We're not going to claim there's a right way and a wrong way. But we're all slicing a lot of apples these days (and will be for months), so we're wondering how our method compares to yours. See step-by-step photos, below...
We're not going to claim there's a right way and a wrong way. But we're all slicing a lot of apples these days (and will be for months), so we're wondering how our method compares to yours. See step-by-step photos, below...
First we slice it in half, then into quarters.
Then, to get out the core, we slice diagonally along the inside of each quarter. Here, we're doing it left-handed to avoid funny camera angles (although we couldn't avoid the shadow), but normally the apple would be facing the opposite direction.
Here's a quarter that's been "cored." This technique might not be as surgical as it could be. We lose a bit of extra flesh around the edges (better to nibble on, we say), but this is quicker and easier than trying to carve out the core with a paring knife. And we don't have a corer, so that's not an option.
Then we slice each quarter into three wedges.
And there you have it—fat slices ready to be eaten or peeled for a pie.
So how do you slice an apple? It seems like such a simple task, but we're sure there are a lot of different habits. Some of you may have use flower-shaped corer-slicer-in-one, or you may use a chef's knife like us. Let us know.
Related: How To Dice an Onion: The Video
(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)
I do it pretty much as you do... except i use a short knife to carve out the core and save as much good apple as possible. Also, maybe this speaks to my bad knife skills (?) but i always cut the apple with the peel facing the cutting board... while you do it the other way around. I'm guessing i do it that way because my knife isn't as sharp as it should be!
view mh330's profile
I do it basically the same, too. Except when I'm cutting out the core I just stand up the apple quarter (with the bottom of apple on the cutting board) and slice off the core from top to bottom.
view laetitiae's profile
Mine is similar as well, except that I use a melon baller to remove the core.
view seidhr's profile
I cut it in half, and then use a melon baller (either side, depending on how big your apple is) to remove the core. Then I can eat it as is or slice it into sections.
view Peggasus's profile
If I'm peeling for a pie, I would definitely peel the apple first, then cut. It's too difficult to peel each slice! This happened last night when I threw together an apple/pear/quince crumble ... not enough time and left the skins on, and it added to the flavor, I think.
view birdie_dc's profile
OK, I know it's cheating, but making apple pie is one of my favorite things, and it just takes so long to get the apples ready! I use this handy little guy from Williams-Sonoma:
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sku5266705/index.cfm?pkey=xsrd0m1|16|||0|||fruit-vegetable-tools||||apple&cm_src=SCH
view OM83's profile
Core first (with a corer), then peel, then cut.
view bubble's profile
Because I'm totally lazy, I cut apples differently than all of you. I stand the apple stem-up and slice about 1/2 an inch away from the stem on either side, cutting the apple into three big pieces. The two outside pieces are big core free-chunks that are easily slice into wedges. The middle piece has the core and two pieces at the edge that need to be sliced off. Its essentially the technique you use to cut a mango to avoid the pit.
I then put the core piece flat on the cutting board and lop off the two remaining chunks at either edge to get two nice pie ready pieces.
Yes, you lose more flesh around the middle, but I like to nibble on them while I'm cooking, so there's no harm done. And it takes a lot less time. Also, the cuts are more stable, which my clumsy fingers appreciate.
Oh, and I totally peel first.
view fib's profile
I do exactly what you do. If I am cutting a lot of apples at once, I might bother to use a paring knife to do the coring and save as much apple as I can. But, I would never peel it after slicing. I always peel whole apples with a paring knife. I like to try to get the whole peel in one piece.
view yolio's profile
If I'm baking, I use one of the old-school handle-turned peelers that sticks to your table, because in addition to peeling (and making a long yummy string of skin to eat while I cook) it cores the apple and has an internal blade that slices the whole apple into a spiral. Then I just cut the whole thing down the middle for lovely even slices. A bit thinner than I would do if I were slicing it myself, but sooo much easier, and a lot of fun to do. If I'm slicing with a knife, I do it about the same, except I core with a paring knife and cut each quarter into four slices instead of three.
view Leah Hope's profile
I cut my apples exactly as you do. Weird, I didn't think that was any sort of sanctioned method.
On the other hand, I find your onion dicing video method slow and dangerous. I use a considerably different method there.
view TheGuth's profile
Fib-- I do the same thing!
But I will try the technique you guys show in the pictures... to save that extra flesh.
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
If I'm cutting apples for my daughter I cut off the tops and bottoms so they sit better, then cut right through the waist of the apple. Most (all?) apples have a star shape inside and she loves that because she feels like it's something just for her.
view jrboitel's profile
fib--I use that method as well. I usually eat the bits of flesh around the core before I toss it, though.
view erin79's profile