Hi,
Bit of a strange question, but I am writing a screenplay and I want to make sure of this. If an apple is found in sea water, if I wipe the apple, will the skin still taste salty?
Thanks
How long has the apple been in seawater?
Probably the easiest way to figure this out is to do the experiment. Fill up a cup with water (salt water from the ocean if available, otherwise make a 3.5% salt solution with table salt) and then soak the apple for as long as it’s supposed to have been floating.
The apple will be in the water for over a day. You can only use your hand to wipe the water (imagine survival tactics) but I’m wondering if you get that salty taste if you take a bite?
I would recommend testing this yourself. Seems easy enough to do.
If your story needs the apple to be salty, make it salty. How many people would know for sure that you were wrong?
Your hand isn’t absorbent, so some seawater will remain on the skin even after wiping. The apple will taste salty.
It depends on the apple. Some apples (especially the harder varieties like Granny Smith) have waxy skin that water just runs off - others (for example russet varieties) have a more wettable skin texture - and sometimes a thinner skin, that would allow some salt water to remain, or possibly to soak in.
The blossom end of the apple is somewhat open, so salt water might enter the middle of the core.
So… A shiny apple is probably going to taste just a little bit salty. A rough skinned apple, more so - but I don’t think either would be inedibly salty, if they are still sound and intact whole fruit.
Ok. I am unscientifically floating a Granny Smith apply in a container of salt water. I’ll leave it there Saturday, and taste it on Sunday.
While you armchair philosophers were specumulating, I took science action!!!
I placed an imported non-organic New Zealand Braeburn in a bowl of salt water composed of crystalline and delicious Oregon drinkin’ tap water and hand-ground Himalayan pink salt, because fuck it, that’s the salt I have. Jeez. I let said apple rest in the salt water for approximately 10 minutes, then wiped it with my hand and bit it. It tasted slightly salty.
Further empiricism would be a regretful waste of our funding. SCIENCE!!
ETA: Er, that is to say, my esteemed colleague, Dr. Digital is the new Analog, is pursuing exciting longitudinal studies that undoubtedly will lead to major malosalinity breakthroughs.
My dear dr. susan is indeed a trailblazer in this field, and I’m happy that the first data point has been recorded. It would, in fact, be a waste of funding for a single site to go further.
I am anxiously waiting to be able to complete my experiment, and provide another point in what is destined to be the Great Straight Dope Salty Apple Experiment (name subject to change).
how long will the apple be floating; 10 minutes, two days or longer?
Over a day, according to post #3.
This would be my assumption. Yes, there will be a noticeable saltiness to the apple because of at least the water from your hand. For the purposes of the experiment, I would make sure not to use waxed apples at the very least. I was going to say use an organic apple, but apparently those can be waxed, too.
I have sea water in abundance… hmmm… do I want to waste some apples?
DitnA’s log: Apple is still floating. Tasted water to verify salinity. Swished water around a bit to simulate waves.
Experiment on course for unspecified time over one day, unspecified salinity, with unspecified criteria for judging results. Success seems guaranteed at this point.
When do you plan to blow it up?
You’re blinding me with science!
Yes you do! 
We can compare your real sea water test to the other salted water versions.
susan, how have I not seen any of your posts before, you are why I read this board.
It’s a pleasure to meet you. I have a boring user name, allowing me to stealth post.