Always wash your apples

I recently attended a face-to-face talk about the Multi-level Marketing (MLM) business that distributes health products, which includes the detoxifying body supplements. It was interesting when one of the members told me that the unripe apples were soaked in fungicides in a container for weeks until the apples skin were wrinkled. Then, the apples undergo wax treatment, whereby the wrinkled skin also restored its original shape with add on shine due to wax. He even added that I should notice that apples only start rotting from the center and not rot from the outside first.

At first, I didn't quite believe this. But as I did some research myself, I found that there is some truth. There was a research done to determine whether it is necessary to peel the apples.

From the above article, I believe the 'wrinkle' texture is probably due to the brine and nitrogen used for refrigeration storage for 6 months. The article indicates that it is still safe to eat those fungicide-treated apples. Anyway, I do suspect this might be a conspiracy but I was secretly glad that it is still safe to eat the apples so long as you wash the apples thoroughly. I love to eat the apples with the skin so I wouldn't want to exclude that from my diet and peel off the precious skin from the apples.

Personally, I have eaten apples regularly and I saw the benefits outweigh the scary pesticides story. Still the decision is yours to eat with or without the apple skin, but you definitely need to wash your apples thoroughly before storage and eating.

Different types of Apples

There are really more than apples that meet the eye. Just like there are different race of human kind, there are different community of apples as well. It comes in different colours, cruchiness and even texture. Because of this, different apples are used for certain type of culinary and gastronomic food. Thus, using the correct type of apple is very important to make your recipe a success.

Red Delicious
The skin colour is deep red with a heart shape. It is also mildly sweet in flavour, juicy and crunchy. However recently, many apple lovers are slowly moving away from Red delicious as a more competitive Fuji and Gala due to the mild flavour and texture.

Rome Beauty
As this type of bright red apple would become rich when it is based or sautéed, it is commonly used for cooking. It was also known that Rome Beauty apples has a higher flavonoid content that provides a richness of antioxidants as well.

Gala
Gala apples are typically small. They are heart-shaped, usually red with a portion of yellow-orange on the skin that is thinner than most apples. It also gives a grainy sweet taste and quite resistant to bruising. Great in salads or eating out of hand. As the apple is soft, it is suitable for young toddlers just started taking some solid foods or even those wearing dentures.

Fuji
Fuji apples are usually large, and gives a very crispy and sweet flavour. The skin colour varies from light pink with light yellow highlights to very deep red colour. With recent years, Fuji apple has gain popularity all over, and in US that the apple growing state are also growing Fuji apples to meet their local demands. Its long shelf life (5-6 months in refrigerator) gives apple lovers more reason to have these lovely apples with them. You will also find that it is excellent in salads too.

Braeburn
Its skin colour varies from greenish gold with red sections to nearly solid red. This type of apple is crispy with a nice blend of sweetness and tartness flavour that is aromatic. They are also great as snacks or salads with great quality.

Cameo
Cameo apples gives a rich, sweet taste. Its origin is not certain but it was said that it could be a hybrid between Red Delicious and a Golden Delicious. Its texture is also firm. It has a red stripe over a creamy background. It is one of the top ten most grown apples in Washington and it is great for desserts or snacking as well.

Golden Delicious
The Golden Delicious has yellow skin and it is commonly used for whipping out different types of dishes. The flesh and white and the skin is tender, but prone to bruising thus needs careful storage. It is sweeter than green apples and fragrant even when it is left on the table. Upon cooking, it maintains its riches and shape. It is suitable for salads, applesauce and apple butter.

Granny Smith
The skin is typically bright green, with a light pink blush. Granny Smith apples gives a tart tangy flavour and crisp bit that keeps you refresh when you bite on them and it does not brown as quickly as other types of varieties. It is great for cooking, for snacking or to put into salads as well. I typically enjoy the apple salad dressed with natural vinegar.

Jonagold
Jonagold is a hybrid between Gold Delicious and Jonathan that contributes to its large size, sweetness and a thin skin. The skin colour is yellow-green with a nice blush of red. It is great for cooking or snacking as well.

Jonathan apple
It is medium in size. The Jonathan apples skin is yellow with red blush that is tough. It is sweet and acidic in flavour and it is closely related to Esopus Spitzenburg apple but it was the discovery of this apple, by Jonathan Hasbrouck that eventually the apple was named after him.