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Melrose Apples Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to Melrose apples
About Melrose apples
The Melrose apple is a crossbreed of the Jonathan and Delicious apple, and it's the official apple of the state of Ohio. It is a firm and coarse apple with a creamy white flesh with a slightly acidic and sweet flavor. They are medium to large-sized, with a full, rounded shape.
As they hold their shape quite well when they are cooked, Melrose apples are popular for desserts such as cobblers, pies, and galettes. Another reason why they are an excellent choice for desserts is that their sweetness is amplified when cooked. You can hollow them and fill with a sweet or savory filling to make baked apples or cut them into slices and place on top of a roast. Melrose apples also work well for applesauce and other sauces that call for apples.
Freeman S. Howlett bred the Melrose apple during World War II at the Ohio State Agricultural Experiment Station in Wooster, Ohio. The public first tried them in 1944 when they became somewhat popular in the United States and France. They never developed a large fan base at the time because their red-streaked, yellow-russet appearance was considered lackluster compared to solid, dark red apples.
In the 1970s researchers and Ohio apple growers tried to increase the Melrose apple's marketability by breeding them to become more red before harvest, but they were not successful. Instead, the delicious flavor of the Melrose is what helped it become one of the leading apple varieties you can find in stores today.
How to pick out Melrose apples
When choosing your Melrose apples, look for ones that are shiny and free from bruises or blemishes. The apple should feel firm when you grip it, with no soft spots. If the skin is dull, it could indicate the apple is past its prime.
Melrose apples are sometimes picked slightly green and stored while they mature. Even though they are no longer on the tree, they will continue to mature in flavor and aroma while in storage. Melrose apples reach their peak freshness two to three months into storage.
How to preserve and store Melrose apples
When you bring your Melrose apples home, you should wash and dry them immediately. Once they are cleaned, you can store them in your refrigerator to keep them fresh for several weeks.
As the Melrose apple is a firm variety, you could also store them in the freezer. Just peel, cut, and core the apples first so that they will be ready for cooking when you are ready to use them. Then, place them in an air-tight container and store them for three to six months. Due to freezing changing the texture of fruits, it's best to only freeze apples you plan to use for cooking.
Whether you are looking for apples for a dessert recipe or just want some fresh apples for snacking, Instacart can help you get the Melrose apples you need. Just open your Instacart app, add them to your cart and an Instacart shopper will do their best to get the Melrose apples and the rest of your order to you in as little as 2 hours!
Melrose Apples Near Me
Buy your favorite Melrose Apples online with Instacart. Order Melrose Apples from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about Melrose apples
Melrose apples can last for several months, but they do start to go bad at some point. Some things to look out for in apples include soft spots, bruises, wrinkles in the skin, and brown flecks or holes. If the apple has a mushy texture when it's gripped firmly, it should probably be thrown out.
Melrose apple season typically begins around mid to late October, much like other popular apple types. Although the Melrose apple ripens in October, it doesn't reach its peak until after Christmas. This time is when the fruity aroma is noticeable. These apples keep until March or April on the tree and are considered good pollenizers for other apples.
In many cases, you can use Melrose apples with spots and bruises for cooking. However, you should not use it if the primary part of the fruit is damaged. Be cautious if you see any mold spots, especially on apples that weren't stored properly. Those mold spots can make sensitive people, especially children with allergies and other respiratory problems.
In some cases, Penicillium expansum develops, which produces mycotoxin patulin. If you consume this in large amounts, patulin can disrupt your gut and the healthy gut bacteria, resulting in bleeding ulcers and nausea. Over the long run, exposure to patulin can negatively affect your immune system, even increasing your risk of developing cancer at some point.