If you’re looking for the best apples for juicing, it’s important to know what kind of juice you’re going to make. And in order to make your desired apple juice, you need the right apples for it. I’ve put together the best apples for juicing to help you learn everything you need. You’ll also find out what kind of apples are suitable for your type of juice drinks.
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I’ll tell you what — apples are not magic. But they are certainly beneficial in promoting long-term health. And there’s more you can do with apples beyond taking a bite of these sweet, crispy, and juicy fruits.
You can also simply and quickly make a delicious juice out of them, at home. By extracting the juice from the insoluble fiber, you get to have substantial nutrients in a fairly short period of time. And picking the right variety for your juice type makes all the difference.
Types of Apple Juice You Can Make
Apples have been a great and delicious staple in a wide range of juice recipes. And you can make them just the way you want them. Apple juice comes in a variety of flavors, which you can easily make at home. Sweet juice, tart juice, and balanced juice are the most common types of apple juice. And there are also apple varieties that are ideal in each of these varieties of juice.
Each apple cultivar however has differing nutritional value as well as sugar or acid levels. These factors affect the flavor and color of the apple juice. The apples that have more sugar content can make a sweeter-tasting drink, whereas those with more acid content will produce a tart apple juice. It would be less bitter but instead will come off as sweeter if you peel them off, and chop off the cores before the juicing process.
Meanwhile, sweet apple juice has a strong apple flavor, and is mildly flowery that is sweeter than tart apple juice. Vanilla, citrus, florals, or melon flavors can be found in several sweet juices. This sort of juice is commonly produced from Gala and Golden Delicious apples.
The Benefits of Juicing Apples
Considering that raw apples are known for their high nutritious value, apple juices boast various health benefits. Apples are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. As well as potassium minerals. And that’s where the saying goes, where drinking a glass of fresh apple juice a day keeps the doctors away. Discover the amazing benefits the apple fruit has in store for you.
- The vitamin C in apple juice helps boost the immune system and promotes healthy bones.
- Apple juice is packed with super antioxidants such as polyphenol and flavonoids. These super antioxidants help support heart health.
- Apple juice is also packed with potassium which also aids in supporting heart health.
- Quercetin, a flavonoid that’s found in many vegetables and fruits including apples, enhances mood. It also helps reduce bad cholesterol.
Should I Core Apples Before Juicing?
If you include the apple seeds into your juice, you may end up with a mixture that’s grainy in texture, or has tiny bits in it. Also, apple seeds concern many for potential poisoning. If you don’t mind having that grainy juice, you don’t have to worry about juicing the seeds. As you’ll need to consume at least 150 to a thousand apple seeds before it could impact your health.
And it’s true that too much of everything is not good. This is even true when consuming excessive amounts of apple seeds. The presence of amygdalin in apple seeds is the culprit. When chewed, the chemical compound breaks down into a known poison called hydrogen cyanide. So, it’s important to slice them first to get rid of the seeds.
You don’t want to consume a delightful cyanide juice, do you? While it’s safe to consume these seeds in small quantities, I suggest you completely discard the seeds.
What Apples Do They Use in Apple Juice?
What are the best apples for juicing? The tart juice is thirst-quenching. It has a fresh, and natural flavor. Tart juices are available in sour green apple flavor to a bright tang. Such juices are ideal for pairing alongside your favorite dessert or savory dish. A typical apple type for tart juice is the Granny Smith.
A balanced juice is sweet and sour. This is something that many juice makers aim for when producing everyday juice. Balanced juices appeal to a wide range of tastes, they taste rich and flavorful. Typically, you use apples with tropical or spicy flavors.
Such juice is best made with a combination of sweet and tart apples, such as Gala and Sweet Tango. Red Delicious apples are also a popular choice for balanced juice since they are naturally sweet and tart.
What Are the Best Apples for Making Sweet Apple Juice?
When you think about sweet juice, it’s that basic, old-fashioned juice box drink. Although certain sweet apples seem to be tasteless, there are also apples that are packed with sugar and flavor. To bring life and color to your apple juice, you can sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon or orange peel.
Gala Apples
Gala apple is a sweet, somewhat acidic apple with a mild flavor. It’s a hybrid of the Golden Delicious and Orange Red varieties. This is a scented cultivar with a floral and pear-like fruity punch.
I suggest you get gala apples from either a local farmer or vineyard. And you can expect that you’ll get your hands on the most flavorful gala apples. Because of their sweetness, these apples are ideal for a sweet juice that is both mellow and delicious. Gala apple is definitely one of the best apples for juicing.
Golden Delicious Apples
Golden Delicious is exceptionally rich and fragrant with a hint of honey flavor. Such an apple is excellent for juicing. This apple is sweet and mellow, with a tinge of acidity. If you’d like a thick, sweet juice, golden delicious is one of the best apples to juice. Adding a pinch of orange peel or lime to the juice can help balance out the thickness. You can also use yellow delicious for juicing as it’s a similar variety of apple.
Fuji Apples
This apple is the hybrid of Red Delicious and Ralls Janet apples. A fuji apple has an appealing taste nuance, making them a strong choice for juicing. These apples are unmatched they; give a strong flavor with hints of honey and citrus.
What Are the Best Apples for Making Tart Apple Juice?
Tart juice is a refreshing and zesty drink. You best serve it chilled with creamy cheese and crackers. Apples with low sugar content or a greater acid level produce tart juice. Green apples are a wonderful choice if you want a tart apple flavor. To make a juice with a distinctive caramel apple flavor, you can combine it with juice that has stronger spice notes.
Granny Smith Apples
This is the pinnacle of the sour green apple. Granny Smith apples have a sour, acidic flavor and are low in sugar. Such apples produce an extremely strong juice that can be quite metallic in taste. Incorporate a few Red Delicious apples or a dash of cinnamon to neutralize the sour flavor of a Granny Smith apple. It also helps to minimize a juice that’s too sharp to the tongue.
Braeburn Apples
If you want a balanced tartness with a spicy nutmeg aroma, you can opt for Braeburn apples. These Braeburn apples store well and produce a large amount of juice for each apple. Braeburn apples have powerful apple flavors that translate well into juice. If you’re craving for tart juice with that delicious apple flavor, Braeburn is among the best apples to juice.
Pink Lady Apples
Pink Lady is recognized for being sugary with a tart flavor. Although the tart flavor of these apples leans to a more balanced juice, the citrusy flavor is powerful enough to make a pleasantly tangy juice. You can achieve a lovely pink hue to the juice by mixing this apple with its skin. Then filter it well to get rid of the skin bits.
What Are the Best Apples for Making Flavorful Juice
Certain apples simply are gifted with a stronger apple flavor. Although there is enough flavor variation to satisfy any fruit enthusiast. Still, nothing beats the taste of a good old apple. Try one of these following apples if you prefer a flavorful apple juice.
Jazz Apples
The Jazz is a mix of Gala and Braeburn apples. Galas apples provide a delicate, delicious flavor. While Braeburn apples provide a balanced flavor and are a staple in juicing. The Jazz apple is tangy, but sweet enough, but also full of fruit flavor. If you just want something sweet with a zippy tang, you can count on the flavor of the Jazz apple.
Empire Apples
Empire apples are deep red apples with a flavor that is timeless and well-balanced. This variety is a hybrid of two classic favorites: Red Delicious and McIntosh. As a result, the apple juice is light and balanced. If you’d like to create a unique old-fashioned type of juice, Empire apples are an ideal apple variety to cultivate.
McIntosh Apples
McIntosh apples have this peppery and fruity flavor. These apples are mellow and sweet, however the apple flavor is strong and direct, with a tinge of raisin. If you ever want your apple juice to taste like old-fashioned apple cider, McIntosh is the ideal variety for that.
Winesap Apples
Winesap apple is a heritage variety that isn’t widely available in supermarkets. This particular apple is among the best apple cultivars for any purpose because of its lovely, balanced flavor and crisp consistency. It’s a great addition to any spiced up pie or cider dish. And of course, it will make a flavorful juice.
What Are the Best Apples for Making Balanced Apple Juice
You can extract multiple varieties of apples, including sweet and tart. This will make a well-balanced apple juice. But there have been a few apple cultivars that are noted for being inherently balanced. If you’d like a simple, well-balanced juice, you can try the following apples.
Honeycrisp Apples
Honeycrisp apples are a modern variety that are sweet, tart, and fragrant. These apples produce a tasty, well-balanced juice which will appeal to many palates. If you’d like a balanced juice for just any reason, the Honeycrisp apple is one of the best apple cultivars for juicing. This is also a great way to balance out a tarter apple like a Granny Smith.
Red Delicious Apples
Taking it form its name, the Red Delicious apple is a sweet, tangy, with a good mix of flavors. It’s somewhat melony in flavor. Many people think these apples are tasteless. Little do they know Red Delicious makes delicious apple juice.
Juicing Red Delicious combined with a strong flavored-apple, such as Braeburn, produces the most tasty and balanced juice. But you can extract Red Delicious apples alone and still expect the same delicious flavor.
Pacific Rose Apples
Pacific Rose is a direct and crisp New Zealand cultivar. This particular apple is noted for its mildly floral, sweet, and sharp flavor. As well as its red-blush apple skin. If you’re hunting for a cult-favorite apple to juice, Pacific Rose is a great choice.
Arkansas Black Apples
Arkansas Black apples have a nice texture. They have floral flavor with a decent amount of sweetness and balanced tartness, despite their rarity. These apple’s distinctive wine-red peels are what sets them apart from the rest on the list. They are not only lovely to gaze at, but they’re also perfect for pastries. For an added punch of flavor, you can add raw vanilla to the juice.
Add More Flavors to Your Apple Juice!
I enjoy apple juice as is. If you’re like me, there’s no need to incorporate anything that can overpower the apple flavor. But sometimes, you may want to spice it up a bit. There are several spices and additives that can enrich rather than disguise the flavor of apples. If you’re looking for a new twist on your favourite drink, try sprinkling your juice with some new ingredients.
Caramel or honey are the perfect sweetener to balance out the tanginess of a Granny Smith juice. You can also sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to give your apple juice a warm depth. For sweet juice, ginger would be a great additive. Squeezing a bit of citrus can also add kick to the flavor. It also keeps your apple juice from browning. While orange peel gives a bland juice that brightness and tang.
So, Which Is the Best Apple for Juicing?
I think it’s safe to say that picking the best apples for juicing is all about personal preferences. There’s no best or worst apple for juicing. You just need to pick which one you’d prefer according to the type of juice you’ll be making. You can always refer to the delicious choices on the list for juicing apples.
And you can experiment with each until you pick the best one for your taste. Also, you can try to combine apples from the 7,500 varieties. But the apples on the list, which are commonly available, should give you a good start on your juicing apple experience. Good luck!
