Apples - What to Buy

  Confused about which apple to buy? Do you stand at that roadside apple stand and wonder which ones to pick? Don’t feel bad, there are now more than 7000 varieties of apples to chose from. Of course, none of us are going to have that amount to select from. Different parts of the country and different countries will have different types.

  In an attempt to help sort some of the confusion, here is a small list of apples and what are the best uses for them.

  Just to eat and enjoy, not cook with, are Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious and Cortland.

  Firm apples, are good for pies, crisps whole baked apples, apple cakes in fact anything you want the apple to hold its texture and look attractive. In this category are Braeburn, Cameo, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Jonagold Pink Lady. For firm tart apples use Baldwin, Granny Smith Northern Spy, Rome. 

  For apple sauce and pureed soups, you can’t beat Mcintosh. Others are Cox’s Orange Pippin, Empire, Jonathan, Lady Apple.

  These are some of the more common types at least in our area. If you aren’t sure what the variety you are looking at would be best for, your apple stand seller or the produce manager in the store is a good source of information. Many stores put up signs suggesting uses for different types.

  Of the newer type, I think Honeycrisp are my favorites. Good to eat, great to bake with if you can hide them long enough so no one eats them.

  Happy eating and baking and remember the saying “A apple a day, keeps the Dr. away”.