MC's holding custom variables

Hi

Having a bunch of dynamically-created MC’s, what is the best way to store custom variables for each MC?

Do I just make a hidden textfield inside each MC to hold the data?

For example I have MC’s called:
-Apple1
-Apple2
-Apple3
-etc…

And inside each MC I have a variable appleEaten = X.

And eventually I could use the data in an IF statement like:
if appleY.appleEaten == X then do something.

What is the best method, or generally common way of doing this? Maybe I’m already doing it, I don’t know.