Apples

HOW TO PICK FRESH APPLES

LOOK FOR THESE:

• Fresh looking ends (It will be the best if there is a fresh looking stem still attached, and the bud end of the apple should be closed.)
• Smooth skin, and rich in its color regardless of its variety (For the yellow and green varieties, it will be best if the apple is a pink blush.)
• The last tip is quite interesting. I learned it from my dad after I saw him flicked the apples with his finger a few times prior to making the selection. The basic principle is this: If the sound comes out clean and loud, the apple will be crisp. This technique works great for me. Who wants to bite into a sandbag or a sponge?! I certainly don't.

AVOID THESE:

• Especially with bruises (A bruised apple will release ethylene gas which can ruin the rest of the apples)
• With brown or soft spots and deep cuts
• With bruises

HOW TO STORE FRESH APPLES

IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: Fresh apples can stay fresh for about 2 weeks. However, longer the fresh apples stay in room temperature, less moisture they will hold.

IN THE FRIDGE: Fresh apples can stay fresh for about 4 weeks when stored in the crisper drawer. After that, their flavor and texture will start to diminish significantly.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH APPLES

Just in case you don't know this: Dipping cut apples in a light salt solution can prevent the oxidation process. Rinse them off before serving to avoid that slight salty taste from the solution.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT APPLES

Apple, when translated in Chinese, it is 蘋果.

"一天一蘋果醫生遠離我." Having an apple a day will keep the doctors far away from me, once translated to English.

My husband and I have been trying to build a better diet in these recent years. One of our most favorite dessert involves diced apples with chopped almonds and walnuts, then drizzled with some honey. Yummy and healthy. Can't beat that. =)

There are many, and I mean many, different varieties of apples in the market.