Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog: Food Network's Healthy Eats: Healthy Recipes, Weight Loss Tips & Nutrition Information

Sunny Anderson bakes apples and oats for a seasonal dessert.

Now apple season is in full swing, there’s even more reason to get your “apple a day”—and then some. According to the US Apple Association, US orchards produce nearly 100 varieties of apples, but 15 varieties make up about 90 percent of production. Those 15 include Braeburn, Crispin, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Idared, Jonagold, Jonathan, McIntosh, Red Delicious, and Rome apples. For more details on their respective taste and textures, check out the US apple association’s chart

In October, Braeburn, Crispin, Idared, and Jonagold apples are just starting their harvest season. While most apple varieties stay in season for many months, harvest for the Ginger gold ends in Novermber, so grab them while you can!

Apples make great snacks on their own, but there are many other ways to enjoy them as well. Here are a few suggestions on how to use up the bounty of fall, and the best apples to do the job

Ellie Krieger uses Golden Delicious apples for her muffins

Baking

When it comes to muffins and breads, apples deliver sweetness and moisture. They’re also great for baking whole with fall spices. Try baking with these varieties:

• Jonathan,
• Granny Smith
• Idared
• Rome

Sunny Anderson’s Baked Apple with Crisp Topping (pictured at top)

Gala apples shine in this crunchy Waldorf salad.

Salads

These varieties lend fantastic bite and tart sweetness to salads:

• Empire
• Fuji
• Gala
• Ginger Gold
• Golden Delicious

Waldorf Salad

Michael Symon’s Beet and Apple Salad

Sauces

Make homemade applesauce with these varieties, and you won’t miss those store-bought snack packs:

• Gala
• Honeycrisp
• Golden Delicious
• Granny Smith
• Idared
• Mcintosh
• Rome

Ina Garten’s Homemade Applesauce

The Neely’s Homemade Applesauce

Golden Delicious apples and dried cherries fill this rustic pie

Pies

For pie-making, seven apple types stand up especially well to the heat. Try using these or any mix of them next time you want to show off your pie-making skills:

• Crispin
• Golden Delicious
• Granny Smith
• Honey Crisp
• Idared
• McIntosh
• Rome

 Tell us: What’s your favorite variety of apple?