Are Apples Acidic or Alkaline?
Mildly alkaline. An apple has a PRAL of −1.9 per 100 g, which puts it at the lower end among fruits, but it is still clearly alkaline.
Why apples are alkaline
Apples are 85% water, so their mineral density is lower than that of bananas (−6.4) or dates (−7.8). A 150 g apple adds −2.9 to your daily balance. Dried apple rings concentrate the potassium and reach −10.2 per 100 g.
The apple's strength is not its value but the habit. It is the most eaten fruit in Germany, always available and an easy snack. Two apples a day add up to −5.8, plus fiber and polyphenols from the skin. Pear, at −2.3, is about the same.
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
The PRAL (potential renal acid load) estimates what a food leaves behind after digestion. It is not the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0. If you are asking whether apples are acidic because of heartburn or reflux, that is a question of pH and your stomach, which the PRAL does not measure; talk to your doctor about it.
Apples in different forms: raw, cooked, processed
How the PRAL changes with state and product. All values per 100 g or 100 ml.
| Food | PRAL |
|---|---|
| Apple (fresh) | −1.9 |
| Apple (dried) | −10.2 |
| Apple juice (raw) | −1.8 |
| Pear (fresh) | −2.3 |
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is apple juice acidic?
No, it is alkaline: −1.8 per 100 ml, similar to the fruit. But a glass has no fiber and the sugar of three apples, so the whole fruit is the better choice.
What fruits are more alkaline than apples?
Almost all of them: banana (−6.4), kiwifruit (−4.9), orange (−2.8), apricot (−7.2). Apples are alkaline, but they are not a top performer.
Apples and everything else on your plate: calculated automatically.
Basentracker adds up the PRAL of every meal and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. Over 950 foods, photo scan, recipes, free.
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More fruit compared
All fruit with their PRAL: Fruit table. Back to the overview Acidic or Alkaline?, or put together a meal in the PRAL calculator.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.