September through November is prime apple season, so be sure to enjoy all this power packed fruit has to offer.
Delicious to eat and packed with nutritious goodness, apples are an excellent source of vitamins and fiber. They are so versatile, transitioning easily into baked goods, drinks, applesauce, dried, or just eaten raw.
Apples are wonderful in jellies and candies. They can be used in decorating during the autumn and winter, as well as enhancing the aroma of your home when studded with cloves or encompassing a tapered candle.
Nutrition
Apples contain antioxidants, flavonoids, pectin, quercetin, phytochemicals and tannins. They have no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol. They do contain potassium in small amounts, which may help with heart health.
Apples also have lots of fiber, which is good for regularity and overall good health. Apples contain the mineral boron, which can help in bone health. They contain natural fruit sugars, as well as vitamins A and C.
Varieties of Apples
Some of the more popular varieties of apples are Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Winesap, Rome and Gala.
Good choices for baking could be: Braeburn, Cameo, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Idared, Jonagold, Johnathan, and Rome Beauty. With its mild tartness, the Rome Beauty is sometimes known as the “baker’s buddy.” It is an apple that tastes very good baked.
The Honeycrisp is becoming more and more popular as an extremely crisp, sweet variety, harvested in September. Delicious to eat and very juicy, the name pretty much says it all for this apple. Some other sweet varieties are; Fuji, Gala and Red Delicious, all great for snacking.
These are only a small sampling of the many thousands of varieties of apples available today.
Removing Wax From Apples
After harvesting, processors often coat apples with wax for protection. Often, people prefer not to have this wax on their fruit and wish it removed. These commercial waxes are not easily washed off, however can be removed with the below simple steps.
- Using a clean fingernail or fruit brush, apply a tiny amount (about a drop), of mild dish detergent on the brush.
- Gently scrub the apple, removing the wax.
- Rinse.
Now your apple should be wax-free, having a nice fresh apple smell.
Freezing Apples
Consider buying apples in bulk this fall to freeze for later use. With their versatility, apples can be on hand in the future for cakes, candies, pies, and more. Below is an easy and quick guide to freezing apples.
- Prepare a large bowl of cold water and squeeze in about ¼ cup lemon juice.
- Core and peel apples, then slice.
- Next, drop your apple slices into the bowl of lemon water.
- Remove apple slices and pack in freezer bags. Do not over-crowd slices.
- Freeze for later use.
Apples with their heady scent and homey goodness are a wonderful comfort food, both filling and satisfying regardless of the time of year. Take advantage of this apple season and really enjoy the different rewards this fruit can bring.
