General Discussion

frazzled

(18,402 posts)

124. Different varieties of apple are good for different things

Mon Sep 15, 2014, 01:43 PM

Sep 2014

Some are better for baking, some for snacking. A good pie will generally result from a combination of apples used together (tarter and sweeter), and people differ in whether they like their apples to bake soft or hard.

Some apples store longer, some are available for a shorter time and don't keep long.

If you want to use a cut-up raw apple in a salad that won't turn brown, try a Cortland.

I'm an equal-opportunity apple trier (though I can't say I've bought a Red Delicious in decades). We tasted some different early varieties at the Farmer's Market this weekend, and rejected the Honey Crisp (kind of bland) in favor of some still-small McIntoshes. They're sweet-tart when first picked, but will go more sweet with time. I'd use them in a cake because they're moist.

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The Awful Reign of the Red Delicious, how the worst apple took over the US & continues to spread [View all] Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 OP

Hey! I LIKE Red Delicious! BlueCaliDem Sep 2014 #1

it was bred for that tougher skin Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #3

Mmm...love that crunch! Then that surprise burst of sweet juiciness right after. BlueCaliDem Sep 2014 #6

"burst of sweet juciness"? try a honey crisp Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #15

Are Honey Crisp apples crunchier on the outside? BlueCaliDem Sep 2014 #16

IMO yes the honey crisp are far better however that aside they are also far more expensive cstanleytech Sep 2014 #60

We have two trees in our yard marlakay Sep 2014 #97

Nice, I wish we could grow them here but they are not recommended for my region. cstanleytech Sep 2014 #107

We also planted a couple Honeycrisp. progressoid Sep 2014 #119

What kinda fence did you use? cstanleytech Sep 2014 #134

We have no fence marlakay Sep 2014 #135

Mm we see them all the time outside our house and across the road. cstanleytech Sep 2014 #136

Some cheap plastic mesh stuff from our local building supply. progressoid Sep 2014 #139

If red and delicious arent actually red and delicious, how are we supposed to know Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #30

And the sweetness was bred out because of that brush Sep 2014 #38

Red Delicious apples from the '60s and '70s amandabeech Sep 2014 #53

Yes they do, apples trees are produced by grafting not seeds happyslug Sep 2014 #75

This message was self-deleted by its author amandabeech Sep 2014 #78

I go for trees of antiquity MohRokTah Sep 2014 #93

Engineering didn't make them grainy and mushy. Long-term storage is the culprit. freshwest Sep 2014 #94

Thanks for the info brush Sep 2014 #109

You are totally correct. I grew up in the Hood River Valley surrounded by orchards. The Red OregonBlue Sep 2014 #116

Thanks. That last sentence is a question, that I've asked produce managers. The answer is simple and freshwest Sep 2014 #125

Plebian! Ruffian! lowbrow! Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #26

Hah! BlueCaliDem Sep 2014 #32

What taste? Scootaloo Sep 2014 #54

Not my experience at all - and I've been eating Red Delicious for years now. BlueCaliDem Sep 2014 #129

When I was a kid, before the reds were grown for color and crispness only rustydog Sep 2014 #121

I will not eat that red delicious mealy, disgusting, chervilant Sep 2014 #2

i think it's spelled "mealy" Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #27

Get Lost Cruz.... StevePaulson Sep 2014 #52

I'm taking him BACK! chervilant Sep 2014 #84

i wonder if this is the reason i have never liked apples much compared to other fruits JI7 Sep 2014 #4

I hate them get the red out Sep 2014 #5

Agreed Dirty Socialist Sep 2014 #7

I never buy red delicious. DawgHouse Sep 2014 #8

Honey, Crisp, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smiths cali Sep 2014 #10

Jazz apple! AngryAmish Sep 2014 #62

The perfect apple, to my taste. nt MannyGoldstein Sep 2014 #82

Love all of them. Except Red Delicious. laundry_queen Sep 2014 #89

They are definately my least favorite apple that I have tried. nt ZombieHorde Sep 2014 #9

Galas are wonderful. Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2014 #11

I never paid much attention Jamaal510 Sep 2014 #12

Eating a Red Delicious is like eating wax fruit with a corn syrup injection. enki23 Sep 2014 #13

The skin is so thick and leathery too Populist_Prole Sep 2014 #24

I've had good red delicious apples - but then again - i'm not an apple expert el_bryanto Sep 2014 #14

Red delicious are the jar jar binks of the apple world. JaneyVee Sep 2014 #17

That's stone fucking cold, right there. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #31

The Macs we get aren't as good as in the past TexasProgresive Sep 2014 #47

And, they discontinued the ipod classic this week Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #49

...Damn. That's harsh. Scootaloo Sep 2014 #55

This message was self-deleted by its author marions ghost Sep 2014 #117

Great, just what we need. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #18

Great, just what we need Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #21

Thats me! Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #22

DUZY! IADEMO2004 Sep 2014 #29

lol. that made me laugh Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #34

In all fairness, I'm not terribly impressed with Red Delicious apples either. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #42

Have you had honeycrisp? tammywammy Sep 2014 #66

I think I have.. honestly I lose track. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #88

Honeycrisp? Aerows Sep 2014 #103

Is it snobbish to Cha Sep 2014 #101

Just don't ask me to pay fucking $3.50 for an apple, mmkay? X_Digger Sep 2014 #19

Dont be bagging on the yoga pants Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #25

I work at a hotel and Red Delicious apples are standard. RoverSuswade Sep 2014 #20

I have never seen a delicious apple growing here in Washington Generic Other Sep 2014 #36

They also have a long shelf life. progressoid Sep 2014 #120

Bingo! RoverSuswade Sep 2014 #143

I like Granny Smith Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #23

Haven't eaten one in years. So many better apple varieties available, now. Paladin Sep 2014 #28

Honey Crisp is the holy grail of apples in our household bhikkhu Sep 2014 #35

Honey Crisps showed up 10 days ago at the local store Omaha Steve Sep 2014 #61

As a Newyorker I have to say... amerikat Sep 2014 #33

I agree yourmovemonkey Sep 2014 #56

Fuji Fan. libdem4life Sep 2014 #37

Thinking of buying Fujis for my apple salad. deafskeptic Sep 2014 #41

I still pine for Jonathans. The season here was short, but oh so glorious! Demit Sep 2014 #39

Second that motion on Jonathans; Winesaps (when you can find them), Arkansas Blacktwig . . hatrack Sep 2014 #50

I have a Jonathan in my back yard. RoverSuswade Sep 2014 #70

McIntosh, Winesap, and Jonathans Botany Sep 2014 #79

They are the first to get ripe at our place, but the birds get most of them. AnotherDreamWeaver Sep 2014 #115

I find the anecdote about destroying the apples to be awful mythology Sep 2014 #40

Maybe you aren't old enough Curmudgeoness Sep 2014 #48

As I discovered this OP, I was on my last bite of a Roxbury Russet - a mid 1600s NRaleighLiberal Sep 2014 #43

I wish I could have gone to that festival TuxedoKat Sep 2014 #108

If you're in New England, try to find Northern Spy apples Warpy Sep 2014 #151

Let the apple wars if DU commence. aikoaiko Sep 2014 #44

. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2014 #45

Mmmm. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #46

There are near 8000 snowgypsy Sep 2014 #51

I prefer red delicious, the only ones I buy unless making a salad and it calls Thinkingabout Sep 2014 #57

I liked the Gold Delicious better. Fuji and Gala are the ones I end up buying. Too many of the Red alfredo Sep 2014 #74

I find them crunchy and juicy, when old they tend to get mealy. Thinkingabout Sep 2014 #83

It's a crap shoot. alfredo Sep 2014 #96

For eating out of hand, it's Golden Delicious for me Warpy Sep 2014 #152

That reminds me, I have some granny smiths. alfredo Sep 2014 #153

Oh, great. More red privilege bashing. Orrex Sep 2014 #58

Give me an Ambrosia apple any day. Thor_MN Sep 2014 #59

If you ever get to try a Ginger Gold or Blushing Gold do it! Cobalt Violet Sep 2014 #63

I adore Ginger Golds LadyHawkAZ Sep 2014 #76

Macouns are Unbeatable! adirondacker Sep 2014 #64

Unbeatable? Have you ever tried.. gvstn Sep 2014 #114

Golden Delicious PatrynXX Sep 2014 #65

Red delicious? Blech! BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #67

Cheap apples can be used for juice or applesauce IronLionZion Sep 2014 #68

My homemade applesauce Lifelong Protester Sep 2014 #69

Homemade applesauce is the best! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #110

O.K., I bit into this link & the answer is: Cosmetic "red" marketing. Don't click. Save time. n/t UTUSN Sep 2014 #71

FUJI FUJI FUJI!!!! n/m ProudToBeBlueInRhody Sep 2014 #72

Pippins out before Thanksgiving...Apple Pie... Tikki Sep 2014 #73

I will always love the Honeycrisp Aerows Sep 2014 #77

My kid's favorite, favorite show. We can't wait for the 4th season. nt msanthrope Sep 2014 #98

I can't wait for season 4 either! Aerows Sep 2014 #102

Spoiler....possible spoiler....... msanthrope Sep 2014 #106

It will be disastrous Aerows Sep 2014 #130

I thought to add this to the other post Aerows Sep 2014 #132

Spoilers..... msanthrope Sep 2014 #133

Stow your bags Aerows Sep 2014 #142

OMG, did we just bond? n/t Aerows Sep 2014 #144

Not only did we bond, but I am in complete and utter agreement msanthrope Sep 2014 #147

Clue me in on what a "Pam" means Aerows Sep 2014 #150

"Vampire Pam" Aerows Sep 2014 #149

it beat the hell donco Sep 2014 #80

There used to be over a thousand types of apple grown in America. GETPLANING Sep 2014 #81

Funny thread to me! cilla4progress Sep 2014 #85

Fuji is my favorite - as others have said here, RD is mushy and mealy, closeupready Sep 2014 #86

Wonder how many people read this and think red delicious apples are disgusting / beneath them now, chrisa Sep 2014 #87

I was just asking myself if I liked them or not. Inkfreak Sep 2014 #91

I HATE the Delicious. It's way too tart or something. Not as sweet as valerief Sep 2014 #90

Honeycrisp or Pink Lady is the way to go. Pisces Sep 2014 #92

I like Pink Lady and wouldn't touch a Red Delicious. nm rhett o rick Sep 2014 #95

RD's suck, I miss Winesaps and Northern Spys. beam me up scottie Sep 2014 #99

Woody, flavorless, and certainly not delicious. longship Sep 2014 #100

i had some small early red ds that were dedible, but yeah. crap + IT GIVES PEOPLE pansypoo53219 Sep 2014 #104

what this thread need are some apple recipes! cali Sep 2014 #105

When the Red Delicious is gone you'll be sorry! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #111

I like red apples shenmue Sep 2014 #112

I was raised on Golden and Red Delicious. Orsino Sep 2014 #113

Braeburns marions ghost Sep 2014 #118

I detest the Red Delicious apple Horse with no Name Sep 2014 #122

Red Delicious - like biting into a large sugar packet. HughBeaumont Sep 2014 #123

Different varieties of apple are good for different things frazzled Sep 2014 #124

I lucked in when I bought my house OnlinePoker Sep 2014 #126

Only because of it's looks. louis-t Sep 2014 #127

Long-lived Lounge thread KamaAina Sep 2014 #128

thanks. didnt see it Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #138

based on the responses on this thread..... Sheepshank Sep 2014 #131

.. Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #140

WARNING.....WARNING......BEWARE.... whistler162 Sep 2014 #137

Unless there has been a change most of the red delicious sold in stores arent engineered. cstanleytech Sep 2014 #141

All apples variants are engineered. whistler162 Sep 2014 #146

I suggest you read up on the definition of GMO and what it is and is not cstanleytech Sep 2014 #148

I hate to be that dude with facial hair and a hat who talks about heirloom produce, but... Recursion Sep 2014 #145