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Wondering how to cut an apple for a salad, cooking, or just for fun? Look no further! You don’t need any fancy tools or apple cutting devices to make some gorgeously sliced apples. A sharp knife and a little know-how is all you need. With the right method, your days of wasting apple flesh with inefficient cutting techniques are over.
Cutting up apples is a great way to spruce up your kitchen game. You can easily add apple slices to kids’ lunch boxes, make snacks, or prepare the slices for apple-based recipes. Sliced apple is really useful for apple pie, for example, or you can create apple rings to make apple chips. We’re looking at ways to cut apples without using a corer or any special tools.
Why Should You Learn How To Cut an Apple?
- You can make more recipes. Once you’ve got the hang of cutting apples, you’ll be in a great position to start making all kinds of delicious apple-based recipes. Slicing, dicing, chunks, and rings are all great options depending on your choice of recipe.
- Ease of eating. Sure, you can bite into a whole apple, but it’s way easier to eat an apple slice. Kids with small mouths appreciate the easier snack, and it’s way more fun to dip an apple slice into your favorite snacking dip than to scoop it onto a whole apple.
- Making easy and healthy snacks for kids is always a win. Convenience is a major factor in any snacking behavior. Cut apples ahead of time and store them in the fridge with a bit of apple juice.
- Looking for lunchbox inspiration? Try some sliced apples for an easy lunchbox snack.
How To Cut An Apple Like a Pro
Cutting apples really couldn’t be easier once you know what you’re doing. All you need is a nice, sharp knife and you can get started.
Easy Steps To Cut an Apple
- First, you’re going to sit your apple upright on a cutting board. Place your knife about a quarter inch to the side of the stem.
- Cut down through the fruit, avoiding the stem and core. Place this piece of apple to the side.
- Next, rotate your apple about one quarter turn. Make a similar cut.
- Turn again, another quarter rotation, and repeat. As always, avoid the stem and the core.
- Finally, cut off the last little piece of apple, disposing of the core.
Now place these apple pieces or “cheeks” cut side down on the chopping board. Cut them into slices of your preferred thickness. You can also rotate the slices through ninety degrees after cutting and turn them into little cubes.
Use Lemon Juice to Preserve
- First, squeeze your lemon juice, preferably from a fresh lemon, over the apple pieces.
- Then toss your apple slices in the lemon juice to fully coat them.
Apple Cutting Tips
- Peel your apple before cutting. You can use a vegetable peeler or a paring knife to remove the apple skin before you start cutting into it.
- You can cut your apple into different sized pieces. After cutting around the core with a knife, you can cut these apple pieces any way you like. You can slice them thick or thin, rotate your slices and cut into cubes, and use larger or smaller cuts depending on your recipe. Different sizes of apple pieces will be useful for different recipes. Diced apple, for example, cooks well and goes easily into stuffing, but isn’t great for salads.
- Level the apple if you need to. Apples grow on trees and don’t always come out perfectly even and symmetrical. No problem! To fix an uneven apple that just won’t stay upright, trim off a piece of the bottom to create an even surface. Now the apple should have a nice, flat bottom to place on the cutting board prior to cutting.
- You can use a rubber band to help minimize browning. A simple rubber band is a great tool to prevent the exposed apple flesh from reacting to the air and going brown. All you need to do is rearrange your apple pieces around the core like a puzzle and use the rubber band to keep the pieces together. This reduces their exposure to oxygen and slows down the brown. It’s a great, fun way to keep apples fresh in the lunchbox.
How To Store Cut Apples
If you want to cut apples ahead of time and store them for later use, you have a few options. Our favorite method is to toss the slices in freshly squeezed lemon juice before placing them in an airtight container, or sealable bag, in the fridge.
Cut apples should last about 3-5 days in your refrigerator when stored using this method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to keep your cut apple slices for longer? Try freezing them! Your apples will last for ages in the freezer.
To freeze apple slices, lay them flat on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, ensuring that they do not touch. Place the sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, you can transfer the slices into a bag or container.
You can prevent browning by tossing your apple slices in lemon juice straight away after cutting. You should always store them in an airtight container to reduce their exposure to air.
If you need to cut apples in bulk, place them in water with a small amount of salt or some lemon juice. Be sure to drain the water and use them immediately if this is your chosen method.
Yes! It’s pretty easy to do, and when properly stored, your apples will be good as new when you need them. Refrigerating or freezing your cut apple pieces is a great way to get some longevity out of your fruit.
It’s up to you. Apples with the skin on have more nutritional benefits, but some recipes call for the skin to be removed.
More Cooking Tutorials
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How to Cut an Apple
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- lemon juice, optional
Instructions
- Sit your apple upright on a cutting board. Place your knife about a quarter inch to the side of the stem.
- Cut down through the fruit, avoiding the stem and core. Place this piece of apple to the side.
- Next, rotate your apple about one quarter turn. Make a similar cut.
- Turn again, another quarter rotation, and repeat. As always, avoid the stem and the core.
- Finally, cut off the last little piece of apple, disposing of the core.
- Now place these apple pieces (cut side down) on the chopping board. Cut them into slices of your preferred thickness. You can also rotate the slices through ninety degrees after cutting and turn them into little cubes.
Notes
Storage:
If you want to cut apples ahead of time and store them for later use, you have a few options. Our favorite method is to toss the slices in freshly squeezed lemon juice before placing them in an airtight container, or sealable bag, in the fridge. Cut apples should last about 3-5 days in your refrigerator when stored using this method.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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