This easy to use apple identification chart is a great reference for determining which apples to use for what recipes.
Apple Identification Chart
Tart Or Sweet, Cooking Or Eating
This chart is very handy for identifying apples you may be picking from the orchards this apple season. I use to be able to remember what was good for cooking, baking and eating. What happened? It seems that the orchards have such a bigger selection now. No longer can you expect just your basic red delicious, mac or golden delicious. Now there is Empire, Galas, Paula Reds, Honey Crisp, Golden Crisp and on and on.
Though some are similar, there is a definite difference in certain kinds of apples and therefore if you are new to cooking or baking with them, or you just want a refresher, this chart will help you. The apple identification chart shows the apple name, what it looks like, it's level of sweet or tartness and if it is a cooking, eating or baking apple.
What apples are good for baking
I recently made some apple filling and preserved it in my canning jars for the pantry. I used Paula Reds and Golden Crisps. The Golden Crisp is not on this list , but it is like a golden delicious and honey crisp. The flavor is amazing. They are a mild tartness and are great for eating. In baking & cooking they act like a Granny Smith , where they hold up well and their tartness really accents the sugar your recipe will call for.
Click to PRINT OR DOWNLOAD the FREE PDF !
Once you have figured out which apples you are going to use and have them all cleaned up, you will need recipes !
Check out these Amazing apple recipes
An easy stuffed monkey bread using canned cinnamon rolls!
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I would like to know
where I can get a good cooking/baking apple
called Bramley. I live in a suburb of Chicago and
have baked with them in the past but my supplier
has gone out of the business, Thank you.
Apples are a one of my family's favorite fruit. That is a great chart to have around!
What a helpful chart to have for sure. Nothing is worse than hoping for a tart apple in a recipe and finding out it was sweeter.
Thanks for sharing this! I go apple picking in the fall and never know which apples are best for eating and which are for baking. They all seem the same to me until I bite into one that's a bit too tart lol.
Love this chart! It can be so hard to tell how different apples will turn out in different recipes.
My favorite is Honey Crisp. There are so many great things to do with them.
My family and I love apples! The Honeycrisp are my favorite but they're always so expensive. I also love the Golden Delicious ones.
This infographic is golden! We are soon approaching apple pie season and I'll definitely need to keep this handy!
Thank you Lisa!
Thanks for sharing this chart. With so many different kinds of apples now sometimes I do forget which are good for what.
It can be hard to keep track of! You are welcome Tara!
This is so super-helpful. I love apples, but never know which would be best in baking and cooking. Thanks so much for sharing.
You are welcome Shauna!
An apple is not just an apple! I grew up on red delicious and granny smiths while my husband has always preferred gala. We keep our fridge and fruit bowl stocked with a variety of apples especially since our grandkids eat them like candy.
SO true Cathi!
This will be helpful when my family and I go apple picking in a couple of months. I love fresh apple baked goods!
This is a great printable! I always wonder what apple to use for what. I usually like the crisper apples!
This is a terrific way to make sure that I get the right apples for a recipe and I really like this detailed chart that lets me know this. Really great gadget to follow!
Thank you posting this I am always wanting to no the different apples and what they are used for
I wish I had seen this before going picking yesterday! Doh! 🙂 (Though I went knowing I was going to stock up on Gala, for personal eating and for an Apple Crisp beer I am making!)
This is a great start, but there are so many more varieties too...a lot of the trees we have aren't even on this list!
Awesome love this chart I always get the same granny smiths because I;m scarred to venture off into an unknown apple.
That's great info! I go into the store and my mind boggles. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO GET!!!! Well, now I'll have some semblance of a clue.
This is such a useful chart. I remember going to an apple orchard to pick my own apples, and not sure which ones were best for what.
That is super helpful. I'm never quite sure about which apples I should buy.
Planning on doing some fall baking so this information will come in handy. Thank you.
What a great chart to have! Thank you for sharing!!