Whether for healthy snacking, adding to a salad, baking in a pie, or trying in a savory application, there’s a reason apples are a fruity favorite. Get to the core of the matter with these pro tips!

How do you pick out the best apples? Look for firm apples that have smooth skin and no dark spots, flat spots, dents, or bug damage.

What’s the best way to store apples? Refrigerate them in the crisper drawer, keep dry, and remove any that show signs of spoiling. For long-term storage, wrap in a paper towel or newspaper to prevent touching. Chopped or sliced apples also freeze well, but only if you’re planning to cook them afterward.

How do you keep cut apples from browning? Acidulated (aka, slightly acidic) liquid! Depending on how you plan on using the apples, use citrus juice, vinegar, or white wine mixed with water.

Any tips or tricks for easy peeling, slicing, chopping…? An old-school hand crank peeler/corer works great when the apples will be cooked. To peel and slice by hand, cut off the top and bottom, then peel from top to bottom, quarter, and remove the core with a knife or melon baller, and cut into smaller wedges if desired. The apple wedge tool also does a great job of coring and slicing all at once if you’re leaving the peel on.

What are some tasty savory APPLE-cations? Apples go great with any pork or poultry, along with on cheese boards, sliced in salads, or added to coleslaw.

Besides pie, what are other apple desserts? Try sautéing apples with butter and brown sugar to use as a topping for ice cream, or make apple strudel, caramel apples, or apple caramels!

How do you make apple chips? Slice thin horizontally and punch out the core (if desired), then lay on a lined baking sheet and put in an oven at 180°F overnight. You can leave them plain or season with cinnamon, nutmeg, or other spices. If you don’t eat them all at once, store apple chips at room temperature tightly covered for 7–10 days.

What are some seasonal apples to look out for? You may think of apples as perennial, but apple season is just kicking off in September! The produce department at Nugget Market is starting to see new crop apples trickle in, with more to come in the next couple of months. Some of our favorites include Honeycrisp and everybody’s go-to, the Fuji apple. Be sure to get a taste of the Cosmic Crisp apple, which will come to market as we near Thanksgiving.

APPLE CARAMELS

Would you like some apple with your caramel? In a delicious twist of dessert, these sweet and juicy homemade caramels are perfect for holiday gifting or anytime indulgence.

Ingredients

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced into ⅛-inch cubes

1¼ cup fresh apple cider

1¼ cup heavy cream

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ teaspoon coarse sea salt

Preparation

·      Prepare a 6x8-inch baking dish by lining it with parchment paper (leaving extra overhang from the sides) and greasing the paper.

·      In a 2-quart sauce pot fitted with a candy thermometer, combine the apple, cider, cream, sugars, and butter and bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to boil until the mixture reaches 265°F.

·      Remove from the heat and carefully pour the caramel into the prepared dish. Cool to room temperature, about 3 hours.

·      Turn the cooled caramel out onto a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into 1-inch squares. Sprinkle each piece with desired amount of sea salt.