When you head to your local apple orchard, or even a well-stocked grocery store, you’ll find all sorts of different and interesting apple varieties. Some are perfect for eating as is, while others lend themselves to baking, cooking with, making apple sauce and the likes. Of course some varieties store better than others. Here’s a quick overview of some of the more common varieties of apples.
Crispin Apples
Crispin’s are large apples with a yellow-green skin. With their sweet flavor, these crisp yet juicy apples are perfect for baking pies and making apple sauce.
Empire Apples
Empires are a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious. This is a great apple that works for just about anything including baking. They are also delicious freeze well.
Gala Apples
Gala apples are great for eating and to make apple sauce. Don’t try to bake with these apples. They tend to fall apart when you cook them.
Golden Delicious
These apples keep their shape well during baking, making them perfect for pies. They are also delicious eating apples that store well.
Granny Smith
This is one of the most popular apples around and for good reason. They are perfect for eating raw and hold up well in pies and crisps. You may want to add a little extra sugar or honey to balance out the tart flavor of these green apples.
Honeycrisp
This is a fairly new apple variety that’s crisp and juicy. As you bite into these apples you’ll notice a light honey flavor.
Ida Red
This is a very old apple variety. Ida Reds keep their shape during baking and even freeze well. Perfect for using them for baking and in apple sauce.
Jonagold
These apples are a blend of Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples. They are best eaten fresh or used in apple sauce.
Jonathan
Jonathan apples are anther variety that’s perfect for baking pies and cakes. They hold their shape well and have a nice crisp flavor.
McIntosh
This is another apple that’s best eaten fresh from the tree. They don’t hold up well to baking, but make delicious apple sauce.
Red Delicious
Like the McIntosh apples, this is another variety that’s best used for eating.
Winesap
This is a firm but sweet apple that holds up well in baking and makes a great addition to your apple sauce as well.
Give these different apple varieties a try and find your own favorites for eating, storing, baking, and cooking. Of course you can mix and match, particularly when you’re making pie fillings or apple sauce.
