What Should You Look for When Picking Apples

What Should You Look for When Picking Apples

A father and daughter pose in front of a Tanners Orchard Sign. If you're wondering

The Good and the Bad: What Should You Look for When Picking Apples

There’s nothing better than a fresh, crisp apple on a fall day. It’s a delightful snack that’s great for your health. Apples typically have a long shelf life, especially when they are kept in cool, dark locations. But it helps to know what to look for in case you didn’t pick the apple yourself. The following tips can also help you figure out what you may need to look for when you’re picking your own apples. If you’re asking yourself what should you look for when picking apples, follow our recommendations to get the best apple to enjoy.

What to Look for in Your Apples

You may already think you know what a perfect apple looks like. A perfectly fresh apple should be firm and should smell sweet and fruity. Be sure to feel the texture of your apples, which should be firm but not hard. Check out the apple’s stem, which should be intact and green to show freshness. You’ll also notice that they come in many colors, such as green, red, and pink. If there are any spots that seem dull, dark, or brown, that may be a sign your apple has gone bad.

If you think an apple has gone bad, there are a few things you can do to check it. If it smells off, almost like vinegar, it’s likely the apple is no longer good to eat. If its color has changed and there are dark, mushy spots, or shriveled skin, you should also discard of your apple. If you cut into it and it has a grainy texture, you may want to avoid eating it completely.

The best way to tell if you can eat your apples is to check to see when apples are ripe for the season. Follow Tanners Orchard’s convenient apple picking chart to see when they are ripe and ready for picking.

About Us

Since 1947, Tanners Orchard has been bringing families to our farm to choose from a selection of delicious apples. Our orchard features 17 varieties of apples across more than 11,000 trees. Hop on a wagon and head out to our orchards, where you can pick any number of apples to take home. What should you look for when picking apples? Grab the freshest, ripest apples that smell sweet and are brightly colored, then take them home for snacking, cooking, and baking. In addition to our orchard, we offer our Festival Days, which includes numerous memorable events as well as a farm market and bakery that’s stocked with farm-fresh goodies you’ll want to taste.

A family poses in front of a Tanners Orchard sign. If you're asking "What Should You Look for When Picking Apples" trust the experts at Tanners Orchard.

Visit Tanners Orchard Today

If you’re ready to experience memorable apple picking with your loved ones, get in touch with Tanners Orchard. We are located at 740 IL-40 in Speer IL, just north of Peoria. Give us a call at 309-493-5442. We can’t wait to show you just how delicious our apples are.