How Do You Like Them Apples?

Holy Honeycrisp! It’s apple harvesting time! And that’s good news because in addition to loads of other nutrients, apples are bursting with fiber. In fact, one medium apple with skin delivers 20 percent of your daily fiber quota. What’s more, apples are juicy, crunchy, and grow in so many varieties, you’re sure to find one that suits your fancy.

More than 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States (good job, Johnny Appleseed!). And even though modern, controlled-atmosphere storage techniques keep us supplied with crispy, crunchy apples all year long, apples are at their juicy best when fresh-picked in the fall. Here’s a few tips to bring along to the farmers’ market or fresh produce department:

·        Look for those that are firm to hard. Apples are one of the few fruits that can tolerate a “thumb” test. If a gentle squeeze produces a dent, the apple is too soft.

·        Size matters. Little apples are usually packed with more flavor than big ones.

·        Pick pretty ones. Apples should have nice color for their type, tight skins, and no bruises or cuts.

Apples are already fully ripe when you buy them, so take them home and put them right in the fridge, where they’ll keep for up to six weeks. At room temperature, they’ll get mushy—fast!