Selection and Storage:
Look for firm, smooth-skinned apples free of bruises and gouges. Dry brown patches on the skin called scald will not affect the taste. Apples should have a fresh smell. They should not smell musty. Store apples in a cool dark place or put apples in a ventilated plastic bag in the refrigerator. Avoid soft apples or apples whose skin wrinkles when you rub your thumb across it.
For nutritional information:
Check here.
Recipes:
Different types of apples:
Braeburn: The Braeburn apple was developed in New Zealand. Red-flushed and striped over greenish-gold skin, the Braeburn is a good eating apple. Its firm but juicy flesh is tangy sweet. It is available most of the year, but is best from September to November, when it has just been harvested.
Cortland: The Cortland is sweet and juicy with a hint of tartness. They are available September through April. These apples are great for salads, garnishes and fruit plates because they don’t turn brown quickly when cut.
Empire: Empire apples are named for New York State, where the apple was developed as cross between the Red Delicious and the McIntosh. A good all-purpose apple, the Empire is like the McIntosh, except it has a firmer flesh. Available year-round, they are best from September through November. These are excellent apples for eating and salads.
Fuji: The Fuji apple is of Japanese origin. Fuji’s are small and round. They have an orange-red blush. Their flesh is very sweet, crisp, firm, and quite juicy. The flavor of the Fuji has an undercurrent of honey. These apples are available October through June.
Gala: Like the Braeburn apple, Gala apples come from New Zealand. It was introduced to the United States in the 1970′s. The round Gala has a creamy yellow skin striped with pink and crisp creamy yellow flesh. Its taste is honeyed and perfumed. The Gala is available most of the year, but is best from September to June.
Golden Delicious: There are many varieties of Golden Delicious. A good Golden Delicious apple will be pale to creamy yellow and will be sweet tasting. Those that are light green will have a tarter flavor. The Golden Delicious apple has a flowery sweetness with moderate juiciness. Available year-round, Golden Delicious are best form September through November.
Granny Smith: Granny Smith apples were discovered in Australia in 1868 by Mrs. Thomas (Mary Ann) Smith. Americans didn’t get a taste of the Granny Smith until 1950′s when they were imported from South Africa and New Zealand. Granny Smiths are firm, juicy, and tart with a smooth clear green skin. Granny Smiths are available most the year and harvested September through November.
Honeycrisp: The Honeycrisp is best when eaten fresh. They do not store well. This apple has a nearly perfect balance of sweet with a hint of tart and is very juicy. This is one of the newer apples on the market being released to the public in 1991. They are available in September and October.
Jonagold: Jonagolds are a cross between the Golden Delicious and Jonathan apples. Often quite large, the Jonagolds have golden skin striped and blushed with red. Their firm flesh is tangy sweet. Jonagolds are available September and October.
Jonathan: The Jonathan apple was discovered in 1826 in Woodstock, New York, by Philip Rick. The apple was named after Jonathon Hasbrouk. Red-skinned, the Jonathon has a highly aromatic, spicy yellow flesh. The Jonathan is available from mid-September through January.
McIntosh: The McIntosh is the most popular apple in America. It was discovered in the 1700′s by the Canadian John McIntosh. Crisp and slightly sweet, the McIntosh has a bright red skin tinged with green and is available year-round.
Red Delicious: The Red Delicious apple is large and bright red. The elongated shape, with its five knobs at the base, is distinctive. The Red Delicious is sweet and juicy but lacks spice or tartness. Available year-round, red Delicious apples are best from September through April.
Rome Beauty: The Rome Beauty is a large, deep-red apple with yellow speckling. The Rome Beauty has a taste that ranges from sweet to mildly tart. The Rome Beauty is a member of the rose family. It was originally known as Gillette’s Seedling. The Rome Apple is named after Rome Township, Ohio. The Rome Beauty is available from late September to January.