HONEYCRISP
Characteristic
Honeycrisp apples have a yellow background covered with a red to pink blush and speckled with small lenticels. Their creamy white flesh is exceptionally crisp and aromatic. A balanced content of sugar and acid gives Honeycrisp apples a pleasant sweet-tart flavor that varies in strength depending upon the maturity of the apple.
Medium to large in size, an average Honeycrisp apple contains about 80 calories. They are rich in dietary fiber, specifically pectin which has been shown to reduce cholesterol and slow glucose metabolism in diabetics. They also contain Vitamins A and C, most of which is found in the skin.
What’s so special about the Honeycrisp variety? Three words: crispy, juicy, flavor. Consumers love the unique juicy, honey-sweet flavor with the “explosive” crunch. The preferred use of Honeycrisp apples is for eating and salads, but these apples are also good for applesauce and baking. They are also an exceptionally good keeping apple, and can be stored for up to three to four months in the refrigerator.
The health benefits of eating apples are numerous. One medium Honeycrisp apple has 5 grams of fiber and only 80 calories. Because of the amount and type of fiber, an apple will help a person feel full longer, helping him or her to consume fewer calories daily. The pectin in apples may also help lower cholesterol. The flesh and peel are packed with disease-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals that may protect against breast and lung cancer. These disease-fighting nutrients work best when the peel and flesh are eaten together.