Love baking, cooking, or just eating apples? This guide will give you a general guideline for which apples to use when, tips on storing them, and healthy recipes to enjoy all season long. 

The Basics

Grown and enjoyed all over the world, apples (or rather apple trees) are originally from central Asia. 

They’re an excellent source of fiber as well as vitamin C and antioxidants. As they’re mostly water, they’re also relatively low in calories. 

While often enjoyed raw, apples have many uses as they can be added to savory or sweet sauces, baked into desserts, roasted with meat or chicken dishes, sautéed for a pancake or ice cream topping, or made into ciders. 

This month we’re focusing in on four types of apples and how to bring out the best flavor and texture of them. 

Best Uses for Popular Apple Varieties 

There are over 2,500 types of apples grown in the US alone, each with their own unique flavor and texture. While some apples are highly versatile, others are best used either fresh or cooked down/baked. 

We’ll touch on four of these apples more in-depth this month, but here’s a general guide for knowing which apples to use when. 

Apples that are best cooked or baked 

• Golden Delicious 
• Braeburn

Apples that are best fresh 

• Fuji 
• Gala 
• Red Delicious 

Apples that are equally delicious cooked or fresh 

• Cortland 
• Gala 
• Granny Smith 
• Honeycrisp
• Jazz 
• Jonagold 
• Macoun
• McIntosh
• Rome Beauty 
• Pink Lady 

How to store

If you plan on eating apples within 2-3 days, feel free to leave them out on the counter. 

However, for longer storage, apples keep best when stored in the crisper drawer of your fridge. 

Depending on how fresh they were when you got them, apples can last up to a month in the fridge. Just make sure not to stack them as they can bruise easily. 

Healthy Apple Recipes 

• Greek Yogurt Apple Pancakes for Two 
• Healthy Apple Turkey Meatballs 
• Baked Apple Overnight Oats 
• Skinny Cheesecake Bars with Baked Apple Topping
• Healthy Baked Apple Topping 

Meet Your Ingredients Featured Apples: 

This month we’re going to focus on four common apples and recipes that showcase their unique flavors and textures. Keep a lookout for guides on these popular varieties: 

• Pink Lady 
• Granny Smith 
• McIntosh
• Braeburn