The Apple Picking Explainer Your Inner Basic B*tch Desperately Needs
How do you like them apples?
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Put on a flannel shirt and head to your nearest orchard: It's apple picking time! You know to go, but do you know where to go or when to go or what to do when you get there? Mhmm, we gotchyu. Read on for the answers to all those pressing questions.
There are orchards in nearly every state.
The easiest way to find them is just to google "apple orchards in [your city]." You could also go to pickyourown.org. There's a map on the site that lists a bunch of farms, and it's organized by state, then by region. Orangepippin.com has a similar database that also flags organic orchards.
Apple picking season is short.
Most orchards start welcoming people at the beginning of September, and by late October, it's over.
Go early.
Getting to an orchard right when it opens will mean less crowds. Going to an orchard earlier in the picking season—September instead of October—will also give you a better chance of getting the perfectly ripened apples you've been dreaming of.
Everything you've heard about apple cider donuts is true.
In that they're delicious and available at many apple orchards. Plan to bring a dozen home—and also plan to probably finish them in the car before you get there. Also often for sale: fresh apple cider.
Pick from the outside in.
Apples on the outside and lower branches ripen fastest, and they're easiest to grab. Make those are the first ones you reach for.
Skip the ones on the ground.
Listen, there's a little bit of conflicting information when it comes to windfall apples, or apples that land on the ground. The general consensus, though, is that they're not the best. Three things will deter you: 1. There's a good chance they were bruised or cut during the drop. 2. They often get infested with bugs. 3. The apples may contain toxic compounds developed from fungi that grow on fallen apples.
You can shake your booty, but don't shake the apple tree.
Go ahead and do your basic b*tch hapy dance when you get to the orchard, but then, know this: One must only pick apples off a tree—not shake a tree until apples fall. First, that's wasteful, since you'll probably drop a lot more apples than you were intending to get. Second, you risk damaging said extra apples...meaning you won't want to pick them off the ground...and neither will anyone else.
Apple varieties have their own mini seasons.
When you get to the orchard, ask what kind they have ripened at the moment. It varies by region, but there's a general pattern: McIntosh and Honeycrisp tend to ripen during September, and Golden Delicious and Red Delicious are usually ready to pick by the end of that month. If you're going out in October, get ready for some Fuji and Granny Smith.
Bring reusable bags.
Orchards will have bags for you, but many supply paper ones. Opt for something a little more environmentally friendly and bring canvas bags or a crate to cart the fruit home with you.
You can do so much with your loot.
The question isn't what can you make with your apples; it's what can't you. We have nearly 100 easy apple recipes to get you started.
Different apples are best for different recipes.
The best apples for baking projects are hearty with a lot of acidity, so they don't break down to mush (think: Granny Smith and Cortland). You can eat what your taste buds tell you to, but Delish editors prefer Honey Crispy, Mutsu, Fuji, and Gala. As for applesauce, choose the mealy varieties, like McIntosh or Golden Delicious.
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