DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPLES
As we have learned, apples are healthy to eat! They are also extremely versatile, so you can enjoy their health benefits in a wide variety of dishes!
Many people know a few different apple varieties, and you may even know that some are better for baking and some better for eating raw, but do you know why? We found this great video which explains it very well here, but we will also give a summary.
On a general level, apples can be understood based on their sweetness and firmness. Some are sweet and soft, while others are tart and firm, and everything in between! These factors dictate whether the apple is best for baking, making applesauce, cider, or eating raw.
Obviously, this is a bit nit-picky and you can really use whatever apples you like best for recipes, but in case you’re a stickler for texture and flavor, we have just the guide for you. The infographic below will show you where your favorite apples stand on this spectrum.
Many of these varieties you can find in your local grocery store, farmer’s market, or apple orchard. The season for local apples in North Carolina starts in August and ends early November, but apples can grow in the United States all year round, so this is a fruit you can enjoy from the grocery stores when other fruits such as peaches or berries are unavailable fresh. Find apple orchards here.
FUN IDEAS ON COOKING WITH APPLES
Like I said, apples are so versatile, you can cook with them in almost any kind of dish! Desserts, meats, salads, snacks, the list never ends! Here are some of our favorite ways to eat apples, other than just raw in the hand.
- Dipping apples: my favorite is nut butter, but you can also do fun things with silken tofu, yogurt, caramel and many others
- With Sausage! Eastern European cultures use apples with many of their pickled vegetables, and meats in a nice balanced sweet, savory, acidic meal. Here is an example to a classic dish! Tofurky also has an excellent vegan sausage if you don’t eat meat so you can also enjoy this dish.
- Salads! Cut up apples are delicious in almost any salad you make, adding a nice juicy, sweet flavor. I like to do it with chopped nuts and some kind of soft cheese like feta or chevre, but the possibilities are endless.
- A classic is baked goods! Pies, tarts, crisps, muffins, cookies, everything under the sun! Apple pie is my favorite, but there are so many options which it comes to desserts.
FUTURE COOKING CLASS
Our cooking class for October will be on Nutritious Desserts, featuring a brand-new homemade Whole Grain Apple Crisp recipe! Come and enjoy watching Julie cook and learn more about this wonderful fruit!
Register for the class which takes place on October 28th @ 11 am here!
RESOURCES
- Where to find apple orchards in North Carolina
- very fun video showing different creative ways to cook with Apples
- TEDex fun video on why there are so many apple varieties
