By Island County Extension Agent, Donald B. Meehan

SELECTING BAKING APPLES

This is the time of the year when the backyard apple tree provides apples for many uses. One of them is baking. Some apple varieties work very well for baking and others are best for eating fresh. In 1980, Dr. Robert Norton, Superintendent of the Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Unit near Mount Vernon, wanted to answer the question, "Which apple variety makes the best baking apple?". He had 34 varieties growing at the research station being tested for their adaptability to Western Washington climate. With those trees as his source of apples he and his co-workers set out to test each of the varieties. The method they used was to core each apple and fill the cored cavity with sugar, place the apple upright in a pan and bake for 90 minutes at 350 degrees. Following the baking, each apple was evaluated for flavor, fresh color and appearance. They conducted these tests at different times of the fall season dependent on when each of the apples could be picked for best ripeness. A blind taste test was used to judge flavor by three to ten judges. Shape and appearance were rated on a separate scale. Color scores were combined with the flavor score. The results of the test are available by contacting my office and asking for a copy of the "What's the best apple for baking" handout. In that handout you will learn that some of the best flavored apples in the test got dropped out because they were too soft or would split or collapse during baking. When all factors were taken into account, the apples which rated the highest were MUTSU, MELROSE, SINTA, NEWTOSH, COX ORANGE, PIPPIN, and JONAGOLD. Spartan had good flavor and held its shape well, but the flesh color was brownish and unattractive. If you are looking for a source of baking apples throughout the fall and winter you would then be wise to select a MUTSU or MELROSE, since both are good keepers. IDARED is another excellent keeper but it doesn't rate that well for baking. It is a good apple for desserts, sauce and pies. Selecting fruit trees to suit your family's tastes and cooking desires can be difficult. To help people with this decision, we have several publications which provide key information. Contact our WSU-Cooperative Extension office at 679-327 for a list of those available.



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