Take A Bite
Did you know that there are over 7,500 cultivars of apples? That's an awful lot of apples, and some of them are far better than others. Luckily, we've compiled both the best and worst apples to aid in your grocery shopping.
1. Honeycrisp
You know it, you love it; Honeycrisp needs no introduction. This is an apple that truly lives up to its name with a bright sweetness and sharp crunch. The only thing we don't love about this apple is the price.
No machine-readable author provided. Abrahami assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia
2. Granny Smith
The haters will say that Granny Smiths are only good for baking, and we're here to tell them that they're wrong. While they are a superb baking apple, Granny Smith also offers an alluring, mouth-puckeringly sour bite for those who dare. We're just saying that there's a reason why apple-flavored candy tastes like Granny Smiths.
Denley Photography on Unsplash
3. Ginger Gold
An unusual choice for this list, perhaps, but Ginger Gold is an underrated apple to seek out. As the name implies, this is an apple with a bit of spice, like a cider you can bite into. In terms of early season apples, Ginger Gold cannot be beat in terms of sweetness.
4. Northern Spy
If you dislike the "knife skin" of thick-skinned apples such as Granny Smith, Northern Spy may be just the apple for you with delicate skin. Under the skin, you'll find juicy and mild flesh with a solid crunch. Northern Spy is a late-season apple and is a great pick for pies and ciders as well as munching.
5. Pink Lady
The people's princess of apples, Pink Lady is a grocery store mainstay that's as reliable as it is delicious. Pink Lady is a sweet-tart apple that doesn't lean too far on either side, making it a delight for everyone. The first bite comes with a bit of fizz from the juice, and it only goes uphill from there.
6. Rave
Also called First Kiss, this is one addictive apple. It's juicy, it's crunchy, it practically melts in your mouth with light flesh and a thin skin. Some people call Rave "the poor man's Honeycrisp", but we think that does a disservice to both apples; Rave has more than enough merit to stand on its own.
Landon Michaelson on Wikimedia
7. Macoun
Pronounced "Mc-cow-an", this hardy cold-weather apple has a cult following for a good reason. Macoun apples have beautiful snow-white flesh that bears hints of spice and strawberries. Be warned: this apple has a short shelf life.
8. SweeTango
The Holy Grail of apples, this cross between a Honeycrisp and Zestar is one to look out for. If you could bite into a gleaming porcelain apple it would taste like a SweeTango—cool and crisp with wine-like astringency and a crunch that knocks you on your back. This is the apple that the Evil Queen gave Snow White.
9. Cox's Orange Pippin
The finest of all dessert apples proves that looks aren't everything. While Cox's Orange Pippin isn't an ugly apple, we can imagine it often gets overlooked in favor of flashier brands. Picked right from the tree it yields a blend of sweet and tart flavors: orange and mango brush up against cinnamon and hazelnuts.
10. Ludacrisp
We promise we aren't including this apple solely because of the name. Smells can be deceiving with the Ludacrisp apple; a pleasantly floral and spicy aroma gives way to a taste like a tropical oasis. There's a huge burst of flavor reminiscent of pineapples and strawberries, unlike anything else on the market.
Now that we've discussed some apples to add to your grocery bag, let's look at a few that aren't worth it.
1. Red Delicious
This apple may be red, but it isn't delicious. This over-waxed apple tastes of nothing with the texture of sawdust. Apparently the name wasn't always a misnomer, but the supermarket demand for long-lasting apples made Red Delicious into the disappointment it is today.
2. Cripps Pink
Don't confuse Cripps Pink with the far superior Pink Lady, though they're often displayed alongside each other. These pink apples may be sisters, but they're definitely not twins. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with Cripps Pink, but they're inconsistent and unsatisfying when compared with Pink Ladies.
Veganbaking.net from USA on Wikimedia
3. McIntosh
The national apple of Canada and the apple behind Apple products, McIntosh fails to live up to either of those legacies. The tart, wine-like flavor of the McIntosh is perfectly fine, the real problem is the impenetrable skin. Give this apple to a kid with a wobbly tooth and they'll have it out in no time.
4. Smitten
Another apple with confusingly sexy marketing, Smitten apples taste overwhelmingly of corn syrup and flowers for a confusing combination. Like McIntosh, this is an apple that needs to be cracked open like a safe. It simply isn't worth the effort.
5. Wolf River
A massive apple with titanium skin, Wolf River is prized among bakers, but we're ranking apples based on munching qualities. Unfortunately, this apple is not fit for eating out of hand, least of all because it will barely fit in your hand! The quickly-oxidizing skin makes this apple feel more like a burden than a snack.
Arnold, Mary Daisy, ca. 1873-1955 on Wikimedia
6. Jonathan
There is something profoundly off-putting about an apple with a human name that almost makes us feel as though we are committing an act of cannibalism by biting into one. Jonathan is one of the heirloom varieties that has fallen by the wayside with the rise of fancy cultivars. A mealy old man past his prime.
7. Kiku
Kiku apples are a scam, and we don't mean that lightly. The branding and shiny color may trick you into believing you've stumbled upon something special, but Kiku is nothing but a mutated Fuji. Don't get tricked into paying premium for an apple indistinguishable from a Fuji.
8. Stayman Winesap
A pioneer apple that packs a punch—almost literally. This is a dense apple that takes requires gnawing through knife skin to discover even harder flesh. Any interesting flavor this apple yields will be undone by the amount of mastication required to taste it.
9. Cameo
Cameo is descended from Red Delicious and, boy, can you tell! Cameo has a crunch to it, and little else to offer. The sweetness is barely there, tartness is non-existent, but, hey, it crunches!
No machine-readable author provided. Abrahami assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia
10. Cortland
We may get some hate for including one of the most popular apples on this side of the list, but we refuse to be silenced. Any crispness a Cortland has is nothing but an illusion. Cortland isn't necessarily mealy, but it is disturbingly soft; unless you can eat it directly from the tree, don't bother.
No machine-readable author provided. Abrahami assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia
