I always wondered how to choose a great baking apple. I mean, what really should I look for? Well a great baking apple has two important characteristics: a tough outer skin and a mixed taste. What is a mixed taste? It is sweet and tart.
A great apple available in the fall is the Cortland apple. It is a perfect baking apple as it possesses the tough skin as well as the sweet and tart taste.
It is a cross breed apple from New York. It was developed in 1898 at a New York State Agricultural Experiment Station.
The name of the Cortland Apple came from the county in New York, Cortland County, which gets it's name from Mr. Pierre Van Cortlandt.
Mr. Cortlandt was the president of the convention that wrote the 1st New York State constitution. He also was the first lieutenant governor as well.
Cortland Apples are a juicy apple, which is another reason for it to be a great baking apple. It possesses a sweet taste with a bit of tart in there. The inside of the apple is a white where as some apples are more toward yellow.
Cortland Apples are great for baking of course, but also great served on a plate with cheese and crackers. They are great as garnishes. These apples tend not to color quickly which makes them a favorite as well.
Picking a great apple can be a bit confusing to some but it is not really. Just place the apple in your palm. Do not squish it with your thumb but feel for firmness and if it feels heavy.
At the grocer, make sure your apple's skin does not wrinkle too, as it may have been kept in storage too long or not have been cold storage at all.
To store your Cortlands, keep them as cool as possible. Best place is in the frig. Apples will not freeze unless temps are below 28 degrees F.
And if you are worried about them browning, do not fret! Take your slices or what have you, rub a bit of lemon juice all over and they will be great for awhile.
Make sure to visit your local orchard to see what great apples they have. It is fun and a great thing to do with the kids. And it is the best way to taste a fresh apple anytime.
A great apple available in the fall is the Cortland apple. It is a perfect baking apple as it possesses the tough skin as well as the sweet and tart taste.
It is a cross breed apple from New York. It was developed in 1898 at a New York State Agricultural Experiment Station.
The name of the Cortland Apple came from the county in New York, Cortland County, which gets it's name from Mr. Pierre Van Cortlandt.
Mr. Cortlandt was the president of the convention that wrote the 1st New York State constitution. He also was the first lieutenant governor as well.
Cortland Apples are a juicy apple, which is another reason for it to be a great baking apple. It possesses a sweet taste with a bit of tart in there. The inside of the apple is a white where as some apples are more toward yellow.
Cortland Apples are great for baking of course, but also great served on a plate with cheese and crackers. They are great as garnishes. These apples tend not to color quickly which makes them a favorite as well.
Picking a great apple can be a bit confusing to some but it is not really. Just place the apple in your palm. Do not squish it with your thumb but feel for firmness and if it feels heavy.
At the grocer, make sure your apple's skin does not wrinkle too, as it may have been kept in storage too long or not have been cold storage at all.
To store your Cortlands, keep them as cool as possible. Best place is in the frig. Apples will not freeze unless temps are below 28 degrees F.
And if you are worried about them browning, do not fret! Take your slices or what have you, rub a bit of lemon juice all over and they will be great for awhile.
Make sure to visit your local orchard to see what great apples they have. It is fun and a great thing to do with the kids. And it is the best way to taste a fresh apple anytime.
About the Author:
Still trying to figure out what apple to bake with? Let me help. I have tips on that and more on my blog www.simpledessertrecipes.net. Do you love chocolate? I have great fudge recipes too on my blog at www.simpledessertrecipes.net.
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