goal is to wrap each apple quarter as tightly as possible without any creases in the plastic wrap.   This technique works because it keeps air away from the cut surface of the apple and this prevents the apple flesh from oxidizing (or going brown).  This technique may seem like a lot of work but is worth the effort for any child who would prefer to take a cut up apple to school.

 

Apples that brown are still safe to eat.  The browning is simply the reaction between the enzymes in the apple once it’s exposed to air.  Different types of apples will brown more than others.  Granny Smith apples brown the least, while Red Delicious apples will brown the most.

 

So tell me, what fruit do your kids eat and do you think an Apple Slinky would encourage them to eat more apples?

 

Comments

  1. Oh I’ve seen these at the store. They definitely catch the eye. Could you use it on potato as well or other fruit?

    • Hi Lorraine, I’ve only used mine for apples but I can’t see why you couldn’t use these for other fruit or vegetables (as long as they are fairly solid).

  2. These are so cool! My family has one and we use it everyday!!

  3. We have these at my daughter’s school and I’ve used one at the tuckshop! I really really want one for home. Are they exxy?? My kids have at least an apple a day but only grannies, which I think are very very tart! Emily – visiting as part of #teamIBOT

  4. Oh I see it’s not that expensive. I will buy one and have a try 🙂

    • Hi Ben, I agree … these aren’t expensive at all and I think anything that gets kids to eat more apples is a great idea!

  5. My parents have one of these and I have always had curly apple envy. i NEED one 🙂 xx

  6. We had one of these at our old school, and the kids could bring their apples to be slinkied at recess. It was great cause even my non apple eater would eat hers. I’ve often thought about getting one of my own.

    • Isn’t that fantastic – I’m all for anything that encourages kids to eat more fruit!