An Apple for Everybody's Taste
What are the most common types of apples? Many have heard about the Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Macintosh and Rome type of apples. In other countries the list of popular apples is not the same as ours in America. Some of these apple varieties are not available everywhere.
Most apples differ in size, color and taste. Some varieties of apples are soft. They don't have the crunch when you bite into them. While others are crisp and with each bite there is a spray of juice and a loud crunch.
Let's start with the Red Delicious apples. They tend to grow quite large and have a shape that resembles a heart. The Gala apples on the other hand are smaller and more rounded. Golden Delicious fit somewhere in the middle of the two in size. The Granny Smith apples are large, firm and round.
We are just going to talk about the most common varieties of apples that one will find in the grocery store and at the farmer's market. Red Delicious is the most popular kind of apple. The skin of this apple is deep red in color when it is ripe. They crunch when bitten into and have a sweet taste.
Next up is the Golden Delicious apple. These apples have a softer texture and are yellowish color when ripe. This apple has a soft texture and they aren't a good apple to cook with. They are great for salads or to just slice and eat as a snack. These apples do not brown as quickly as the other apple varieties.
How about the Gala Apples? Their skin is a pinkish color. When the Gala apples turn ripe they may display red and yellow stripes as well. These apples are crisp and sweet and they are a great apple to introduce to kids. These apples hold up well when cooked so they are perfect for making apple pies and tarts.
Granny Smith apples work for those of you who aren't attached to the red color of an apple. These apples are so tart that your jaws will suck in. The Granny Smith apples are actually quite versatile. They can be baked in pies or cobblers. They even work well in garden salads and chicken salads.
If you like apple cider you will want to consider the McIntosh apple. In the Northeastern states where apple cider is a commodity these apples are very popular. These apples are juicy, crisp, and have just the right aromatic flavor to fresh pressed cider.
There are over 2,500 varieties of apples in the United States alone. If you didn't find a favorite here that's alright there are plenty more varieties to choose from.
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