The Ultimate New England Apple Picking Experience

There are dozens of apple orchards open to the public in and around Massachusetts. Many of these orchards allow you to stroll through and pick your own apples or to just enjoy the view.

And what a view it is. Apples are ready for picking between mid-August through October right when the air becomes cooler and the foliage changes. Picking time ranges for each apple variety so inquire about timing before you make the trek.

Different Types of Apples

Apples that grow well in New England include Honey Crisp, Paulared, MacIntosh, Honey Crisp, Gala, Cortland, Spencer, Red Delicious, Emper, Macoun, and Northern Spy. Each type differs in size, color, texture, and flavor. Some varieties have a sweeter flavor and others are spicier.

Apple experts argue over which apple breed is the best apple, especially when it comes to baking. For example, there is heated debate over the quality of the Red Delicious, which is not recommended for baking because of its lack of flavor and poor texture. However, a Red Delicious does have a bright color and shiny skin, making it great for photos.

Apple Baking

Apples not only make a great snack in their original form, but they work great in salads and in desserts too. Dessert favorites include the apple tart, the apple crisp, the apple upside down cake, and of course, the traditional apple pie.

Recipes for apple pies abound, but most all of them follow a standard pattern. Here are the fundamentals for most apple pie recipes:

Nine inch double crust

Four apples

Butter

Flour

Water

Splash of lemon juice

Equal parts white sugar and brown sugar

Season with one or all of the following: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, cloves

Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes

There are different philosophies on choosing the right variety apples for a pie. Some suggest you mix a tart apple with a sweet apple for a unique taste. Others disapprove on mixing apple varieties, because the difference in texture and flavor makes the pie inconsistent from bite to bite.

For a traditional apple pie, a Northern Spy or a Cortland apple will work well. Both have a good reputation for keeping their shape (not disintegrating) and they have a noticeable spicy taste.

If apples, apple pie, and apple picking doesn't appeal to you, then look to enjoy some of the other produce New England farmers grow. In fact, many apple growers also grow pumpkins, corn, blueberries, peaches, nectarines, corn, plums, pears, and quince.

This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in the Boston, Massachusetts area. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Boston for more information.

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