For juicing, the best apples are those that are crisp, juicy, and full of flavor. Varieties like Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith are excellent choices. Fuji and Gala apples offer a sweet taste, while Honeycrisp apples provide a balance of sweet and tart. Granny Smith apples are ideal for those who prefer tart juice. Mixing different types can create a more complex juice flavor.
1. Golden Delicious apple
The Golden Delicious apple is a classic choice that has an aromatic honey flavor and is quite sweet. The sweet taste is slightly acidic, giving your juice a pleasant tartness. These apples also have a light color when juiced, and each apple has quite a bit of liquid.
Golden Delicious is also one of the easiest juicing apples to find at your local grocery store if you don’t have your own home tree to pick from. Even specialty cider makers will blend rare apple varieties with Golden Delicious to round out the flavor.
2. Honeycrisp apple
While Honeycrisp apples are usually saved for eating, there’s always some portion of the crop that is better suited to juicing for one reason or another. This balanced juice is of the tart variety and quite similar to the Granny Smith apples. The tart juice is delicious, mixed with other ingredients or all by itself. It is one of the best apples for juicing because it isn’t too sweet.
3. Macoun apple
Macoun apples are often deep red or purple in color. They have an odd shape but are extremely tasty. The juice from these apples is described as sweet and rich and contains hints of berries. They are some of the best apples for juicing
4. Golden Russet apple
Russet apples such as Golden Russet are perfect apples for juicing. They have an amazing combination of flavors that bring together sweetness and tartness. This variety of apples is widely used for eating, cooking, and juicing. It is ideal for ciders and hard ciders!
5. Idared apple
The Idared apple is a bright red apple that can also be yellowish-green. The taste is described as aromatic and refreshing. If not picked at the right time, they lose a bit of their flavor, but overall they are some of the best apples for juicing.
6. Jonathan apple
The Jonathan apple is a popular heritage juicing variety. These deep red or purple apples have a textured flesh with creamy flesh. A bite of this apple produces plenty of juice with a mildly sweet flavor. There are hints of spice and tartness as well. It’s perfect for juicing apples in the fall.
7. Jonagold apple
Many apple juice companies use Jonagolds to produce their apple juice. The aromatic elements of this apple make it a prime candidate. It has a delicious sweetness and is easy to juice. This apple is packed with nutrients, perfect for juice.
8. McIntosh apple
McIntosh is another juicing apple that’s relatively easy to find locally. This spicy yet fruity apple is a great juicing apple. The mild sweetness gives you all the flavor you need. Some people claim it has a hint of a raisin taste. This is a classic, old-fashioned apple used for juicing.
9. Newtown Pippin apple
Newtown Pippin is a fantastic heritage winter apple that is picked late in the season. It’s a great apple for juicing and making hard ciders. It has a rich flavor and is a favorite culinary apple. Newtown Pippin is usually yellow or green and makes a vibrant, gourmet juice.
10. Grimes Golden apple
The Grimes Golden has an excellent flavor with a mild bitterness. The sweetness is richer than a Golden Delicious with a hint of spiciness. If you can find them, this is a classic choice.
11. Roxbury Russet apple
Roxbury Russet is one of the oldest apple varieties in North America and is extremely popular for juicing. It has some tartness but is mostly sweet in flavor. The fresh pressed juice is a gourmet treat for true apple loves.
12. Black Oxford apple
Black Oxford apple has a tart flavor with some sweetness, depending on its ripeness. It’s known to be a good apple for pies as well. The sweet juice makes a tasty treat once squeezed out of the fruit.
13. Liberty Apple
Liberty apple has extremely juicy flesh, making it perfect for juicing. It has a balanced flavor that isn’t too tart. The flavor is not overly complex, but you can mix it with different varieties (especially cider apples) if you would like to enhance the flavor.
14. Stayman Apple
Stayman is a classic juicing and cider cultivar. This tasty apple originated in Kansas and can often be found in Virginia. Those who frequent orchards love picking this amazing apple straight off the tree. You can expect a tart yet spicy taste when you bite into this apple. Some often relate it to the taste of white wine.
15. Red Delicious apple
Red Delicious apples are great for juicing because of their tender flesh and soft skin. The flavor certainly is not very strong, so you’ll likely wish to blend this variety with some others that are a bit more interesting.
