How to Remove Wax from Apples
Soak apples for about 2 minutes in a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda per 2 cups of warm water, then scrub the skin with a clean vegetable brush or cloth and rinse under running water. The mild abrasion lifts the thin food-grade wax that packers apply after washing to replace the apple's natural bloom and slow moisture loss. A 2017 University of Massachusetts Amherst study found the same baking soda soak also stripped more pesticide residue than plain tap water or a bleach solution. For a completely wax-free apple, peel it, though peeling removes the fiber and antioxidants concentrated in the skin along with the coating.
Key Takeaways
- Apples lose their natural waxy cuticle, called bloom, during the washing and sorting process at the packing house.
- Loose bin apples and many farmers-market varieties often aren't waxed at all—a dull, slightly rough skin is the giveaway, versus the mirror-like shine of a coated one.
- Water hotter than about 150°F can partially melt the wax onto your hands or a dish towel instead of lifting it cleanly off, so stick with warm tap water, not boiling.
Explanation
Apples lose their natural waxy cuticle, called bloom, during the washing and sorting process at the packing house. To restore shine and slow water loss during weeks of cold storage and shipping, packers spray on a thin layer of FDA-approved food-grade wax made from carnauba, shellac (lac-resin), beeswax, or a petroleum-based blend. This coating can extend shelf life by several weeks compared to an unwaxed apple stored the same way, which is why washing produce with plain water alone rarely removes it.
Under FDA labeling rules (21 CFR 101.4), stores must disclose waxed produce with a sign or package label reading something like 'coated with food-grade wax, to maintain freshness.' Not every apple gets waxed: loose bin apples, many farmers-market varieties, and some organic apples skip the coating, leaving a duller, slightly rough skin. A glossy, almost slippery surface that beads water is the clearest sign a wax layer is present.
Baking soda works because it's mildly abrasive and alkaline, physically breaking the wax's grip on the skin rather than dissolving it chemically. The University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers who studied this found that fully submerging apples in a 1% baking soda solution for 12 to 15 minutes removed the pesticides thiabendazole and phosmet almost completely, far outperforming a 2-minute rinse under tap water. Don't mix the baking soda with vinegar for extra cleaning power—the reaction neutralizes both into salty water and cancels the abrasive effect.
A plain warm-water rinse alone won't fully remove the wax, since it's designed to repel water; scrubbing with a cloth or brush is what actually does the work. A diluted vinegar rinse (about 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) is a common alternative, though it's less studied for wax and pesticide removal than the baking soda soak. Whichever method you use, wash apples just before eating rather than before storing them, since leftover moisture on the skin encourages mold during refrigeration.
Things to Know
- Loose bin apples and many farmers-market varieties often aren't waxed at all—a dull, slightly rough skin is the giveaway, versus the mirror-like shine of a coated one.
- Water hotter than about 150°F can partially melt the wax onto your hands or a dish towel instead of lifting it cleanly off, so stick with warm tap water, not boiling.
- Removing the wax also strips away the moisture barrier it provided, so a scrubbed apple should be eaten within a few days rather than stored for weeks like an unwaxed one would be.
- Peeling removes 100% of the wax along with any residue trapped beneath it, but it also removes most of the skin's fiber and quercetin content.
- Store-bought applesauce, pre-cut apple slices, and dried apple chips are washed on commercial equipment before packaging and don't carry a wax coating to begin with.
- A wax coating itself isn't a health hazard—the FDA only approves food-grade waxes for this use—so removing it is mostly about personal preference or making a pesticide-residue rinse more effective.