Apples Apples Apples

Find everything you need to know about apples:

Which variety is best for baking and cooking
How to and how long to store
Pound to cup conversion measurements

Tips for Baking Apples

The number one fruit in America, apples are nutritious, versatile, portable and available year-round. Some apple varieties are sweet, some are tart and some are better than others for baking.

Here are some tips to help you choose, prepare and bake apples with ease!

Select apple varieties that are in season. If the apples are out of season, they may have been in storage and will not be as flavorful and juicy as fresh-picked apples.
Look for firm apples that have no bruises or bug holes.
Choose apples that look fresh, are bright in color and have a fresh apple aroma.
Don’t choose underripe apples that are hard and have too much green or yellow color for their variety.
Check that the variety is appropriate for your apple recipe. Apple varieties that are perfect for baking are not always the best choice for raw snacking.

Picking Apples for Pies, Baking, Salads and Sauces

Variety	Flavor	Texture	Eating and Salads	Baking	Pies	Sauce
Braeburn	Sweet-Tart	Crisp	x	x	x	x
Cortland	Slightly Tart	Slightly Crisp	x	x	x	x
Crispin/Mutsu	Sweet	Crisp	x	x	x	x
Fuji/Gala	Sweet	Crisp	x
Golden Delicious	Sweet	Crisp	x	x	x	x
Granny Smith	Tart	Crisp	x	x	x	x
Haralson	Tart	Crisp	x	x	x	x
Honeycrisp	Sweet	Crisp	x	x		x
Jonathan	Slightly Tart	Tender	x		x	x
McIntosh	Sweet-Tart	Tender	x			x
Prairie Spy	Slightly Sweet	Crisp	x	x	x	x
Red Delicious	Sweet	Crisp	x
Rome	Slightly Tart	Slightly Crisp		x	x	x

For the best apple pies, apple crisps and other baked apple items, apples need to be firm enough to hold their shape and have great flavor.
Chopped or sliced apples for cakes or sauce can be less firm than apples used in pies. Choose the sweetest variety available for the best flavor.

The Right Amount of Apples for Pie

For a 9- or 10-inch pie, you will need 5 to 6 cups of sliced or chopped apples, or 6 medium apples.

Helpful apple measurements:

2 to 2 1/2 cups chopped or sliced apples is equivalent to 3 medium apples, or about 1 pound.
3 medium apples is equivalent to about 2 large or 4 small apples.

Storing Apples

Refrigerate apples for full flavor and crunch. The perfect temperature is between 32º F and 40º F.
Store apples in perforated plastic bags or containers that allow airflow to prevent them from drying out.
Apples should keep well in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Preparation Tips for Cooking Apples

Wash apples before using.
Peel apples for baking. Apple skin becomes tough and will not break down when cooked.
Use a swivel-bladed vegetable peeler to peel your apples. It peels more quickly than a knife and will remove the peel without taking much apple flesh. Or use a crank-type apple peeler to save time.
Cut peeled apples into fourths and cut out the core.
Toss cut apple pieces with water mixed with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
Use overripe or bruised apples for sauce.

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singer said:	Posted: 9/26/2010 3:50 PM
Thank you for the information. I was able to print it with no problems. I have some info about apples and recipes, but will gladly gather more.

grammybakes said:	Posted: 9/26/2010 2:32 PM
My printer works fine but your website is preventing the printing of this article on Apples. And I even forwarded it to my family members because we are going to apple festivals next month and need to know which types of apples to get. Why won't you let it print???

cooker2142 said:	Posted: 9/25/2010 7:45 AM
Wish there was a way to down load. My printer isn't working.