17 Different Types of Apples to Try Right Now
Delicious and nutritious, apples have been doing a body good since the beginning of humanity. The most revered fruit of all, apples have religious and mythological significance in many cultures. And today, they continue to be the most sought-after product of all of fall’s bounty. Read on to learn a little about apples, like popular apple varieties, lesser-known apple types, apple-picking tips, and much more!
Popular Apple Varieties
Apple season is in full effect, with many varieties harvested in late August. Here’s a taste of the most popular apples and their features.
Paula Red
Taste: Tangy
Color: Red/green
Texture: Tender
Raw: Good for eating
Harvest: August-September
Cooking: Excellent for pie and sauce; not recommended for baking
Gala
Taste: Sweet
Color: Red/orange/yellow stripes
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: August-November
Cooking: Not recommended for sauce; excellent for pie and baking
Golden Supreme
Taste: Sweet
Color: Yellow
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September
Cooking: Good for pie and sauce; excellent for baking
McIntosh
Taste: Tangy
Color: Red and green
Texture: Tender
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September-January
Cooking: Good for pie, sauce, and baking
Honeycrisp
Taste: Sweet/tart
Color: Mottled red over yellow
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September-December
Cooking: Good for pie; fair for sauce; not recommended for baking
Red Delicious
Taste: Sweet
Color: Striped to solid red
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September-May
Cooking: Fair for pie; not recommended for sauce; good for baking
Golden Delicious
Taste: Sweet
Color: Yellow/green
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September-May
Cooking: Good for pie and sauce; excellent for baking
Granny Smith
Taste: Tart
Color: Green with pink blush
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Good for eating
Harvest: October-February
Cooking: Not recommended for sauce; excellent for pie and baking
Fuji
Taste: Sweet/spicy
Color: Red blush with green/yellow stripes
Texture: Firm
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: October-May
Cooking: excellent for pie; not recommended for sauce; good for baking
Pink Lady
Taste: Sweet/tart
Color: Red with green blush
Texture: Hard/crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: November-March
Cooking: Good for pie; not recommended for sauce or baking
Lesser-known Apple Varieties to Try
Did you know there are more than 7,500 types of apples grown across the globe? While they vary in flavor and uses, these lesser-known varieties of apples are worth trying.
Stayman-Winesap
Taste: Spicy
Color: Red
Texture: Firm
Raw: Good for eating
Harvest: October-April
Cooking: Good for pie and sauce; excellent for baking
Lodi
Taste: Tart
Color: Green
Texture: Tender
Raw: Fair for eating
Harvest: July
Cooking: Excellent for pie and sauce; not recommended for baking
Cortland
Taste: Tart
Color: Red and green
Texture: Tender
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September-October
Cooking: Excellent for pie, sauce, and baking
Johnathan
Taste: Spicy/tangy
Color: Mostly red over green or yellow
Texture: Less firm
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: September-December
Cooking: Good for sauce; excellent for pie and baking
Gold Rush
Taste: Tart/spicy
Color: Yellow
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: November-March
Cooking: Excellent for pie, sauce, and baking
Sansa
Taste: Sweet
Color: Bright red/orange
Texture: Firm
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: August
Cooking: Good for pie; not recommended for sauce or baking
Ginger Gold
Taste: Sweet/tart
Color: Green/yellow with blush
Texture: Crisp
Raw: Excellent for eating
Harvest: August-September
Cooking: Good for pie, sauce, and baking
Apple Picking Tips and Tricks
Visiting an apple orchard is fun for the whole family. Offering a unique, hands-on experience, people can pick apples at the height of their freshness. To pick apples correctly, remember to:
- Pick apples from the outside and top of the tree because they ripen first.
- Look for apples with smooth, unblemished skin.
- Instead of pulling them off, twist and lift the apple so you don’t harm the fruit or tree. Always handle apples gently to avoid bruising.
Check out other fun autumn adventures here.
The Health Benefits of Apples
Apples are sweet, nutritious, flavor-packed powerhouses. Enjoyed alone or in sauces, cakes, and pies, apples are one of the world’s healthiest foods. High in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, apples may help your body slow down the movement of food through your digestive tract.
Plus, apples are loaded with antioxidants and help protect your cells from free-radical damage. Free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, which can initiate a number of diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, over time. Some of the health benefits of apples include:
- Helps maintain a healthy body weight
- Promotes heart health
- Aids in lowering cholesterol
- May lower the risk of cancer
Apple Storage and Preservation Methods
Thanks to their hardy disposition, apples last a lot longer than other fruits. Still, to get the most use out of them, it’s important to store them correctly. To extend their shelf life, store apples in a cool, dark place, such as a refrigerator or basement.
Other apple storage tips:
- Keep them away from other fruits that produce ethylene gas, like bananas, so they don’t ripen too quickly.
- Use blemished apples first, as they won’t last as long as perfect ones.
- Consider canning or freezing apples for long-term storage.
- Peel, slice, and freeze apples for later use in baking and cooking.
Find out if you’re storing your produce correctly. Read, “The Best Ways to Store Your Favorite Fruits & Veggies.”
Apple Recipe
Make fall mornings even better with this recipe for apple oven pancakes.
Apple Oven Pancakes
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 eggs
6 Tbsp all-purpose flour
6 Tbsp milk
¼ tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter
1 medium apple, sliced
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Mix eggs, flour, milk, and salt in a bowl to make the batter.
- Melt butter in standard pie pan, and tip to coat sides.
- Arrange sliced apple in the pie pan. Cover with batter.
- Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl, then sprinkle generously over the batter.
- Bake until puffed and golden, approximately 20-25 minutes.
Unexpected Ways to Use Apples
Nourishing souls for thousands of years, apples are a delightfully sweet and healthy treat. Even though popular apple varieties, like Gala and Honeycrisp, are tasty, lesser-known apples, like Lodi and Gold Rush, also deliver a delicious crunch. However, if you’re looking for unique ways to use apples this fall, check out our article, “Fall Favorite: Unexpected Ways to Use Apples.” From decorating your home to benefitting your skin, apples can be used for much more than a flavorful snack.