Apples are sweet, crunchy fruits, rich in fiber and vitamins, characteristics that make them one of the most popular snacks in the world. There are literally hundreds of edible apple varieties in existence, so there are many ways to eat them. Learn to choose the best fruits, how to store them properly and experiment with some of the fun ideas proposed in this article by eating them raw or cooked.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Apples
Step 1. Learn about the many varieties of apples
You will think that an apple is always an apple, but you are wrong. Eating a Fuji is certainly not the same as eating a Golden Delicious, a Renetta or a Granny Smith. As already mentioned, there are literally hundreds of apple varieties in the world, grown for their different properties, characteristics and flavors. Although, depending on the area you live in, some will be more easily found than others, knowing the main varieties will allow you to select the apple that best suits your tastes.
- If you love sweet fruits, Fuji, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Red Chief and Red Delicious are the apples for you.
- If you love crunchy apples, Breaburn, Granny Smith, Pinova, Royal Gala and Staiman Winesap have the texture you are looking for.
- If you are a lover of sour flavors or are looking for a variety of apples to eat cooked, focus your choice on the Granny Smith, Breaburn and Jonagold varieties.
Step 2. Identify the ripe apples
Before placing them in the cart, make sure that the selected apples are firm to the touch and fragrant to the nose. A ripe apple must have a compact consistency and emanate a pleasant scent in the area of the petiole or of the opposite cavity (called calicina). Varieties with a more floury pulp, such as Golden and Stark, will be slightly softer to the touch, which is normal. If they are appetizing to the nose, it means that they are ready to eat.
- Identify any areas that are bruised, discolored, or infested with worms or insects. Apples with soft-textured brown spots or dark holes that appear to penetrate the pulp should be avoided. The presence of small superficial dark dots does not compromise the goodness of the fruit.
- Basically you need to notice any signs that the apple is unripe or overripe. All apples purchased must be able to be eaten immediately. Your task is to avoid those fruits that are now "past" and therefore could easily rot.
Step 3. Store them appropriately
Apples are picked when they reach full ripeness, so the best thing to do is enjoy them right away. If you intend to eat them within a couple of days, you can store them in a fruit bowl on the kitchen counter.
- If, on the other hand, you intend to keep them longer, put them in the refrigerator, closed in a paper bag. By doing so they will keep their characteristics intact.
- The saying "One rotten apple rots all the others" is more than just a saying. As apples ripen, they produce ethylene, a substance that promotes ripening even in the surrounding fruits. For this reason it is good to avoid storing them in closed plastic bags, where they would mature and rot quickly. Paper is the best possible wrapper.
- If you need to keep an apple already cut (sliced or in half) put it in the refrigerator. Apple pulp tends to dry out and darken very quickly, but sprinkling it with a few drops of lemon juice will keep it fresh longer.
Part 2 of 3: Eating Raw Apples
Step 1. Clean it externally
Put it under a stream of cold running water, then wipe the entire surface of the apple with a clean cloth to remove any residual pollen and dust. At this point it is ready to be enjoyed as you like, sliced or whole.
- Some apples on the market are coated with a thin layer of food wax, whose job is to protect them from parasites, delay the decomposition process and make them appear more shiny. Although some people consider them potentially dangerous to health, food waxes have been approved by the relevant regulatory bodies and are routinely consumed as they are very popular.
- If you are concerned that the waxes may contain pesticides, the best thing to do is peel the fruit before eating it and remove the peel using a sharp knife that will allow you to remove the least layer of pulp possible.
- Most of the apple fibers are contained in the peel. Ursolic acid, a precious substance with multiple properties, such as promoting weight loss, improving the respiratory process and stabilizing blood sugar levels, is also contained in the apple peel.
Step 2. Eat the whole fruit
The most common way to eat an apple has always been to bite it directly with your teeth, consuming both the pulp and the peel, rotating it after each bite. The petiole can be easily eliminated by turning it several times on itself. As a rule, we will try to get as close as possible to the core, the most leathery and central part of the fruit in which the small seeds are enclosed, and then throw it.
- Contrary to what most people think, apple core is also completely edible. Some estimates state that when we throw it away, we give up about 30% of the apple's edible pulp. Try eating the whole fruit, starting with the small cavity in the bottom.
- Apple seeds contain a tiny amount of cyanide, but at such infinitesimal levels as not to be dangerous to health at all. You can therefore eat them without any worries.
Step 3. If you wish, you can slice the apple
Slicing the apple allows you to enjoy it as a snack, perhaps dipped in a cream or spice. Use a small sharp knife to remove the core, then cut the two halves of the fruit into small pieces of the shape you prefer.
- Cut the apple in half, starting from the stalk up to the opposite cavity, to divide the core in two. At this point you can slice it as you wish.
- As a rule, it is also advisable to remove the central part of the fruit, the hardest one that contains the seeds. You can do this using the same sharp knife you cut it in half with.
- Alternatively, you can try to cut the apple horizontally, halfway between the stem and the calicina. Also in this case the toughest part will be divided in half, therefore easier to eliminate.
Step 4. Prepare a tasty snack
A sliced apple is a perfect base on which to spread or sprinkle sauces or spices. Experiment with the following combinations for an afternoon snack, a healthy breakfast, or to persuade your child to eat some fruit.
- If you're craving a quick and tasty snack, dip the apple pieces in honey, caramel or peanut butter. Even the toughest palates can't resist peanut butter-covered apple slices. Preparing caramelized apples is a great way to get kids (but also adults) involved in the kitchen.
- If you love combining sweet and savory flavors, try accompanying apples with cheese. Aged cheeses, preferably rather savory, will give excellent results. Alternatively, you can combine them with sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts or other salty seeds or nuts, which will allow you to meet your daily protein needs.
Step 5. Consider chilling the apples in the refrigerator
After spending a few hours in the cold, they will be even more pleasant and refreshing on the palate. For an explosion of taste, you can serve them accompanied by ice cream and caramel syrup!
Part 3 of 3: Cooking with Apples
Step 1. Make the applesauce.
If you have bought more apples than you can eat and are concerned that they may deteriorate, the ideal solution is to turn them into a sauce. Applesauce is in fact easy to prepare, customize and can be stored for a long time. To ensure a greater supply of fiber, you can also avoid peeling them; remember, however, that not using the peels will result in a sauce with a more homogeneous consistency.
- First wash the apples, then cut them into small bite-sized pieces. Pour them into a medium saucepan, add a little water to prevent them from sticking to the bottom, then turn on a medium-low heat. Let them cook, stirring frequently, until they reach the desired consistency. Add brown sugar and cinnamon in the amount you prefer.
- Applesauce can be eaten still hot or at room temperature. Many people like to enjoy it cold; in this case, after letting it cool, put it in the refrigerator for a few hours. If you want to keep it for a few days, transfer it to an airtight container, then put it in the refrigerator.
Step 2. Use your imagination and experiment with one of the many apple recipes
Apple pie is one of the most loved desserts in the world for a very specific reason: apples are a perfect filling. Thanks to its characteristics of sweet, juicy fruit and a firm consistency, it is an excellent ingredient for baked goods. Unleash your creativity and delight your palate with the following preparations:
- Apple pie.
- Cooked apples.
- Apple Crumble.
- Vegan apple pie.
- Mignon apple pies.
Step 3. Make homemade apple juice
Take a look at the ingredients found in commercial fruit juices. Which is the most common? Just apple juice. This is because apple juice is sweet, delicious and simple to mix with more tart ones to create fabulous combinations. If you have a juicer, slice the raw apples, then turn them into tasty juice; you can drink it plain to fill up on vitamins or use it to sweeten others.
- Apple cider is another excellent drink that can be made at home. In this case, however, the technique to be used is quite different from the one that allows you to prepare the simple juice. First you need to transform the apples into a puree with a consistency similar to that of a sauce, then you need to filter it using food fabric. The result will be stored in the refrigerator.
- Heat the cider and juice in a small pot, add cinnamon, orange zest, cloves and other spices to your taste. This hot drink is perfect for serving during the holiday season.
Advice
- To prevent the potatoes from sprouting, store them in a paper bag in which you added a sliced apple.
- The core is in no way poisonous or unpleasant to the palate, only the seeds can have an unpleasant taste, so it is best to remove them. For younger children, sowing can also pose a potential choking hazard.
- Honey-coated apples are a yummy and fun preparation perfect for Halloween. Alternatively, try covering them with melted chocolate, then stick them with a wooden skewer to make them easier to enjoy. It is a healthy and delicious alternative to candied apples sold in supermarkets.
Warnings
- Always be cautious when handling a sharp knife.
- If a few drops of apple juice were to dry on the skin, it could attract insects attracted by its sweetness. To avoid this, wash off immediately with water.
