Apples
by Chelsea Reinberg | Health, Food Safety & Nutrition Agent
Apples are one of the most popular fruits as they are easy to store, transport well, and have multiple varieties with different levels of sweetness and can be consumed as a tasty sweet or savory dish or as a standalone crunchy snack. In 2021, more than 10.5 billion pounds of apples were grown in the United States. Did you know, there are about 200 different varieties of apples?! Despite the high number of varieties, there are about ten that remain at the top of the favorites for us that range from very tart granny smith apples to the very sweet fuji apples. Now is the perfect time to head to an apple orchard, your local farmers market, or grocery store to get your favorite flavor as apples are at the peak of their season in September and October.
Apples are not only tasty but provide a lot of nutrition. The old phrase ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ when combined with other healthy lifestyle habits may in fact hold true. Apples provide several micronutrients, soluble fiber known as pectin, and phytochemicals. Pectin may help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and helps keep your gut bacteria healthy. Apples contain several phytochemicals, like quercetin, which serve as antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory. These compounds are important for keeping our cells healthy and reduce inflammation. Several research studies examining the health benefits of apples have shown a positive effect on cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and managing a healthy weight. To get all the health benefits of apples it is important to not discard the skin!
Fresh apples can stay crisp and last for one to two months if stored in the refrigerator crisper drawer, but only about one to two weeks if left out at room temperature. It is important to store the apples away from other fruits, even in the refrigerator, as they produce ethylene which can ripen other produce nearby.
It is important to wash your apples with cool running water before eating. Apples are very susceptible to insect and plant diseases and may require higher levels of pesticide use compared to other fruits. They may also be treated with a pesticide for better post-harvest storage. Remember, discarding the skin removes a lot of the nutrition so it is important to keep the skin intact when consuming apples. Therefore, properly cleaning or buying organic, when possible, to minimize pesticides is important. When at an apple orchard or your local farmers market ask them about their practices and learn more to become a better educated consumer.
Don’t know what to do with all your apples? Try making homemade crockpot applesauce, apple cinnamon muffins, or a delicious apple pie. Learn how to make an apple pie from start to finish at our upcoming Pie Baking 101 classes in November. Register here.
