ALL ABOUT APPLES

There are many types of apples ranging from small varieties, like the Cameo to very large varieties, like the Opalescent. Each variety has its own coloring, texture, and taste, which sets them apart from each other. Learn how easy it is to prepare and cook apples.

Whether you want to make apple butter or you just want a good apple to eat as a snack, there is sure to be one that will satisfy your needs. Select the right apple by checking our chart below. Let us show you how to prevent apples from browning when your recipe calls for fresh sliced apples where you want the apples to keep their fresh appearance. With our apple preparation guide,  we can also show you how to peel, core, and slice apples for all your apple recipes  whether you will be cooking apples or using them fresh.

An apple is a round or oval shaped fruit that is harvested from lower growing trees found in most of the temperate regions of the world. There are many types of apples. They are a fruit with a thin skin that may range in color from shades of green, yellow, and red or any combination of these. The flesh is generally off-white or cream colored and is very juicy. They are generally sweet flavored but may be slightly sour, tart, or even a bit bland depending on the variety. Some of the common varieties among the many types of apples are the Braeburn, Cortland, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonathan, Jonagold, McIntosh, and Pacific or Southern Rose.

Apples can be eaten plain, made into sauce or jelly, or they can be included in a variety of salads, meat dishes, pies, and other desserts. As a dried fruit, apples can be added to a variety of baked goods or in a fresh form, they can be used to produce juice, vinegar, cider, and alcoholic beverages, such as hard cider and apple brandy.

Some types of apples are available year round and some are only available at specific times of the year. The peak season for apples will vary with different varieties and locations where they are harvested. The best types of apples are those that are picked fresh from the tree. Fresh picked apples will have the best flavor and an extra crisp texture. For fresh picked apples, visit local apple farms and farmers' markets during the harvest season in your location.

How to Buy:
Buy apples that are brightly colored, firm, and free of bruises or damaged skin. If the flesh gives under pressure, the apple will be soft. The skin on the apple should be taut and show no signs of shriveling. Select individual apples over pre-bagged apples so that you can see what you are selecting and have an opportunity to smell the apples to make sure they have a fresh smell and are not musty. The different types of apples are graded according to their size and quality. The higher the grade, the more expensive the apple. The end use of the apple will determine the variety of apple you should buy.

Storage:

For best results, place apples in a perforated plastic bag, sprinkle with water and store in the coldest area of the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks. Apples give off a gas called ethylene that speeds up ripening, so they should be kept away from other fruits and vegetables to prevent them from ripening prematurely. Apples can be stored at room temperature for a short period of time but should be checked regularly because they will ripen more rapidly than if stored in the refrigerator. To store fresh picked apples for a long period of time, wrap them in paper and place folded side down in a single layer on a tray. Store in a cool, dark, dry place. The ideal temperature for storage is between 32°F and 40°F. Check frequently to see if any apples have begun to rot. Dried apples can be stored in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for an indefinite period of time.

Choosing the Best Apple:The chart below can be used as a quick reference when deciding which apple will be best for your particular needs.

Variety of Apple	Fresh	Salad	Bake	Cook	Pie	Dried	Other
Ambrosia	X	X
Baldwin			X	X			Cider
Braeburn	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Cameo	X	X	X		X
Connell Red	X				X	X	Sauce
Cortland	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Crab Apples							Jelly & WineButter
Crimson Gold	X
Criterion	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Elstar	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Empire	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fireside	X	X	X	X	X	X
Fuji	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Gala	X	X	X		X	X
Ginger Gold	X	X	X				Sauce
Golden Delicious	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Golden Russet	X		X			X	Cider
Golden Supreme			X			X	Cider
Granny Smith	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Gravenstein	X		X	X	X		Sauce
Green Pippin			X		X		Sauce
Haralson	X	X	X	X	X	X	Sauce
Honeycrisp	X	X	X	X	X	X	Sauce
Honeygold	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Idared	X		X	X	X	X	Sauce
Jonagold	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Jonamac	X		X	X
Jonathan	X	X	X	X	X	X	Sauce
Keepsake	X		X		X
Lady	X						Sauce
Liberty	X		X	X	X		Dessert
Macoun	X		X		X		Sauce
McIntosh	X	X		X	X*		Sauce
Melrose	X	X	X		X
Mutsu	X		X	X	X		Sauce
Newton Pippin	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Northern Spy			X		X		Sauce
Northwest Greening			X	X	X		Sauce
Opalescent			X		X
Pacific Queen	X	X
Pacific Rose	X	X
Paula Red	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce**
Piñata!	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Pink Lady	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Pink Pearl	X		X		X		Sauce
Pink Sparkle			X		X
Prairie Spy	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Red Delicious	X	X
Redfree	X				X	X
Regent	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Rhode Island Greening	X		X	X	X		Sauce
Rome			X	X	X		Sauce
Sierra Beauty	X			X
Sonya	X	X	X	X	X		Sauce
Southern Rose	X	X
Spartan	X	X	X		X	X	Sauce
Splendor	X						Dessert
Spy Gold	X		X		X
State Fair	X	X		X	X		Sauce
Stayman	X	X	X	X	X
Sunrise	X		X		X
Sweet 16	X		X				Sauce
Wealthy	X		X	X	X		Sauce
Winesap	X	X	X		X		Sauce
Wolf River	X		X	X		X	Sauce
York Imperial			X	X	X		Sauce
Zestar	X		X		X		Sauce