It's apple season!
Apples are harvested in season from August to November, and good storage apples will last through winter. I highly recommend buying apples from your a farmers market for local, fresh apples.
Fresh apples have a better flavor and texture, and often store longer as well. Nationally distributed apples are held in commercial cold storage facilities to maintain their quality, but once removed from storage they deteriorate faster than fresh apples.
Varieties
There are hundreds of apple varieties. I've tried over 30 different kinds - eating them fresh as well as baking with them. Read the results of my apple flavors & cooking notes.
Best apples for pie
The best apples for pie have a strong apple flavor and good texture when baked. Not all apples work well in pies - the worst ones turn mealy or grainy, which can't be fixed.
I baked with every apple variety I could find, from the farmers market to grocery store varieties. See my recommendations for the best and worst apples for pie.
Apple recipes
I gathered recipes from my favorite sites from salads to pies. The apple recipe collection also includes notes on the best apples to use for each type of recipe. You can also try some of my favorite apple recipes here:
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Easy homemade caramel apples
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The best (and worst) apples for pie
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How to make apple butter & recipe for canning
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Apple butter: testing cooking methods
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How to make crisp apple chips
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Cinnamon & brown sugar applesauce
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Apple varieties: flavor & cooking notes
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Apple recipes & the best varieties to use
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Apples
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Fall salad with apples, walnuts & cinnamon roasted chickpeas
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Cauliflower Soup with Gingerbread Spices