Apples come in many shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. In fact, there are 7500 apple varieties in the world. Those varieties fall into 5 main categories: fresh, cooking/baking, saucing, cider, and decorative apples. Specific characteristics of any given variety determine the best use for that type of apple.
Thin skin, extreme juiciness, and medium-firmness are typically what
makes a good fresh eating apple, however the thin skin and softer
flesh also means they do not have a very long shelf life.
Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Empire, Pink Lady, and Gala are
popular fresh eating apples. Granny Smith is my personal favorite on
a fresh salad.
Apple & Salad Recipe!
Thicker skin, balanced sugar and acid, and a fairly firm texture are
characteristic of a baking apple. The thicker skin and firm flesh
help to increase the shelf life drastically, providing us with
apples throughout the winter months if kept in consistent
refrigeration. A baking apple should be moderately-firm so that it
holds its shape throughout the baking process.
Popular baking apples include: Jonagold, Pink Lady, Stayman-Winesap,
Idared, Northern Spy, and Granny Smith.
Apple Dumpling Recipe!
Grilled Apple Recipe!
Apple & Butternut Squash Soup Recipe!
Sauce apples are generally softer apples that are easily broken down
by cooking. These apples should have balanced sugars and acids.
Sauce made from mostly well-balanced apples can also be a good
outlet to make use of overripe apples. The skin type doesn't really
matter since you typically remove it before making the sauce anyway.
Although, if you use an apple with red skin and do not peel it off,
it will turn the sauce pink!
Traditional saucing apples include: Jonagold, Cortland, Mcintosh,
and Fuji.
Applesauce Recipe!
The best cider is made from a complex blend of heirloom varieties.
These can include American apples like Harrison and Roxbury Russett
and also traditional European varieties like Dabinett and Muscadet
de Berney.
More commonly, cider is commercially-produced using a random
assortment of the blemished and overripe apples that are unfit for
sale as premium-grade apples.
Cider Hot Toddy Recipe!
Apple Cider Doughnut Recipe!
The Red Delicious is probably the most iconic apple. It's the one we
give to our favorite teachers and the one we see in Better Homes and
Gardens magazines. It's deep red color and natural glossy finish
make the Red Delicious an attractive apple to display.
Other popular varieties for making centerpieces and craft projects
include: Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Jonathan, and Golden Delicious.
Decoration Inspiration!