We have all heard of the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” at least once in our lifetime. It’s nutritious for our bodies and sweet enough to make you happy. Apples have been around for a long time and with that, it comes in many varieties from cross-breeding with each other. Technically, they are still apples but they taste different and some are crispier than others!
1. Fuji
Fuji is bred in Japan and is one of the sweetest apples that you can get. It’s crunchy and great for eating it raw or adding it to a dish that needs a little extra flavour because it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.
Usage: Apple sauces, salads, slaw, baking, freezing
Price: RM 2.50
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
2. Granny Smith
Granny Smith was discovered by a lady named Maria Ann Smith when it was growing in her pile of compost. The apple is light green and tastes tart with a hint of sweetness. If you decide to cook it, it will enhance its sweetness and doesn’t go mushy.
Usage: Apple pie, sauces, salads, baking, freezing
Price: RM 1.60
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
3. Gala
They are commonly found and have a mild sweet taste along with their crispiness. With their thin skin, it makes it easy to eat it raw while staying in a firm texture for cooking. It doesn’t taste too intense either and has more yellow among other red apple variations.
Usage: Apple pies, sauces, salads, baking
Price: RM 6.70
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
4. Red Delicious
You might have already noticed it but this type comes in a darker red colour and is usually top-heavy with a beautiful white interior. It’s very juicy but that also makes it a soft apple not suitable for cooking. However, it tastes delicious eating it raw.
Usage: Sauces, salads
Price: RM 4.41
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
5. Royal Gala
Did you know that Royal Gala apples and Gala apples are not the same? Royal Gala apples are part of the Gala variation but have more red colouration to their skin. It is mildly sweet and good for snacking.
Usage: Apple cider, sauces, salads
Price: RM 1.60
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
6. Pink Lady
This was one of the first apples to be marketed with a brand name. Pink lady apple tastes tart at first but slowly the sweetness will kick in as you keep biting into it. They have a specific sugar and acid level to be called this type otherwise, it would be known as the Cripps variation.
Usage: Apple pies, sauces, salads, baking, freezing
Price: RM 5.55
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
7. Envy
They have crispy and sweet flesh plus they come in round shapes. It’s great to eat it raw because of its sweet flavour and it goes well with certain meat dishes! If you pay closer attention, the lenticels on apples will appear as white specks on the skin, and the more white specks there are, the sweeter the apple will be.
Usage: Apple pies, sauces, salads, baking, cooking
Price: RM 11.00 (5pcs)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
8. Jazz
This type has a sharp taste and fruity flavour to it albeit having a dense texture. It is less acidic and probably better to cut it up before you try to eat it raw because of its density. Once you take a bite, you will notice how juicy yet incredibly crispy it can be!
Usage: Apple pies, sauces, salads, baking
Price: Rm 16.90 (8pcs)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
9. Rockit
With a good amount of crunch and sweetness, it was made from a mix between a Gala and a Gala Splendour cultivar to make a snack-sized apple. Thanks to that, it’s perfect to eat on the go and has a long shelf life.
Usage: Apple pies, sauces, salads, baking, cooking
Price: RM 23.00 (5pcs)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
10. Honeycrisp
By the year 2020, Honeycrisp apples became the new favourite for their balanced sweetness and acidity including crunchiness. However, it can easily be bruised and expensive due to consumers’ growing demands.
Usage: Apple cider, pies, sauces, baking, salads
Price: RM 9.90 (2pcs)
*Prices may vary at the time of purchase
How to choose and store apples:
- Choose without any bruises or soft spots because it shows that the apple will still have its crispiness and taste. The heavier it is, the more likely it is juicy.
- You can keep apples in the fridge to make sure that it doesn’t lose their crunchiness or wrap them individually in newspapers without coloured ink and keep them in dark and cool places.
- Do not mix sliced or bruised apples with the other whole apples because it can spoil them.
It is better to choose apples depending on what flavour you like and usage for the apples like baking or eating it raw because different types handle things differently. For example, certain types might not handle it well being made into an apple pie and become very mushy. Flavor-wise requires you to taste the differences and decide on the ones that taste better for you or your guests if you are serving them an apple dish.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
