· By Sam Swensen
The Definitive Guide to Apples
How bout them apples?
Is it just us, or does it seem like a new apple variety pops up at the grocery store every day? Especially during the fall/winter months! They're the star of most holiday desserts, ciders and even cocktails. So how do you go about choosing which ones to eat or use if you haven't tried them all? If you're overwhelmed by the number of apple varieties, you're not alone. There are actually thousands of different apples in the world, but we've created this apple guide to help you differentiate between the most popular varieties. In return, you just have to share whatever you're cooking with us- just kidding. Here they are:
Golden Delicious
- Very sweet, great for everything apple!
- Uses: fresh-eating, dessert, processing (sauce, pies, baking), freezing.
- Home Storage: 3-4 months.
- Sweet and slightly tart. Great for fresh-eating.
- Uses: Salad and fresh-eating apple.
- Home Storage: 4-5 months.
- Crispy, juicy, well known apple. Best for fresh eating.
- Uses: Fresh-eating, salad.
- Home Storage: 3-4 months.
- Pleasantly mild and sweet.
- Uses: Fresh-eating.
- Home Storage: 1-3 months.
- Tart and firm apple. A baking fave!
- Uses: Baking, sauce, juicing.
- Home Storage: 4-5 months.
- Balance between sweet and tart. Great for baking as it stays firm.
- Uses: Processing for sauce, pies and baking.
- Home Storage: 3-4 months.
- Crisp, sweet with a bit of tartness. Great fresh or for baking.
- Uses: Fresh-eating, salad, cooking.
- Home Storage: 3-4 months.