Crabapple

Scientific Binomial Name: Malus domestica

Selection Information

Usage: Crabapples are an heirloom apple that is not generally used for jellies and juicing. Some brave souls actually enjoy this highly tart apple.

Selection: Good-quality Crab apples will be very firm, but won?t have many of the other hallmarks of other apples. They are often scabbed or misshapen can vary in color from almost black, to red and even rich yellow. Test the firmness of the apple by holding it in the palm of your hand. (Do not push with your thumb). It should feel solid and heavy, not soft and light.

Storage: To store, keep apples as cold as possible in the refrigerator. Apples do not freeze until the temperature drops to 28.5 degrees F.

Avoid: Avoid product with soft or dark spots. Also if the apple skin wrinkles when you rub your thumb across it, the apple has probably been in cold storage too long or has not been kept cool.

Seasonal Information

Crabapples are some of the first apples available during the fall, but some varieties can stay on the tree until the first frost.

Nutritional Information

Apples are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. They're also a good source of Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C.

Juicing Information

Crabapples are great for juicing - both for their flavor and color.

Apple Selection and Health Benefits

Apple Tips & Trivia

• Rub cut apples with lemon juice to keep slices and wedges creamy white for hours.
• Store apples in a plastic bag in the refrigerator away from strong-odored foods such as cabbage or onions to prevent flavor transfer.
• Apples are the second most important of all fruits sold in the supermarket, ranking next to bananas.
• Tens of thousands of varieties of apples are grown worldwide
• The history of apple consumption dates from Stone Age cultivation in areas we now know as Austria and Switzerland.
• In ancient Greece, tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage; catching it was acceptance
• Folk hero Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) did indeed spread the cultivation of apples in the United States. He knew enough about apples, however, so that he did not distribute seeds, because apples do not grow true from seeds. Instead, he established nurseries in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
• Three medium-sized apples weigh approximately one pound.
• One pound of apples, cored and sliced, measures about 4 1/2 cups.
• Purchase about 2 pounds of whole apples for a 9-inch pie.
• One large apple, cored and processed through a food grinder or processor, makes about 1 cup of ground apple.