Best Apples to Use for...

While most of the apples we commonly find in the shops are general all-purpose apples, some types of apples really are better than others for specific purposes. Now, take my chart with a grain of salt (smile).  You may have a long-time preference for a certain apple and not see it here - I am only listing apples that I have had good personal experience with - but I am always open to learning of new apples and trying new types when I am at the orchards. Feel free to share you favorites!

Dessert Apples 
   (Basic "Eating out of hand" Apples, crisp and sweet)

Cox's Orange Pippin
Gala
Golden and Red Delicious
Ida Red

Pie Apples  
   (nice balanced sweet/tart flavors, hold some shape - don't get too mushy)


Baldwin
Granny Smith
Jonathan/Jonagold
Northern Spy
Stayman Winesap

Sauce Apples
   (nice balanced sweet/tart flavors, break down into a creamy sauce)
Braeburn
Cortland 
Crispin
Gravenstein
Stayman Winesap

All-purpose Apples
   (Crisp texture, delicious eating out of hand, don't fall apart too much in a pie)

Cortland
EmpireFuji
Honey Crisp
McIntosh
Newtown Pippin
Rome Beauty

Links for more information:

Bon Apetit's The 3 Best Apples to Use for Baking

Top 10 dessert apple varieties for flavour

A great chart from Washington State University