Fruits like apples can rot and decay over time. Mold and fungus cause the quickest degradation, but even exposing an apple to heat can cause it to oxidize. Bruises and punctures offer the quickest route for mold and fungus to take hold. Different pathogens have different effects on rotting apples.

How many years does it take an apple to decompose?

On the counter: 5–7 days. In the pantry: 3 weeks. In the refrigerator: 4–6 weeks. Once cut: 3–5 days in the fridge, 8 months in the freezer.

What happens when apples decompose?

Decomposition can depend on how a food item interacts with its environment. Food can be broken down initially by chemical reactions. For example, when apples are exposed to oxygen, a chemical reaction takes place called oxidization. This causes the apple to turn brown.