Cook Apples

The humble apple is the cook's best friend, especially during the winter months. Apples are typically in season during the fall, but they are also plentiful during the winter months. If you are getting bored of eating fresh apple after fresh apple, why not try cooking them instead? There are lots of different ways to cook apples. You will not only end up with a tasty dish, but also something that will keep you warm and cozy on a chilly fall or winter night.

Ingredients

Baking Apples[1]

  • 4 large apples
  • ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (30 grams) pecans, chopped (optional)
  • ¼ cup (40 grams) raisins, chopped (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter
  • ¾ cup (180 milliliters) boiling water

Frying Apples[2]

  • 4 apples
  • ½ cup (115 grams) butter
  • ½ cup (100 grams) white or brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Microwaving Apples[3]

  • 2 apples
  • 2 teaspoons (10 grams) unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons (25 grams) brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Stewing Apples[4]

  • 6 cups (705 grams) Granny Smith apples, chopped and peeled
  • ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (60 milliliters) apple juice (or water)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Steps

Baking Apples

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Wash the apples, cut off the tops, then remove the cores. Use a melon scoop or metal spoon to carve out the core; the hole should be about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) wide. Be sure to leave the bottom ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) of the apples intact.[1]
    • Choose good baking apples, such as: Golden Delicious, Jonagold, or Rome Beauty.[1]
  3. Score the skin of the apples lightly. Use a sharp knife to draw a line around the apples, widthwise. Do this several times: near the top, around the middle, and towards the bottom. This will prevent the skin from breaking while the apple is baking.[5]
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. For fancier apples, you can also add some chopped pecans and/or chopped raisins.
  5. Distribute the sugar mixture evenly between the four apples. Each apple should get about 1 tablespoon of the mixture.
  6. Add some butter on top of the brown sugar. Cut the butter into four, equal-sized cubes, then drop each cube on top of each apple. When the butter melts, it will mix with the sugar, and give you a delicious sauce.
  7. Place the apples in a baking dish, then pour hot water into the dish. The hot water will help keep the bottom of the apples from burning. It will also mix with the juices released by the apples, and give you a sort of sauce.
  8. Bake the apples for 30 to 45 minutes. They are ready when the flesh turns tender, and is easily pierced with a fork.
  9. Let the apples cook slightly before serving them. Take the apples out of the baking dish, and transfer them to a serving platter using a spatula. If you'd like, you can baste them with the juice collected at the bottom of the baking dish.

Frying Apples

  1. Prepare the apples for frying. Wash and peel the apples first. Then, prepare them in one of the following ways:
    • Core the apples, then cut them into rings/slices.
    • Cut the apples into thin wedges.[2]
    • Cut the apples into quarters, then into ½-inch (1.27 centimeters) thick slices.[5]
  2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Tilt the skillet from side-to-side as the butter melts to help it spread evenly across the bottom.
  3. Stir the sugar and cinnamon into the butter. You can use white or brown sugar, but brown sugar will give you a better flavor. Keep stirring until the sugar and cinnamon are mixed evenly with the butter.
  4. Add the apples, and cook them over medium-high heat for about 5 to 8 minutes.[5][2] Turn the apples often with a spatula or wooden spoon so that they get cooked evenly.
  5. Serve the apples while they are still warm. Scoop the apple slices out with a spoon, and serve them in a bowl. If you don't want the "sauce" leftover from the apples, scoop them out using a slotted spoon instead.

Microwaving Apples

  1. Cut off the tops of two apples, then scoop the cores out using a spoon or melon scoop. Try to make the holes about 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) wide. Leave about ½ inch (1.27 centimeters) of the bottom of the apples intact.
  2. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This will ensure that each apple gets and equal amount of spices.
  3. Spoon the sugar mixture into each apple. Each apple will get about 1 tablespoon of the sugar mixture. If you need to, gently pat the sugar down into hole you carved out.
  4. Add a cube of butter on top of the sugar. When the apples cook, the butter will melt and soak into the sugar. This will give you a sweet sauce for the apples.
  5. Place the apples into a microwave-safe dish, and cover them with some plastic wrap. Use a dish with high walls, such as a ceramic baking dish or casserole dish. This will prevent the juices from leaking out all over your microwave.
  6. Microwave the apples for 3½ to 4 minutes. Keep in mind that each microwave is a little different, so your apples might be ready sooner than that. If your microwave is not very strong, the apples may also need a longer cooking time. They are ready when they turn tender.
  7. Let the apples sit for a few minutes before removing the plastic wrap and serving them. There will be lots of steam, so be careful not to lean over the apples while uncovering them. Also, it might be a good idea to let them cool for a few minutes before digging in, as they will be very hot.[3]

Stewing Apples

  1. Prepare the apples. Peel the apples first, then cut them into quarters. Remove the cores, then chop the apples into small cubes.
  2. Put all of the ingredients into a large saucepan, and bring them to a boil over high heat. Place a large saucepan on the stove. Add the apples, apple juice, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir everything together until the sugar dissolves, then turn the heat up to high, and wait for the mixture to boil.[6]
    • If you'd like something a little less-sweet, you can use water instead of apple juice. Stir the ingredients together
  3. Simmer the apples over medium-low heat, covered, until they turn tender. Depending on how thick or thin you cut the apples, this will take between 25 and 45 minutes.[4][6] Stir the apples occasionally as they cook; this will help them cook more evenly.
  4. Let the apples sit in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes before serving them.[4][6] This allows the flavors to infuse better. It also allows the apples to cool down to a comfortable eating temperature.


Tips

  • You can always cook the apples using any of these methods on their own, without seasonings, such as sugar, butter, or cinnamon. Keep in mind that they won't be as flavorful, however. If the recipe calls for water, however, be sure to add it in so as to prevent scorching.
  • Store apples in a cool location, preferably in the refrigerator, away from strong flavored foods. Refrigerated apples should be eaten within 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Serve baked or microwaved apples with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for extra richness!
  • Use apples immediately after slicing to prevent browning. You can sprinkle the apple slices with lemon juice to prevent browning.
  • Add apple slices to 1 part lemon juice mixed with 3 parts water to prevent browning. Use the sliced apples within two hours of adding to the lemon water. Or refrigerate apple slices stored in water for later use.
  • If you want to make applesauce, Gala, Granny Smith, and Golden Delicious are all great choices.
  • Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Rome beauty are great choices for baking.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/baked_apples/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/230907/southern-fried-apples/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://allrecipes.com/recipe/18389/microwave-baked-apples/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cinnamon-stewed-apples
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--1303/apple-cooking.asp
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooked-apples-recipe.html
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