How to Choose Apples

An apple a day is a fine thing if you've got some good apples. Because apples can run the gamut from piercingly tart to refreshingly sweet, you won't get bored with them, either. Follow these tips to choose some good ones.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Apples
• Apples

1. Press the apples lightly to make sure they're firm.

2. Pay attention to the color, regardless of the type of apple. It should be bright, relatively even and clear.

3. Check for a fresh rather than a musty smell.

4. Choose apples with smooth, unblemished skin.

5. Investigate different apple varieties. Even supermarkets are starting to keep more than just Red and Gold Delicious, which, although they keep well, are rather bland-tasting.

6. Buy more apples in the fall, when they are harvested.

7. Go to a local farmer's market. Local apples will always be tastier than apples stored for months and brought in from far away, and you might find some interesting new types.

8. Store apples in a cool place.

Tips & Warnings

• Many modern apples are grown for color, rather than taste, another reason why local apples from small producers are a better bet.
• Green apples are usually tart. Granny Smiths and Pippins are two common green apples. Tart apples are often used for pies.
• McIntosh apples fall apart quickly when cooked; they're great for applesauce, but not good for pie.
• Good, sweet eating apples include Fuji, Gala and Jonagold. Good eaters with a tart edge include Winesap, Northern Spy, Jonathan and Russet.

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on 11/22/2005 Pick four Grannies and two Golden Delicious for each pie. My grandma was Harriet McIntosh and taught me how to bake a pie!
She was born in 1890. I've dazzled lots of men with her apple pie recipe. It holds its shape and has fantastic flavor!

on 11/22/2005 To avoid mushy overwatered apples, check to make sure that the bottom of the apple is closed, not open.