The perfectly round shape and gorgeous pink color of the pink lady apple are hard to miss at grocery stores.
Pink Lady apples are versatile and they are famous for their tangy flavor.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about Pink Lady apples including their origin, what they taste like, possible uses, where to buy them, and even how to grow them.
Pink Lady Apple Origin
These apples have always struck me as unique since, for starters, they are the only apples known by their brand name ‘pink lady’.
The apples are the Cripps Pink variety. The best Cripps Pink apples are the only ones that are sold under the ‘Pink Lady’ brand name.
Pink Lady apples started being popular in the 1970s. The person that developed the variety is a horticulturalist called John Cripps. Although he was originally born in England, he lived in Australia.
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Cripps developed the Pink Lady by breeding the Golden Delicious with the Lady Williams apple. These two types are very popular in Australia and South America since they thrive in a hot climate. The end result was a gorgeous pink apple that is now loved by people all over the world.
Pink Lady apples have characteristics similar to both Golden Delicious apples and Lady Williams apples.
Lady Williams apples are red in color with a distinct tangy flavor and Golden Delicious apples are golden yellow in color with a very sweet flavor. Pink Lady apples are a perfect balance of the two.
They are crisp and juicy and also sweet and tart. Their color is blush pink.
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What do Pink Lady Apples taste like?
Pink Lady apples are the go-to variety for most people, I included, because of their amazing flavor. Their texture complements a variety of dishes.
I would describe the flavor of Pink Lady apples as tangy and sweet-tart. Additionally, they have a zip to their flavor that is fizzy.
Pink Lady apples have a good amount of sugar and acid. The acid and sugar balance out the flavor perfectly.
My favorite thing about these apples is that their flavor is not overwhelming. The crisp texture enhances the spice, honey, and rose flavors.
I highly recommend eating Pink Lady apples at room temperature for the best flavor. Do not store them for too long since the flavor tends to become mellow with time.
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Pink Lady Apples use
Considering how versatile these Pink Lady apples are, you can use them in several recipes. Here are a few ways you can use your Pink Lady apples.
- Eat them fresh
The sweet-tart flavor of Pink Lady apples makes them perfect for eating fresh. They have just the right amount of sugar and acid.
Pink lady apples do not brown fast when cut thanks to their acid content, so you do not have to worry when you cut them and stay for some time before eating them.
- Baking
You can use Pink Lady apples in baking. The mild crisp texture makes them an excellent addition to baked goods.
My favorite thing about them is that they maintain their sweet-tart flavor when baked. If you are baking something that could use an apple flavor, I suggest using Pink Lady apples as one of your ingredients.
- Pair them with cheese or drinks
Pink Lady apples go surprisingly well with cheese and drinks. I personally feel like Pink Lady apple pairs well with fresh creamy cheese.
I pair mine with gorgonzola, goat cheese, or gouda. They all complement the sweet-tart flavor of Pink Lady apples.
Additionally, you can use the apples on a charcuterie board – a platter of fruits, cheese, crackers, and your favorite meats. The pink skin and white flesh look gorgeous on the board.
- Making pie filling
You can use Pink Lady apples to make the apple pie filling. Simply cook the apples with the skin on and then blend them to make your pie filling.
Pink Lady apple pie filling is as tasty as it is colorful.
- Making apple butter
If you want your apple butter to turn out amazing, use Pink Lady apples. The flavor would be to die for.
Also, Check out; Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Icing Recipe.
Where to buy Pink Lady Apples
Pink Lady apples are readily available and you can buy them at farmers’ markets or grocery stores.
If you live in Australia, France, Italy, South America, and Washington State in the US, you can easily find Pink Lady apples at orchards near you. The apples fresh from the farm are the best and are so flavorful.
If you cannot find them at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, or orchards, you can always buy them online. Most vendors will ship them to your house in just a few days.
In case you do not find Pink Lady apples, do not sweat it. Remember that Pink Lady is just a brand name for Cripps pink apples, so you can always buy those.
Cripps pink apples may not have the perfect pink color, but the flavor is pretty much the same. They also have a sweet-tart flavor that goes well with most dishes.
Growing Pink Lady Apples
Pink Lady apples are only grown in approved climates for them to have the Pink Lady trademark. This is one of the apple varieties that are strictly quality-controlled. For you to grow Pink Lady apples, you need to have a license.
All in all, if you live in a warm climate area you can grow your own Pink Lady apples. However, growing them is not easy. The trees are very prone to diseases like fire blight and apple scab which are hard to treat.
The trees need to be exposed to the sun and planted in well-draining soil. I highly recommend planting it next to another cross-pollinator like another apple variety.
Pink lady trees mature and bear fruit after 3-5 years. They grow to approximately 14 feet tall. It is essential to prune the trees as they grow.
Interesting Facts About Pink Lady Apples
- John Cripps allegedly named the apples after his favorite cocktail, the Pink Lady cocktail. The cocktail is pink in color as a result of the cherry syrup added to it.
- Pink lady apples are strictly quality-controlled to maintain their great quality. Only the best Cripps pink apples get the name.
- Cripps pink apples that do not qualify to get the Pink Lady name are used to make other products including Pink Lady apple juice.
- Pink Lady apples give out the most flavor when eaten at room temperature.
- The skin of the Pink Lady apple is super nutritious and should be eaten. Just remember to wash the apples thoroughly before eating them or using them in recipes.
Conclusion
Pink Lady apples are amazing. Their gorgeous pink color, crisp texture, and sweet-tart flavor are incomparable.
I personally believe that it lives up to the hype, but I will let you decide whether it does on your own. They are available all year round so you won't have an issue finding them.
Try Pink Lady apples today and let me know whether it lived up to your expectations. I can bet they will.
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