Should you cook apples before making apple pie?

Precooking the apples gets you one step ahead of that process; it releases the fruit’s liquid, causing them to cook down and lose volume before baking. So it discourages the gap between the top of the apple filling and the top crust, leaving you with a pie that has a thick layer of apples from bottom to top.

Can you put raw apples in a pie?

Fresh Apples

Don’t cook them. Just keep them in cold water to keep them from browning until it’s time to assemble the pie. Coat the raw apples with sugar and flour and pour them into the crust. … Together they will thicken and make the juicy filling that surrounds the apples in the pie.

Do you have to peel apples for apple pie?

peel your apples. … Unpeeled apples will add a bit of color and texture to your pie, but they may prevent the apples from melding together when baked. Peeled apples will give you a delicately soft pie with no tough surprises, but some people argue that you lose the apple’s nutritional value once the peel is removed.

Should you soak apples before baking?

Throw raw apples right in the pie crust

Some experts will tell you to par-cook apples before filling a pie by pouring boiling water over cut apples and soaking them for 10 minutes. Others say to roast them to reduce water content. Still others say to let cut apples sit for 30-40 minutes to drain natural juices.

Why is my apple pie so watery?

When apple pie bakes, the apples exude juice. At some point that juice starts to boil, which releases excess moisture in the form of steam. In addition, the starch in the thickener absorbs some of the water in the juice, making the remaining juice highly flavorful and dense enough to hold the apples in place.

How do you keep apples from getting mushy in a pie?

Cooking the apples a bit before baking the pie is what allows the apples to stay crisp and not get mushy like other apple pies.

What apples should not be used for apple pie?

Red Delicious and Gala are two apples that won’t withstand cooking temperatures and should not be used for apple pie. Many new apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, have a flesh that fractures when you bite it. This is so appealing for snacking on an apple, but not the best feature for a good apple pie apple.

How do you thicken apple pie filling?

The best way to thicken runny apple pie filling before baking it is to add some cornstarch, tapioca starch, or flour to your mix. To fix a runny pie that’s already been baked, simply let it cool to see if it will congeal naturally. If not, you can stick it back in the oven for a bit longer.

How do you cut apples for pie?

What is the best mix of apples for apple pie?

Granny Smith.

Firm and very tart, this variety is the go-to for many when it comes to pie because it keeps its shape extremely well. But it isn’t exactly known for its flavor, so Granny Smiths are best used in conjunction with sweeter and/or more flavorful apples.

What kind of apples are good for baked apples?

The Best Apples for Baking
  • Jonagold. Tart with a honeyed sweetness, Jonagolds hold up exceptionally well in the oven. …
  • Honeycrisp. This is our desert-island apple. …
  • Braeburn. …
  • Mutsu. …
  • Winesap. …
  • Pink Lady (or Cripps Pink) …
  • Now, let’s bake some apples!

Can you use any apples for apple pie?

Easy Apple Pie Recipe (Using Fresh Apples) Your go-to Apple Pie Recipe using fresh apples in a homemade crust with very little added sugar. This recipe is so simple that even the most basic cook can master this recipe the firs time. You can use any fresh apples you have and any crust you like.

Can you mix apples for apple pie?

The short answer to this question is yes, you absolutely can mix together different types of apples in a pie filling. … By the same token, you don’t want to add in one apple that is so crisp that it takes longer to cook than the other apples, leaving you with hard apples in your final pie.

What are the worst apples for apple pie?

Avoid these: McIntosh, Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious. These apples are a little too soft or just don’t have the right flavor punch for the long baking time pies and tarts require.

How many cups is 3 medium apples?

Just remember: 2 to 2 1/2 cups chopped or sliced apples are equivalent to 3 medium apples, or about 1 pound.

How many apples make a cup?

About 3/4 of an average sliced or cubed apple equates to a single cup. However, it really depends on the size of your apple and how you’ll be cutting it. In a perfect world, you’ll start with a medium apple. It’s about the same size as a tennis ball (or about 2 ½ – 2 ¾ inches in diameter).

Which apples are best for cooking?

The 5 Best Apples for Baking
  • Granny Smith. The Granny Smith apple is my go-to apple for any baked or cooked recipe. …
  • Jonathan or Jonagold. These apples are very similar in flavor and how they behave when baked. …
  • Cortland. Don’t push this small apple to the side. …
  • Braeburn. …
  • Honeycrisp.

What is the best tasting apple?

Some of the best tasting apple varieties are Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, Ambrosia, and Cox’s Orange Pippin. These varieties are most flavorful when picked at peak ripeness and eaten within a few months of harvest. Apple flavor is also affected by autumn temperatures and the overall terroir of the growing region.

Is Gala apples good for apple pie?

This apple variety stores better than many other sweet varieties of apples. … Gala: If you want extra sweetness without the soft texture, choose Gala apples for your pie. As with Golden Delicious apples, bakers sometimes reduce the sugar in their recipes due to this variety’s extra-sweet flavor.

Can you use normal apples instead of cooking apples?

Eating apples can easily be used in pies or for other cooking, but cooks should lower the amount of any added sugar, as the apples will make up for it. People who want to baked eating apples should choose those that will retain their shape when cooked.