Ohio is a GREAT place to live if you like apples. Who doesn’t? To me, apples are one of the most versatile fruits around. You can make an endless variety of desserts, sauces, jellies…or just eat them raw. Apples are truly incredible. If you saw my post a couple of weeks ago on apple orchards, you’ll know that it’s harvest time. Ohio produces 40 different kinds of apples and 11 of them are staples at almost every Ohio orchard. I call them the “magnificent 11” after researching the best ways to use them. Since we all have an opinion about which apples are best for the task at hand, I’ve included my favorite list as well. Enjoy!
Meredith’s List:
Best apple to eat: Granny Smith – cause I love tart!
Best apple to bake a pie: Cortland
Best apples to make sauce: Mix McIntosh and Jonagold
The Magnificent 11:
Cortland
Developed in Cortland, New York
This apple is tart and spicy
Best Uses: raw, baking, sauce
Crispin or “Mutsu”
Developed in Japan and is a cross between Golden Delicious and Indo
This firm apple is spicy
Best Uses: raw, sauce
Golden Delicious
Developed in West Virginia, but not related to the Red Delicious
This apple is soft and sweet
Best Uses: raw, baking, sauce
Red Delicious
Developed in Iowa and the most widely used apple in the world.
This apple is sweet and rich
Best Uses: raw
Fuji
Developed in Japan (hence the name!)
This apple is hard and sweet
Best Uses: raw, sauce
Gala
Developed in New Zealand cousin to Golden Declicious
This apple has a hard and sweet
Best Uses: raw, dried
Granny Smith
Developed in Australia by a granny named Maria Smith. Ha!
This apple is hard and tart
Best Uses: raw, baking, sauce
Jonagold
Cross between Golden Delicious and Jonathan
This apple is hard and sweet
Best Uses: raw, sauce, baking
Rome
Developed right here in Rome Township, Ohio!
This apple is hard and subtle
Best Uses: sauce
McIntoch
Developed in Upper Canada
This apple is soft and spicy
Best Uses: sauce
Stayman
Developed in Kansas
This firm apple is tart and spicy
Best Uses: baking
Learn more about the Baking Equipment and Tools that I love.
