Apples

Apples are one of the few fruits you can find fresh any time of the year. However, fall means lots of apples here in Illinois.
An apple is a colorful and delicious package of nutrition and good eating. A medium-size apple has:
  • fiber, nearly 20% of what you need each day
  • vitamins including C and beta carotene (if you leave the peel on)
  • minerals including potassium
  • and only 80 calories
Choose kinds of apples that suit family tastes and the uses you have in mind. There are many good all-purpose apples. Others are best for using in certain ways.

Apples that "go to pieces" when cooked are usually best for applesauce; those that keep their shape are best for baking whole. Tart apples are good for cooking; sweeter apples, for eating raw.

Use this list to help you choose the type you want.

Know Your Apple Varieties
Variety Uses
Using Raw General Cooking Baking Whole
Baldwin
Delicious (red)
Golden Delicious
Grimes Golden
Jonathan
McIntosh
Northern Spy
Rome Beauty
Stayman
Winesap
York Imperial

When buying:

  • Look for smooth skin with few bruises. Too many bruises mean the apple may rot.

  • Choose apples with a bright and sparkly color.
When storing:
  • Apples keep best when refrigerated. Store them in a plastic bag or the drawer to keep them fresh.

  • Check them often. Remove any decayed apples. One rotten apple can indeed spoil the whole barrel!

  • Raw, cut apples may darken. Prevent this by dipping them in a fruit juice - lemon, orange, grapefruit, or pineapple - before adding other ingredients.
Eat more apples by using some of these ideas:

Apple-Carrot Salad

3 c. diced apples
1/3 c. salad dressing or mayonnaise
1 large carrot, shredded
1/3 c. raisins
1 T. lemon juice
1/8 t. salt

Combine ingredients and mix well. Makes 8 servings.

Baked Apples

6 baking apples
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. margarine
1/2 c. raisins
1 c. water
1/2 t. cinnamon

Core apples without cutting through the bottom end. Peel about one third of way down. Place in baking dish. Mix sugar, raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg and fill centers of apples. Dot with margarine and pour water into baking dish. Bake at 375°F about 50-60 minutes or until apples are tender.

Applesauce Nugget Cookies

2 c. flour
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 t. salt
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. ground cloves, optional
1 c. applesauce
1 egg, well beaten
1 c. chopped nuts
1 pkg. (6-oz.) butterscotch bits

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, applesauce and baking soda and stir well. Add dry ingredients and mix again. Stir in nuts and butterscotch bits. Drop by teaspoons 2-3 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen.

Prepared by Beverly Combs, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, University of Illinois Extension.

New Features | Home Care | Wellness | Consumer Economics | Foods & Nutrition