If you have taken a bite of a Honeycrisp apple, it may have been one of the best apples you have ever eaten. Honeycrisp apples are fast becoming one of the most popular apples and consumers patiently wait this time of year for Honeycrisp to appear in the produce aisle.
What’s so special about the Honeycrisp variety? Three words: crispy, juicy, flavor. Consumers love the unique juicy, honey-sweet flavor with the “explosive” crunch. The preferred use for Honeycrisp apples is for eating and salads, but these apples are also good for applesauce and baking. They are also an exceptionally good keeping apple, and can be stored for up to three to four months in the refrigerator.
The health benefits from eating apples are numerous. One medium Honeycrisp apple has 5 grams of fiber and only 80 calories. Because of the amount and type of fiber, an apple will help a person feel full longer, helping him or her to consume fewer calories daily. The pectin in apples may also help lower cholesterol. The flesh and peel are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals that may protect against breast and lung cancer. These disease-fighting nutrients work best when the peel and flesh are eaten together.
Enjoy eating a delicious Honeycrisp apple plain or in this fall apple salad.
Tangy Apple Salad
Serves 4.
All you need:
- 2 large Honeycrisp apples, cored and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup Hy-Vee dried cranberries or cherries
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 2 tbsp dark agave syrup
- 1 tbsp gluten-free whole-grain mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Watercress, optional
All you do:
- 1. In a medium bowl, combine apples, cranberries, onions, agave syrup, mustard and garlic; toss. Cover and refrigerate several hours. Serve salad on a bed of watercress, if desired.
Nutrition facts per serving: 125 calories, 1g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 1g protein.
Source: Try-Foods International.
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
