A study of changes with time in aspects of bruise colour in ‘Granny Smith’ apples (Malus domestica) was undertaken in an attempt to identify the optimum time for assessment of bruise severity in experiments on apples. Bruised cortical tissue became darker (decreased lightness), browner (decreased hue angle), and increased in colour intensity (increased chroma) in the first few hours following impact. Discoloration subsequently faded gradually with time. Bruises became further discoloured with delays between sectioning and measurement, even when bruising had occurred 48 h beforehand. Colour data on bruises should therefore be collected at a standard time interval after cutting them open. Moisture and dry matter began to migrate out of bruises within 1 h of impact, providing a mechanism for “bruise recovery” in which bruises are observed to fade and develop a dry appearance with time. To assess bruises at their most intense degree of discoloration, they should be allowed to develop for a period of 4–14 h before sectioning.