Ultimate Guide to Apples

Ultimate Guide to Apples - Sustained Kitchen

Chances are, you have one or two favorite apple varieties you always turn to in the grocery store. If this sounds like you, there is a world of apples out there waiting to be discovered. Eating a wider variety of apple cultivars can encourage more diverse agriculture that is more resistant to pests and disease. In this post, I'll tell you all about just a few of the thousands of apple varieties available across the world.

Braeburn

The Dark Horse

Braeburns are a crisp, juicy and lightly sweet apple. They are typically a streaky red color on a green or yellow background. They are great for baking and eating raw. Braeburn's flavor is distinct because it has a deep, slightly spicy undertone. Personally, Braeburns are one of my favorite apples and I think they're highly underrated.

Cortland

The party animal

Cortland apples are bright red with darker red streaks that fade into green near the stem. They are very juicy and have a sweet-tart flavor. What sets Cortlands apart from many other apple varieties is that they don't brown quickly, so their flesh will stay white long after being sliced. This makes them perfect for salads and other raw party dishes, but they're also great apples for baking.

Cripps Pink

The Pink Lady

Many Cripps Pink apples are marketed as "Pink Lady" apples, which was one of the first trademarked apple brands. These apples are sweet-tart, crunchy and work well for snacking, baking and freezing. Their pink skin makes them stand out among the crowd.

Empire

The emo

Empire apples are a cross between Red Delicious and McIntosh apples. This combo gives them a sweet-tart flavor and crunchy texture. Empire apples are known for their deep red, almost maroon, flesh. They're great for eating straight off the tree or for baking.

Fuji

The cute one

Fujis have a gorgeous pink and yellow streaked skin. They are quite sweet, very juicy and crisp. Fujis are best eaten raw or made into sauces. They stand out among the crowd because they are so sweet and picture-perfect.

Gala

The new queen

Galas are a mildly sweet, juicy apple with a light yellow flesh. Their thin skin is primarily red with some yellow streaking and spotting. They're best eaten raw but can be used in sauces as well. Galas are the new queen in town: they recently passed up Red Delicious apples as the most widely grown apple in the U.S.

Golden Delicious

The Cinderella

This yellow, juicy and honey-sweet apple is another classic. Many people assume Golden Delicious apples are related to Red Delicious apples, but they aren't related at all despite their similarities in flavor and texture. Golden Delicious apples are great for snacking and all types of baking. They are one of the most popular yellow apples sold in the U.S.

Granny Smith

The show stopper

Another super versatile apple, Granny Smiths are bright green and super tart. They taste great raw, but also work perfectly for baking and freezing. Granny Smiths are iconic because they are so perfectly, amazingly green. You can recognize them in an instant.

Jazz

The new kid

Sweet, sharp, and juicy, Jazz apples are the daughter of Braeburns and Galas created in the 1980s. They are bright red with yellow patches and have a super firm texture that makes them great for snacking and baking. "Jazz" is actually a trademarked name, with the real cultivar name being Scifresh.

Jonagold

The Teddy Bear

Jonagolds are the sweet-tart cross between Jonathon and Golden Delicious apples. They have a juicy, light yellow flesh and are great for snacking and all types of baking. Like Mitsu, Jonagolds are pretty large apples that are best split between two people.

Honeycrisp

The Starlet

America's latest sweetheart, Honeycrisps have skyrocketed in popularity in the last few years, making their way into the top 5 most popular apple varieties in 2018. They are crunchy yet light in texture and have a sweet and refreshing flavor. Their skin is red with streaks and spots of green and yellow in the background.

Macoun

The softie

Macoun apples are v sweet and have quite tender flesh. They are red with a few green streaks and are great for eating raw or making sauces. They are only available October through November so get them while you can.

McIntosh

The New Englander

McIntosh apples originated in New York and are still primarily produced in Quebec, Ontario and New England. Their skin is crimson to dark red and they have a sweet-tart flavor with juicy and tender flesh.

Mutsu

The Softball

Also known as Crispin apples, Mustus are juicy, sweet and refreshing green apples. They taste great raw and work well as an all-purpose baking apple too. These apples are known for being super large - as in, big enough for several people to split one.

Red Delicious

The International Queen

After being the most popular apple in the U.S. for over 50 years, Red Delicious apples took the number two spot in the 2018 growing season. However, Red Delicious apples are still the most exported apple from the U.S. They have a very mild flavor, with juicy flesh and thick, deep red skin.

Winesap

The Spice Girl

Winesap apples are dark red with a firm and juicy flesh. They are sweet-tart with a hint of spicy, wine-like flavor. Although you can eat them raw, they are primarily used in baking.

Tell me all about your favorite apple varieties in the comments below!