What Are Apples and How Can I Use Them?

Apples is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store them, what to substitute, and 1,607 recipes to get you started.

What are apples?

Apples can be canned or juiced. They are sometimes milled to produce apple cider (non-alcoholic, sweet cider) and filtered for apple juice. The juice can be fermented to make cider (alcoholic, hard cider), ciderkin, and vinegar. Through distillation, various alcoholic beverages can be produced, such as applejack, Calvados, and apple wine. Pectin and apple seed oil may also produced.

Health Benefits

Apples are an important ingredient in many desserts, such as apple pie, apple crumble, apple crisp and apple cake.

They are often eaten baked or stewed, and they can also be dried and eaten or reconstituted (soaked in water, alcohol or some other liquid) for later use.

Puréed apples are generally known as apple sauce. Apples are also made into apple butter and apple jelly. They are also used (cooked) in meat dishes.

• In the UK, a toffee apple is a traditional confection made by coating an apple in hot toffee and allowing it to cool. Similar treats in the US are candy apples (coated in a hard shell of crystallised sugar syrup), and caramel apples, coated with cooled caramel.
• Apples are eaten with honey at the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah to symbolize a sweet new year.
• Farms with apple orchards may open them to the public, so consumers may themselves pick the apples they will buy. 

Organic apples are commonly produced in the United States. Organic production is difficult in Europe, though a few orchards have done so with commercial success, using disease-resistant cultivars and the very best cultural controls. The latest tool in the organic repertoire is a spray of a light coating of kaolin clay, which forms a physical barrier to some pests, and also helps prevent apple sun scald.

Nutrition

Where found

Apples are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Apples are a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do apples weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using apples

There are 1607 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Easy Skillet Apple Pancakes

Fluffy skillet pancakes loaded with cinnamon-sugar apples cooked right into the batter. One pan, four gorgeous pancakes, minimal cleanup.

Almost Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes

Whole wheat apple pancakes blend half whole-wheat and half white flour with milk, eggs, and grated fresh apples for a hearty, fiber-rich breakfast pancake. Ready in 20 minutes.

Buckwheat, Beet & Manchego Salads

Buckwheat, Beet and Manchego Salads

Muesli with Apples & Yogurt

Muesli with Apples and Yogurt

Streusel Snack Apple Muffins

Apple oat muffins topped with cinnamon-brown sugar streusel. Quick oats add hearty texture, fresh apple keeps the crumb moist. One-bowl batter, ready in 30 minutes.

Apple with Cream Cake

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Waldorf 2015

This modern Waldorf salad swaps walnuts for cucumber and adds protein-packed chicken. Crisp apples, sweet raisins, and creamy mayo over fresh romaine in 20 minutes.

Fruited Passover Kugels

Learn how to make Fruited Passover Kugels using matzo, eggs, apples, and prunes. This satisfying dish is perfect for Passover celebrations. Enjoy a tasty, kosher dessert that is sure to impress your family and guests.

Apple Oat Breakfast Pancakes

Apple oat breakfast pancakes with shredded apple, oats and cinnamon stirred into pancake mix. Fluffy, fragrant fall-flavored pancakes ready in 20 minutes from pantry staples.

Light & Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes

Light and fluffy whole wheat pancakes are vegan and egg-free: soy milk and cider vinegar make a buttermilk-style batter that puffs up tender, with whole wheat pastry flour, cornmeal and cinnamon. A wholesome breakfast.

Refreshing Herring Salad

Refreshing herring salad tosses pickled herring with tart apple, juicy orange segments, green pepper, and grated onion in a quick oil and vinegar dressing. No cooking required.

Dutch Pancakes with Spicy Apples

Dutch pancake with spicy apples is a puffed, golden oven pancake cut into wedges and smothered in cinnamon-glazed apples with a sweet sour cream dollop. A dramatic, custardy brunch centerpiece.

Maple Muffins with Apples

Hearty oat and grated apple muffins sweetened with pure maple syrup. Yogurt keeps them moist, walnuts add crunch, and they're done in 40 minutes start to finish.

Bran Apple Muffins

Moist and delicious muffins are healthier and tastier. They are good at any time!

Best Apple Crumble Pie

Apple crumble pie cooks tart green apples on the stovetop with mace and lemon, then bakes them in a flaky shell under a buttery cookie-crumb topping. A streusel-style pie that skips the soggy bottom.

Favourite Apple Spice Muffins

Apple spice muffins use grated fresh apple, apple juice concentrate, and warm cinnamon-allspice for natural sweetness. A lower-fat breakfast muffin with raisins and tender crumb.

Real Apple Pancakes

German-style apple pancakes bake puffy and golden over butter-sautéed green apples, finished with cinnamon sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Brunch-worthy oven pancake.

Best Apple Walnut Cake

Apple walnut cake loaded with four cups of thinly sliced apples and a full cup of chopped walnuts, lightly spiced with cinnamon. A dense, moist autumn sheet cake or loaf.

Nutty Apple Muffins

Nutty apple muffins loaded with diced apples, chopped walnuts, and shredded coconut. A nutmeg-scented breakfast muffin with crunchy nut texture in every bite and a tender oil-based crumb.

Apple Cakes

Apple cakes baked muffin-style with a tender sour cream and ground almond crumb, warm nutmeg, and slices of fresh apple fanned across the top. Dusted with powdered sugar for an easy single-serve dessert.

Whole Grain Apple Pancakes (Smith)

Whole grain apple pancakes leavened with yeast and packed with bran, grated fresh apple, and apple juice. Thicker than regular pancakes, naturally egg-free, high-fiber, and sweet without a drop of added sugar.

Rich Apple Butter

Slow cooker apple butter simmers unpeeled apples and cider for 10 hours, then adds sugar and warm spices for the last hour. Yields ten 6-ounce jars of deep, spiced spread for toast or biscuits.

Loaded Vegetable & Quinoa Salad with Miso Orange Dressing

A wide variety of fresh vegetables and quinoa are tossed with a salty and sweet miso orange dressing. Serve it as a refreshingly nutritious side dish or a vegetarian/vegan main course.

Breakfast Apple Orange Spice Muffins

Spiced apple-orange muffins with grated fresh fruit and warm spices. Light texture from folded egg whites. Optional raisins for extra sweetness.

Double Apple Muffins

Double apple muffins use both apple juice and chopped fresh apple in a brown-sugar batter, then finish with cinnamon sugar tops. Tender, fruit-loaded breakfast muffins ready in 35 minutes.

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