Apples come in many varieties, and some are more suitable for certain cooking tasks than others.
Differences in sweetness, tartness or tenderness can affect the outcome of recipes calling for apples.
Use this guide to choose the correct apple for the job.
| Apple | Characteristics | Uses | Availability |
 Acey Mac |
Juicy, sweet and tart | Sauces, eat fresh. If using for a pie use a thickener since the flesh cooks quickly. | September - June |
 Braeburn |
Sweet. tangy, aromatic, juicy. | Snacking, sauces, salads | October - April |
 Cortland |
Sweet with a hint of tartness. Tender, white flesh | Pies, baking, freezing. Eat raw and in salads. | September - April |
 Empire |
Very crisp, juicy, with a creamy white flesh. Taste is a blend of tart and sweet. | Salads, snacking, sauces, pies, baking, general purpose | September - August |
 Fortune |
Spicy and crisp | Eat fresh, and use in pies and sauces. Combine with sweet apples for sauce. | October - June |
 Fuji |
Very sweet, crisp and juicy. Sauces using these need little or no sugar. | Snacking, salads, sauces. | October - June |
 Gala |
Mild and sweet. It's thin skin and mild flavor make it an ideal snack for kids. | Eat raw and in salads | September - June |
 Golden Delicious |
Mildly sweet, juicy. Pies made with these can cut down on the sugar. | Snacking, baking, pies | September - June |
 Granny Smith |
Crisp, juicy and very tart. Slices do not brown as quickly as other varieties. | Salads, cooking, and snacking. | September - November |
 Honeycrisp |
Sweet, but with a bit of tartness. | Salads, snacking, baking, cooking. | Late September through early October. |
 Jonagold |
Juicy, with a honey-sweetness, and bit of tartness. Flesh is crisp and a bit creamy. | Salads, sauces and baking. Fried apples | October - May |
 McIntosh |
Very juicy. Sweet and tangy. The flesh cooks quickly | Eat raw and use in sauces, salads and pies | September - June |
 Red Delicious |
Sweet and juicy | Eat raw, and in salads. | October - September |
 Paula Red |
Juicy and tart | Eat raw, and use in sauces. | August - October |