# honey crisp = best apples ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572 "2012-10-12T23:29:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/61 "2012-10-13T19:04:27Z")
You lost me there. I make Mile High Apple Pie with five pounds of Granny Smith apples _per pie._ Each slice is easily four inches deep. Now that’s a pie. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/62 "2012-10-13T20:20:35Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > McIntosh apples are my favorite. I’ve had some that put candy to shame. Red Delicious apples are an abomination before God and nature. I can’t get a decent apple here in northwest TN to save my life. In Pittsburgh I was spoiled by the freshness and availability. I think good apples take a crueler climate than we have here in the mid-south. They’re one thing that I usually don’t pick up at the farmer’s market for that reason. As for my favorite, Braeburn. Like eating apple cider. 🙂 After that, honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala or Tango. Mmmm! I likes me some good apples. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/63 "2012-10-13T21:09:57Z")
Winesap, Stayman and Arkansas Black all grow well in the southern climate. The latter two are descended from the Winesap, which is native to Virginia. If they can grow peaches in Long Island, they can grow apples in Tennesee. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/64 "2012-10-13T22:10:46Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I just ate one, that’s how I know. what’s your favorite apple? Fuji. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/65 "2012-10-14T01:06:00Z")
A second vote for Ambrosia. But, now that I think about it, it’s a little worrisome that I’m NOT seeing them in the supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/66 "2012-10-14T01:54:31Z")
I just had an image burn into my mind. A sandwich with honeycrisp apples, peanut butter and bacon. ’ I have to go to the grocery store tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/67 "2012-10-14T01:55:29Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > No love for Jonathans yet. I picked a big bag at a local orchard a couple years ago (no U-pick in the area this year, _sniff_) and they were awfully awfully good. It’s a sweet, pretty, crunchy apple, they might simply be overlooked in favor of Honeycrisps. I’m with you on the Jonathans - my favorite apple. The first time I had them (20+ years ago) was at an Oktoberfest and the local orchard was selling them by the huge bagful. So good. They’re kind of hard to find, though. You see Jonagolds a lot, but they’re not nearly as good. I can get behind a good Honeycrisp, too, though. I love apple season. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/68 "2012-10-14T04:38:36Z")
Ginger Gold- a good GG has the perfect texture. I’d eat these even if they had no flavor just because the mouth feel is so satisfying. Crimson Crisp Gold Rush Mutsu Dolgo Crab Zestar! (patented with the exclamation point), if you can get them just short of ripe. Good Red Delicious - juicy,crisp, slightly greenish flesh, with a bloom on the skin and a hint of bitterness/astringency. They’re nothing like the trash apples in the grocery stores. It was a bad year at the local apple orchard; an early spring heat wave followed by a late frost nipped almost all the blossoms at the main location. The secondary location fared much better, but they aren’t set up for you-pick there, so you lose out on the experience of getting the apples straight from the tree. Also, the secondary orchard has only 20 or so varieties, rather than the 60+ at the main site. Third, while a lot of fruit survived there, most of it was scarred or malformed in some way. But if you don’t mind eating a warty-looking apple, they taste just as good. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/69 "2012-10-14T10:49:15Z")
I’m a Jazz guy for sure, problem being that they seem to disappear from the markets from time to time, which is sad. Where Jazz are a hybrid of Gala and Braeburn, these are OK substitutes for those periods. Something about the honeycrisp didn’t click for me; they’re good, but not worth the money to me. Maybe not dense enough? They seem sort of on the light side. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/70 "2012-10-14T15:39:06Z")
I just made some chunky applesauce out of some of those Winesaps. Didn’t need even a touch of sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/71 "2012-10-14T19:28:43Z")
I just got back from the market with a 3 lb bag of honeycrisp apples for 2.99. They are chilling in the fridge for later. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/72 "2012-10-14T19:40:20Z")
> [@Cub\_Mistress](#): > > I just got back from the market with a 3 lb bag of honeycrisp apples for 2.99. They are chilling in the fridge for later. OK. Where did you find them for that price? I just got back from Kroger and they were $2.29 a pound. Other apples were mostly in the same price range. I know that Michigan lost a large percentage of their apple crop, but. just. wow! I splurged on a couple of the first Braeburns of the season and a couple of honeycrisp, but filled in my fruit quota with pears and first of the season tangerines (which aren’t as flavorful as later on). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/73 "2012-10-14T19:56:04Z")
Missred, I went to Savealot. I was surprised too, so I scarfed up 2 bags! ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/74 "2012-10-14T20:24:23Z")
We just visited Pepin Heights orchards in Lake City, Minnesota, along the Mississippi. They grow a fourth of the apples in Minnesota, and this year due to a freak frost and later hail, their output was greatly reduced. Look for higher prices this year. At their outlet stand, they had Honey Crisp (of course), Cortland, Wealthy, and a few others. The supposed successor to Honey Crisp is SweeTango, another new breed from the University of Minnesota (a cross between HC and Zestar). They had only “seconds” there, and I don’t think they’re nearly as good as HC. My wife’s co-worker had a birthday party that day, and instead of buying her a bottle of wine or some chocolates, we gave her a big bag of HC apples. She said that was her favorite present, and at over $25, it should be! ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/75 "2012-10-14T22:01:25Z")
Honeycrisp is the apple I crave, but if they aren’t available, Pinata will do. If neither of those are available, I pretty much don’t buy apples. I love to pair slices of Honeycrisp with Robusto or Parrano cheese bits for a snack. Best snack evar! I haven’t found SweeTango to try yet, but will when I see one. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/76 "2012-10-15T01:25:11Z")
Perfect timing of this thread. Yesterday Hallboy and I stopped at a local orchard and I bought Cameo, Mutsu and I think Honey Crisp, simply based on the responses in this thread. I’ve had Honey Crisps only a couple of time before (which I did find to be very delicious), but never the other two. I can’t wait to try them! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/77 "2012-10-21T19:25:33Z")
Just got back from the grocery store where I bought a half dozen honey crisps. Just consumed one. Did not find it anything special. Give me a Granny Smith anytime! ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/78 "2012-10-21T19:40:59Z")
Empire. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/79 "2012-10-21T19:55:29Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Just got back from the grocery store where I bought a half dozen honey crisps. > > Just consumed one. Did not find it anything special. > > Give me a Granny Smith anytime! Is your grocery store the type that stocks really good produce? I’ve definitely noticed grocery store honey crisps are a pale reflection of farmer’s market honey crisps. If they’re shipping them in from a long way away, they seem to lose some flavor. Find some local ones, then report back. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572/80 "2012-10-21T20:19:21Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Is your grocery store the type that stocks really good produce? I’ve definitely noticed grocery store honey crisps are a pale reflection of farmer’s market honey crisps. If they’re shipping them in from a long way away, they seem to lose some flavor. > > Find some local ones, then report back. Honestly, no, they are not. I live in small town in the midwest and I imagine apples are shipped from a long ways away. But so are the Granny Smiths and the other apples. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honey-crisp-best-apples-ever/637572.md?page=5)