A while back I tested a lot of different kinds of apples and then posted the results on which ones were best for preparing baked apples. (They don’t all bake up the same, as the pics here prove!) Among those I rated most highly: Honeycrisp, pictured below at right, Rome, Jonathan and Empire (shown left, above). The ones I cited as the biggest duds were an old stand-by, the McIntosh (shown right above) and Granny Smith. The Mac tasted good but just didn’t stand up, literally, to the heat; the Granny tasted tart but not much else. (You can read all the details of my great apple bake-off here.)
Another apple that baked up very attractively and tasted good was the Braeburn, pictured at left. Incidentally, the super-easy recipe for them calls for only two ingredients (apples and brown sugar), and because you “bake” them individually in the microwave, an apple can be ready in about 5 minutes. Really! Here’s the quick, microwave-baked recipe.As anybody who has ever expressed any opinion about anything on-line knows, even a statement supported by facts and thoughtful consideration will get blasted by somebody. The Internet is full of folks with axes they are always eagerly waiting to grind. And as it turns out, apples are as touchy a topic as whether or not an outfit makes the wearer look fat.
Several folks—all hailing from New England, interestingly—immediately responded that I was, let’s just say, um, misinformed. They felt that McIntosh apples were absolutely, positively the best ones for baking whole. That baked apples were supposed to slump down and lose their color during baking. That they liked their baked apples mushy and applesaucy.
So, I’m still sticking with my original picks. But feel free to grind your ax and offer your alternatives to change my mind. I baked apples all the time, so will gladly try whatever apples you strongly recommend. Tip: Telling me your Mom always prepared a certain variety won’t help your cause!
Jamie, yes, it is a matter of taste. As one apple grower told me, any apple is good with a little brown sugar and maybe cinnamon! Still, some apples really are better for baking whole. That's my story &, as the song says, I'm sticking to it!
Like your pics. Really tell the story.
I would guess it is a matter of taste. I know that some people like crispy apples just to eat (not cooked or baked) while others prefer less crunchy. Ditto pears and even peaches (I'm not adverse to a not-quite ripe peach eaten crunchy like an apple whereas my husband wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole). As for apples, for baking I want it to melt in my mouth and for a pie I want it to have a little shape left after cooking. I also prefer tart or sweet depending on what I am using it for. So let the grumblers grumble, Nancy, I trust your opinion.