Most people keep apples on hand.It's easier to buy a pre-sorted bag from the grocery than it is to choose good apples.How to check for freshness at the store, the best ways to pick apples, and how to properly store apples are some of the things you can learn.
Step 1: There are obvious bad spots.
The apple is likely to go bad if you see spots that are rotten, dark brown, or too soft.The apple is not bad if there is a bruise or lack of shininess.A bruise is not the same as a rotten spot.If you see a dirty spot, wipe it down to make sure it's not a bad spot.These are fine because they are small and not very deep.It is likely that the apple is rotten deeper into it and not just on the surface.These are the ones you want to avoid.
Step 2: Look for cuts.
Small nicks or slices of apples can be found during picking and transport.Some of the flesh is exposed and becomes brown.A lot of the flesh will be exposed and bad if Apples with excessive cuts are avoided.Again, a small cut and there is nothing to worry about.It is important to make sure the whole apple is not covered in cuts.
Step 3: Look at the color.
When apples are fully ripe, they tend to be a full red or orange color.Granny Smith and Golden delicious apples are both green and yellow, but otherwise they are not very ripe.You want to get the most red you can find.Apples with a full color absorb a lot of sunlight, so they are more colorful than dull looking apples.If half of the apple is green when it should be red, it may not be the best choice.
Step 4: The apple should be firm.
The apple should be between your thumb and index finger.The apple should be squeezed gently.You don't want to bruise it.This is a good apple if you give it a light squeeze.Make sure the majority of the apple is firm by squeezing a few spots around it.
Step 5: Sniff the apple for a foul smell.
The smell of an apple can tell you if it's past its prime freshness.If the apple smells bad, give it a sniff.Good apples have a pleasant smell, while bad apples will smell rotten.The smell is a good indicator of quality.
Step 6: Decide what you want to do with the apple.
You may want to buy different types of apples.If you choose apples that don't bake well, your food will not turn out.You can make a more informed decision about which apple to buy if you plan ahead.Fuji, Goldrush, and Red Delicious can be used in a salad.Jonamac, Spigold, and Cortland are recommended for apple butter because they retain flavor during cooking and pair well with the spices used.Jonagold, Cortland, and Yellow Delicious are good for making applesauce.You can leave it on for pink colored applesauce if the skin is red.
Step 7: There is an apple guide.
Learning apple varieties will allow you to use different apples in different ways.Some people prefer extra sweet apples and some prefer tart apples.Some apples are softer than others.Red Delicious are a classic for snacking, but are not recommended for baking or sauces.Golden Delicious are great for eating pies and baking.There are some sweet apples.Jazz apples are known to be a little more sour.
Step 8: Apples are in season.
Buying apples in the store is more convenient, but getting apples from an orchards guarantees they are fresh.It might be worth the extra effort to get apples that are not weeks or months old, as store apples tend to be.If you want to plan a trip, you need to know if there is an apple orchard within driving distance.This can be a great activity for the whole family.
Step 9: Look for apples that are organic or locally grown.
Apple growers use a lot of pesticides to keep their trees free of bugs.Non-organically grown apples carry pesticides with them to the store.Apples are free of pesticides and therefore are better for you.You can get fresh apples at farmer's markets.Smaller orchards might mean they are tended more carefully.Fresh apples don't have to be transported from far away if you buy locally.
Step 10: It's easy to pick apples that come off the tree.
The best apples come off easily when you pull them from the tree.Lift the apple and gently twist it.It is ripe if it comes loose.It isn't ready yet if it's hard to make it come loose.
Step 11: Pick apples that are outside the tree.
When picking apples from a tree, stick to the furthest away from the outer branches.If the outside of the tree has already been picked over, move to the inside.This does not mean that the apples on inner branches are not ripe, just that they are ripening slower.
Step 12: Place apples in your basket.
It is important to keep apples out of the container you carry them in when you pick them up from the tree.The apples won't be as good to eat if you bruise them.
Step 13: The apples should be separated from the other fruit.
Apples release gas over time.The gas causes other fruit to grow faster, so it won't last as long.When you can, store apples in an area of the fridge away from other fruit.You should leave the bag open so the gas won't get to the apples.The apples will go bad faster if the gas is trapped in the bag.
Step 14: Don't store apples near strong smelling foods.
If kept in close proximity, apples can absorb smells.If possible, store apples in a drawer of their own.Try to keep them out of the fridge with strong smelling foods.Store other foods in tightly sealed containers so that the smell won't spread through the fridge and keep apples fresh.An example of a food that will pass its smell to apples is onions.Garlic, fish, and pepper are some of the foods that can be kept out of apples.
Step 15: If you want to eat apples, use them within 1 to 2 weeks.
You can leave your apples out on the counter.If apples are left out of the refrigerator, they will go bad very quickly.The room temperature apples only last 1-2 weeks.If you buy apples that are not as ripe as you want, you can leave them out for a few days and then move them to the refrigerator.If you leave them out, they won't last as long.It's usually not an issue in the refrigerator if apples are left out.