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    You are here: Home / Produce Index

    Types of Apples – Most Common Apple Varieties

    BY: Courtney PUBLISHED: Feb 9, 2022 Leave a Comment UPDATED ON: Feb 9, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
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    image with different types of apples and text for pinterest pin

    There are many types of apples and today we’re sharing the most common apple varieties. From apple cider to applesauce, we love our apples. They’re perfect for snacking and work so well in so many recipes.

    different types of apples from red to green.

    Let’s learn about the common apple varieties in the United States. Apples are grown in all 50 states. Apples are the top choice when it comes to fruit choices in the US. However, while apples are at the top, they are followed by oranges and bananas, but have you tried every apple variety? Today we’re sharing all about the top varieties you can find and how you can enjoy them with delicious apple recipes. (1)

    How many types of apples are there?

    In the United States alone, there are 2,500 varieties of apples. There are 7,500 varieties of apples around the world. You won’t see all of these apples in the store though, just the common apples. (2)

    What are the top apples sold in the US?

    • Gala
    • Red Delicious
    • Fuji
    • Granny Smith
    • Honeycrisp
    • Golden Delicious
    • McIntosh
    • Cripp’s Pink/Pink Lady
    • Braeburn
    • Jazz
    lenticels on apples 1 red 1 yellow and 1 green apple isolated on a white background

    Why do some apples have spots?

    Lenticels on apples are small spots that are natural openings in the cuticle of the skin. This can happen on fruits like apples, mango, and avocados. These harmless spots occur naturally.

    ambrosia apples in a container isolated on a white background

    Ambrosia Apples

    What do Ambrosia Apples look like? Ambrosia apples are medium-sized with yellow flesh with pinkish-red blushing.

    What do Ambrosia apples taste like? Ambrosia apples have a nice crisp and sweet with a tiny hint of tartness.

    How are Ambrosia apples best enjoyed? Ambrosia apples are versatile apples and work well raw or cooked.

    3 braeburn apples isolated on a white background

    Braeburn

    What do Braeburn apples look like? Braeburn apples are red and orange in appearance with a bit of yellow and green tones.

    What do Braeburn apples taste like? Braeburn apples are a great combination of sweet and tart.

    How are Braeburn apples best enjoyed? Braeburn apples have a balance of sweet and tart make them good for snacking raw and baking.

    Cameo Apples

    What do Cameo Apples look like? Cameo apples are orangish-yellow apples with red streaks, medium to large in size.

    What do Cameo apples taste like? Cameo apples are a blend of sweet and tart flavors. They are crisp and juicy.

    How are Cameo apples best enjoyed? Cameo apples are great fresh but are also good for cooking.

    cortland apple isolated on a white background

    Cortland Apples

    What do Cortland apples look like? Cortland apples are medium to large size apples, but not tall, shorter. They have red skin and sometimes yellow streaks and green undertones.

    What do Cortland apples taste like? Cortland apples have a sweet and tart flavor with crisp flesh and they are also juicy.

    How are Cortland apples best enjoyed? Cortland apples are good fresh or baked into desserts.

    Empire Apples

    What do Empire Apples look like? Empire apples have. a deep red color with green.

    What do Empire apples taste like? Empire apples are sweet, tart, juicy, and crisp.

    How are Empire apples best enjoyed? Empire apples are a good all-purpose apple making them good for snacking, juicing, sauces, baking, and cooking.

    2 fuji apples with one half isolated on a white background

    Fuji Apples

    What do Fuji apples look like? Fuji apples have a striped pattern with red to pink, yellow, and some green. They are also more rounded.

    What do Fuji apples taste like? Fuji apples are extremely sweet and crisp. They are one of the sweetest apples.

    How are Fuji apples best enjoyed? Fuji apples are great for snacking apples and for fresh recipes and sauces. We love making fresh apple cider with them.

    3 gala apples isolated on a white background

    Gala Apples

    What do Gala Apples look like? Gala apples have lighter skin with some striping. They have some red and then orange and yellow undertones. They are tall and skinnier than most apples.

    What do Gala apples taste like? Gala is a mild apple that is sweet and crisp.

    How are Gala apples best enjoyed? Gala apples are best for enjoying raw, juicing, or in salads. They can also be used for baking and cooking.

    3 granny smith apples isolated on a white background

    Granny Smith Apples

    What do Granny Smith apples look like? Granny Smith apples are medium in size, not short, not tall, in the middle. Most are fully green, but sometimes you’ll find some that have a pink or yellow blush to them.

    What do Granny Smith apples taste like? Granny Smith apples are crispy, tart, and flavorful. They are the most popular tart apples.

    How are Granny Smith apples best enjoyed? Granny Smith apples are enjoyed raw, in baked goods, and salads. We love using them for our Chocolate Covered Apples.

    3 golden delicious apples isolated on a white background

    Golden Delicious

    What do Golden Delicious apples look like? Gold Delicious apples are pale green and yellow in color. They also have small lenticels (spots). They’re not too short or tall, but a great medium-size apple.

    What do Golden Delicious apples taste like? Similar in taste to Red Delicious, they’re mild and sweet.

    How are Golden Delicious apples best enjoyed? Golden Delicious apples are a great all-purpose apple making them good for snacking, juicing, sauces, baking, and cooking.

    honeycrisp apple  isolated on a white background

    Honeycrisp Apples

    What do Honeycrisp apples look like? Honeycrisp apples are medium to large apples with red with undertones of yellow and green.

    What do Honeycrisp apples taste like? Honeycrisp apples are juicy with the perfect blend of sweet and tart.

    How are Honeycrisp apples best enjoyed? Honeycrisp is our favorite apple. They’re great for snacking and homemade apple cider. They hold up well for baking and cooking as well.

    2 jazz apples isolated on a white background

    Jazz Apples

    What do Jazz apples look like? Jazz apples have red skin with some undertones of yellow, orange, and green.

    What do Jazz apples taste like? Jazz apples are juicy, crisp, and sweet.

    How are Jazz apples best enjoyed? Jazz apples are a good snacking apple but also hold up well for baked apple recipes.

    jonagold apple isolated on a white background

    Jonagold Apples

    What do Jonagold Apples look like? Jonagold apples are green and yellow undertones with a bit of crimson red blushing.

    What do Jonagold apples taste like? Jonagold apples are larger in size and very sweet with a bit of tartness. They are crisp and juicy.

    How are Jonagold apples best enjoyed? Jonagold apples are great for cooking and baking.

    4 jonathan apples isolated on a white background

    Jonathan Apples

    What do Jonathan Apples look like? Jonathan apples are medium-sized apples with a red apple with yellow and sometimes green undertones.

    What do Jonathan apples taste like? Jonathan has a sweet taste but sometimes may have a tart flavor. They have crisp flesh.

    How are Jonathan apples best enjoyed? Jonathan apples are excellent enjoyed fresh and can also be used for baking and cooking, but they do break down a bit.

    Lucy Glo Apples

    What do Lucy Glo Apples look like? Lucy Glow apples are medium to large apples and have yellow skin with a bit of green and sometimes red blushing. The magic of Lucy Glo apples is the flesh, which is not white like regular apples, but marbled with red and pink inside.

    What do Lucy Glo apples taste like? Lucy Glo apples are crisp, sweet, tart, and hints of berries.

    How are Lucy Glo apples best enjoyed? Lucy Glo is not your average apple on the inside, which makes them fun to enjoy fresh or cooked.

    McIntosh Apples

    What do McIntosh Apples look like? McIntosh Apples are small to medium-sized apples with red and green skin.

    What do McIntosh apples taste like? McIntosh apples are juicy apples with sweet and tart flavors. They are very soft-skinned as well as softer flesh inside.

    How are McIntosh apples best enjoyed? These apples break down quickly so they’re perfect apples for making applesauce. They’re also good for snacking and fresh recipes.

     piñata apple isolated on white background

    Piñata Apples

    What do Piñata Apples look like? Piñata apples are medium to large apples with orange skin and red and yellow shading and striping.

    What do Piñata apples taste like? Piñata apples are sweet but also have some tartness. It also has flavor notes of tropical fruit.

    How are Piñata apples best enjoyed? Piñata apples have crisp flesh and a great for snacking fresh recipes or even baking.

    5 pink lady apples isolated on a white background
    pile of pink lady apple isolated on white background

    Pink Lady Apples / Cripps Pink

    What do Pink Lady apples look like? Pink Lady apples are round and have green tones with pinkish blush and red tones.

    What do Pink Lady apples taste like? Pink Lady apples are sweet and tart with crisp flesh.

    How are Pink Lady apples best enjoyed? Pink Lady apples are our second favorite for snacking. They’re also great in salads, baked, or juiced.

    red delicious apple isolated on a white background

    Red Delicious Apples

    What do Red Delicious apples look like? Red Delicious apples are tall and more full on top and narrow on the bottom. They are completely red once ripe.

    What do Red Delicious apples taste like? Red Delicious apples are sweet and crisp.

    How are Red Delicious apples best enjoyed? Red Delicious is a good all-purpose apple making them good for snacking, juicing, sauces, baking, and cooking.

    Rome Apples

    What do Rome Apples look like? Rome apples are medium-sized bright red apples.

    What do Rome apples taste like? Rome apples have a bit of a floral aroma with a mildly sweet flavor and a tiny bit of tang. They are crisp apples.

    How are Rome apples best enjoyed? Rome apples are excellent for cooking and they become more flavorful as they are cooked.

    SnapDragon Apples

    What do SnapDragon Apples look like? SnapDragon apples are medium to large in size. They are red with yellow and hues. They also have spots called lenticels.

    What do SnapDragon apples taste like? SnapDragon apples are sweet with notes of melon and vanilla.

    How are SnapDragon apples best enjoyed? SnapDragon apples are versatile and can be enjoyed fresh or cooked.

    Smitten Apples

    What do Smitten Apples look like? Smitten apples have red stripes with yellow skin.

    What do Smitten apples taste like? Smitten apples are crunch with a sweet flavor.

    How are Smitten apples best enjoyed? Smitten apples are a good eating apple or cooking apple.

    learn more about apples

    3 mini apples with a heart shaped cheerio next to them for size compairson.

    Rockit Apples

    All About Apples and Apple Recipes Know Your Produce

    All About Apples

    How fresh are your apples? They could be over a year old.

    How fresh are your apples? They could be over a year old.

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    More Produce Index

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    POSTED IN: Produce Index apples

    About Courtney

    Fruit and Veggie lover. I love making produce fun and delicious, not to mention taking tons of pictures in the process! :-)

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