The Best Tips for How to Cut Apples for Apple Pie
Apple pie is a great dessert to know how to make. But you might be confused about how to prepare the apples for the pie filling. Do you dice the apples? Do you slice the apples? Read on to learn how to cut apples for apple pie.
I love apple pie. Apples are available all year long from your local grocery store. And they are less expensive than other fruit too. Making them perfect for an less expensive, delicious dessert.
But if you’ve never made apple pie before, then the tips below can teach you how to cut your apples for pie. I’ve included what apples to use too.
I even have a link to my no fail pie crust, a recipe for apple pie filling for the freezer, and my favorite apple pie recipe. But first, let’s start with what kitchen tools you’ll need.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Cut Apples for Apple Pie
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Sharp Knife, I prefer a paring knife
Cutting Board, I love my bamboo cutting board
Melon Baller, handy to have if needed
Large bowl, with water to keep the apples from browning
How to Cut Apples for Apple Pie
I think this is the best way to cut apples for apple pie. I’ve made a quick video for you. If watching a video isn’t for you, scroll down to the written instructions and all the questions I’ve answered about cutting apples for apple pie.
How to Prepare Apples for Apple Pie (step-by-step instructions)
1. Wash and Peel the Fresh Apples
Give your apples a good wash and then peel them. The best way to peel the apples is with a vegetable peeler.
To start, cut the top off the apple, it will make it easier to peel by allowing the vegetable peeler to grab the skin more easily. Then take your vegetable peeler and move around the apple to remove the skin.
2. Core the Apple
There are different ways to core an apple. You can use an apple corer. Or you can use a melon baller to remove core. Or you can just cut each side of the apple off. Which is the quickest way.
Set the apple down on its top that you cut to be level before peeling. With a sharp knife cut down near the core on one side. Turn the apple to the next side, cut that side off. Turn again and cut the third side and finally cut the last side off. (See video above to see how it’s done)
You’ll have the core left with 4 chunks of apple. Cut the rest of the apples in the same way.
Kitchen Tip: if you have a bit of the core in a chunk of the apple because you cut close to the core, you can remove it using a melon baller.
Just scoop the extra core that was cut with one end of the melon baller, it works great.
3. Slice the Apples
Now it’s time to make apple slices out of our chunks of apple. Place one chunk of apple on its flat cut side. Cut slices at about 1/4 inch thick with a sharp paring knife.
The main thing to remember here is to get the slices as uniform as possible so they will cook at the same rate for a better pie.
As you get each apple chunk sliced, place the sliced apples in a bowl of water to keep them from browning.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Apple Pie
After you get your apples prepared, this is what else you’ll need to make your own classic apple pie.
Favorite Apple Pie Recipes, Here’s a classic double crust pie or a crumble top apple pie recipe
Pie Dough or Pie Crust, here’s how to make pie crust from scratch. Make a double batch for a top crust and bottom crust pie
Raw Apples, use firm apples
Sugar, White or Brown Sugar will work
Egg, for an egg wash for the top of the crust
Pie Plate or Pie Dish, to bake your pie in
Baking Sheet, to place under your pie to catch any drips
Paring Knife, to cut steam vents
If you want a double crust pie, try this recipe with a video tutorial
If you want to make a single crust pie with a crumble topping this recipe is the one you want to try.
Answers to your Questions about Cutting Apples for Pie
I’ve included some common questions about cutting apples for apple pie below. If you have one that wasn’t answered, be sure to leave me a comment so I can answer it and add it to the list.
What Apple Varieties are the Best Apples for Apple Pie?
In apple pie, you can use a variety of apples or just one kind of apple. You can use sweet apples or tart apples in apple pie. If you use sweeter apples, you may reduce the sugar in the apple pie filing a bit. Mixing different apples can make for the perfect pie.
The top 6 best apples for apple pie are…
Honey Crisp, they have a nice sweet flavor and hold their shape. I like to include some of them in all of our pies.
Granny Smith, these have a tart flavor that is great paired with some sweeter apples on this list.
Northern Spy, these are the best for pie. They are sweet and firm. And hold their shape when cooked.
Golden Delicious, they break down more when cooked, so pair with another firmer variety.
Gala, these are a sweet apple that don’t get too soft when cooked in a pie.
Pink Lady, these are super crisp, so they hold up to baking with a sweet/tart flavor.
All the varieties of apples above can be found at your local grocery store.
How Do You Prepare Apples for Apple Pie?
To prepare your apples, you’ll want to core, peel, and slice the apples.
If I’m preparing a lot of apples for homemade apple pie filling for the freezer, I will soak the apples in water to keep them from browning while I’m preparing the rest.
Or you can sprinkle them with a little fruit fresh or lemon juice to keep them from browning too.
Should I Peel the Apples for Apple Pie?
Apple pie turns out the best when you peel the apples. Leaving the peel on adds color to the pie, but the peel can be tough after being cooked and you don’t want any tough surprises in your apple pie.
Peeled apples give you are more delicate soft pie filling. I’d suggest peeling the apples for apple pie.
How Do You Peel Apples for Apple Pie Quickly?
The best way to peel apples quickly for apple pie is this technique. You want to cut the top of the apples off. Then use a vegetable peeler to remove the rest of the skin.
By taking the tops off, your vegetable peeler can more easily get started to remove the skin. And it makes a nice flat surface for the apple to rest on when you are cutting the apples.
How Thinly Should You Slice Apples for Apple Pie?
It’s important to slice your apple uniformly. So the apples will cook at the same rate.
I’ve found the best thickness to slice our apples at is about 1/4 inch thick. It makes for a nice pie filling. If you have thicker slices, they can take longer to cook.
Can You Dice Apples for Apple Pie?
Yes, you can dice apples for apple pie filling. You’ll want to cut the apples uniformly in size so they all cook at the same rate, but you can definitely dice the apples. It will make for a more chunky apple pie filling.
More Great Apple Recipes to Try…
How to Cut Apples for Apple Pie
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Apples
Instructions
- Wash and Peel the Fresh Apples, Give your apples a good wash and then peel them. The best way to peel the apples is with a vegetable peeler. To start, cut the top off the apple, it will make it easier to peel by allowing the vegetable peeler to grab the skin more easily. Then take your vegetable peeler and move around the apple to remove the skin.Â
- Core the Apple, there are different ways to core an apple. You can use an apple corer. Or you can use a melon baller to remove core. Or you can just cut each side of the apple off. Which is the quickest way. Set the apple down on its top that you cut to be level before peeling. With a sharp knife cut down near the core on one side. Turn the apple to the next side, cut that side off. Turn again and cut the third side and finally cut the last side off.
- Slice the Apples, now it’s time to make apple slices out of our chunks of apple. Place one chunk of apple on its flat cut side. Cut slices at about 1/4 inch thick with a sharp paring knife. The main thing to remember here is to get the slices as uniform as possible so they will cook at the same rate for a better pie.Â
- As you get each apple chunk sliced, place the sliced apples in a bowl of water to keep them from browning.Â
Notes
Nutrition
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