BAKING BASICS - BAKING APPLES

BALDWIN – Good for sauces, jam, and jellies.  Recommended for baking and pies.

BRAEBURN – Bland after cooking.  Best for eating only. 

CORTLAND – After baking, softer flesh retains shape.  Best to cut in thicker slices, ¾ inch.  Highly recommended for pies.

EMPIRE – Best cut in thick slices, ¾ inche.  Recommended for pies.

FUJI – Very crisp and low moisture.  Recommended for cooking and baking.

GALA – Sweet flavor with moderate to high moisture content.  Retains shape well after baking, but has a dull color when cooked.  Not recommended for baking.

GOLDEN DELICIOUS – Retains shape well after baking.  Best for visual appeals, with rich, golden color when cooked.  Very thin skin, peeling is optional.  Resist discoloration when peeled.  Short shelf life.  Top choice for open fruit tarts.

GRANNY SMITH – Hard flesh, best used in 1/4 –inch slices.  Retains shape after baking, but color is dull and unappetizing.  Recommended for pies and tarts, but lack of visual appeal is the tradeoff for flavor.

GRAVENSTEIN – Retains shape after baking.  Recommended for pies but increase thickening.

IDAREAD – Soft, white flesh, retains shape when baked.  Recommended for pies but increase thickening.

JONAGOLD – Soft flesh, golden color, retain shapes fairly well.  Best to cut in 12/-inch slices.  Recommended for pies.

JONATHON – All-purpose apple, used for cider.  Hard to find.  Not recommended for baking.

MCINTOSH – White flesh, loses crispness and shape after baking.  Produces soft, mushy pie fillings.  Makes superior applesauce.

MACOUN – Same cooking and baking properties as McIntosh.

MUTSU (CRISPIN) – Retains shape when baked, with soft, golden color.  Best cut in ½-inch slices.  Similar to Golden Delicious, but more tart with greater dept of flavor.  Highly recommended, a top choice for pịe

NORHTER SPY – Retains shape well after baking.  Best slice 1/2 –inch thick.  Highly recommended, a top choice for pies.

NEWTOWN PIPPEN – Good for cooking, but not recommended for baking.

RED DELICIOUS -  Poor texture for cooking or baking.

ROME BEAUTY – Soft flesh, hold shape well when baked.  Best cut in ¾-inch slices.  Highly recommended for pies, especially when combined with tart apples.

STAYMAN WINESAP – Used widely for apple cider.  Recommended for pies.

From Pies & Tarts by Carol Walter.