Braeburn apples for cooking for the zesty flavor
Are you looking for a classic apple variety with a zesty flavor that is not too sweet? Time to try the Braeburn apple! Braeburn apples are known for their excellent cooking qualities, sharp taste, crisp texture.
Braeburn apples taste
These apples are quite large and have beautiful red and yellow striped skin.
The taste of this sweet and sour variety is fresh and lemony, with a touch of autumn herbs.
With an incredible flavor profile (along with a nice firm texture), Braeburn apples are one of the best apple pie fillings!
Braeburn apples have many qualities to love.
Read on to learn all about these delicious beauties!
The origins of Braeburn apples
The Braeburn apple comes from New Zealand, where the original tree was discovered about 70 years ago.
Braeburn apples were discovered in the early 1950s by farmer O.
Moran on a young wild tree.
The "accidental seedling" probably sprung from the fallen apple by itself.
The new seedling was propagated and raised commercially at Braeburn Orchard and has since been known as Braeburn!
"1952: Braeburn discovered on the O.
Moran property at Upper Moutere, Nelson; first grown commercially by William Bros.
, Braeburn Orchards"
Apples are special because they have both red and green skin, rather than one solid color.
They also had a complex flavor that surpassed other common apples of the time.
Even as modern apple tree breeding progresses, the wild Braeburn remains a worldwide favorite.
Braeburn apples are not genetically modified (they are non-GMO).
This apple variety is one of those apple varieties that is a spontaneous creation of nature that was discovered, propagated, and cultivated by human chance.
The wild tree is an "accidental seedling" and is not grown intentionally.
Descendants of the Braeburns
There are several famous descendants of whom Braeburn was the parent.
Envy, Jazz, Sweetie, and Kanzi apple brands are descendants of Braeburn (mainly crossed with Gala apple).
Braeburn apple older varieties
The exact variety of Braeburn apples is unknown.
Popular speculation is that it is a cross between Lady Hamilton and Granny Smith, as these species were cultivated in the area where the seedling was discovered:
"Possibly an open pollinated seedling of Lady Hamilton x Granny Smith"
Braeburn apples for cooking
What do Braeburn apples taste like?
Braeburn apples typically have the sweet and sour taste of a fresh apple.
These apples are crisp, tart, juicy and fragrant.
The taste is almost lemon-like, with a spicy acidity.
There are also spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, giving Braeburn apples a taste of autumn in an apple.
Really fresh Braeburn apples can have a slightly honeyed, pear-like flavor that contrasts nicely with the flavor of the flesh.
That said, it's definitely not one of the sweetest apple varieties.
Braeburn apples are at their best when freshly picked.
The best Braeburns can be matured on the tree to fully develop the soft, red skin.
There's nothing like a crisp, fresh apple on an autumn morning, picked straight from the tree! Apples picked early for commercial storage may not be as good as fully ripe apples.
Its rich, balanced flavor is considered more complex and desirable than many other cultivated apple varieties.
The Braeburn apple is therefore often used in modern breeding programs to create new varieties.
“Braeburn is a comfortable and reliable dining experience and a supermarket manager's dream.
Braeburn Apple Peel
Braeburn apples are mostly red but have a yellow-green undertone.
The yellow part of the apple is usually around the stem/core, with red streaks in it.
Braeburns that are allowed to ripen on the tree generally have redder skin.
The intensity of red is also affected by fall temperatures.
Where do Braeburn apples grow?
Braeburn apples are widely grown in their native New Zealand and are also grown in Australia, the USA, Canada, Chile, the UK, France, and Italy.
This variety is best grown in warm regions where apples are grown, such as Fuji or Granny Smith apples.
American/Canadian/European apples are generally available from October to March, while New Zealand/Australian apples are sold from April to September.
Braeburn apple harvest season
Harvest time for Braeburn apples occurs in mid-autumn in apple-growing regions and is generally considered a late-season apple.
Braeburn apples for baking
Apples grown in North America are harvested in September-October.
Braeburns grown in Europe are harvested in October-November.
This strain ripens at the end of March-April in its native New Zealand.
Braeburns grown in Chile ripen in June.
Tips for buying Braeburn Apples
Braeburn apples are available at select grocery stores, specialty markets, and orchards during harvest.
There are about two whole apples in a pound of Braeburn apples.
Each individual Braeburn apple weighs about 1/2 pound (see photos at the end of this article).
It's a big apple!
Braeburn apples usually cost about $2 a pound at the grocery store.
So each apple costs about a dollar.
Prices are usually better just after the harvest season (in October and May).
Wondering why there are no Braeburn apples in your local grocery store? If you can't find Braeburn apples anywhere, their offspring may have taken their place on the shelves.
Choose modern descendants like Jazz apples, Envy apples, or Kanzi apples to replace old-school Braeburn apples.
How to Plant Braeburn Apples
Braeburn apples are one of the easiest apple varieties to grow.
They are quite adaptable and tend to produce large harvests once established.
Braeburn apple trees are sometimes available at local nurseries and can also be purchased online:
Braeburn apple trees grow best in warm climates that are neither too cold nor too hot, nor in USDA zones 5-8.
This wood needs about 700 cold hours in the winter and is not the most heat tolerant, but it does belong to the species that need less cold winter hours.
Although Braeburn apple trees are fairly self-fertile, it helps to plant another tree nearby to help the apple blossoms bear fruit.
Good pollinator partner varieties for Braeburn include Gala and Fuji trees.
Long-term Apple storage
Braeburn apples are excellent storage apples for long-term storage.
Braeburns have a shelf life of 1 month in the needle compartment of the fridge.
They have a shelf life of 2-4 months in a refrigerator or cellar, and 8-10 months in a controlled environment in a commercial warehouse!
Braeburn apples vs gala
When selecting apples for storage, look for apples without visible blemishes, bruises, or other damage.
Whole, undamaged apples that are almost ripe but not yet ripe are best for storage.
Be sure to handle the apples carefully during storage to avoid breaking or tearing them.
What to do with Braeburn apples
Wondering what to do with Braeburn apples? Fortunately, this particular variety suits almost any kitchen application.
Braeburn apples are deliciously sliced on a cutting board, in apple butter, or baked into a traditional apple pie.
Braeburn apples are good for raw uses because they have a complex and balanced flavor that is considered more appealing than many more common varieties.
They are juicy and crunchy, sweet and spicy.
Braeburn food fresh from the tree is absolutely delicious!
Braeburn apples make excellent cooking apples because they hold their shape and relatively firm texture when heated.
They do not release their juice and retain it in their flesh, making a juicy dessert (rather than a soggy dessert).
While apples like McIntosh turn into a pie, Braeburn retains its shape, juice, and texture in the oven.
Cooking with Braeburn apples
Braeburn apples are one of the best baking varieties.
These apples are known for their ability to hold their shape well in the oven.
The pieces lock in all the delicious juices instead of being a soggy mess.
Because of their good texture retention, Braeburn apples are often mentioned in pie, cake, and tart recipes.
This variety also has a natural cinnamon spice flavor, making it a great choice for applesauce, chips, and bites.
Braeburn Apple Substitute
There are some good substitutes for Braeburn apples.
In particular, there are several varieties of apples that come directly from Braeburn, including Envy, Jazz, and Kanzi apples.
Although different from Braeburn, these varieties are direct descendants and therefore share many of the flavor and texture characteristics.
Braeburn apples are sometimes specifically mentioned in recipes for baked goods such as pies, tarts, and apple crumble.
If Braeburn apples are not available, try Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Pink Lady, Northern Spy, Spartan, or Cox's Orange Pippin, as they work just as well.
Here is a great list of great apple varieties to use in apple pie filling.
How useful is this article to you?
Average Score
5
/
Number of votes:
1
