We’ve had a bit of an adventure with unripe apples recently, which transformed my thinking around cooking and preservation. We had a windfall (literally) of about 30 unripe apples due to a recent storm, and since we had waited so long to harvest them we were determined not to throw them down the drain. We embarked on a journey of research and discovery, and found many uses for these small, tart fruit. This article today (and multiple jars of chutney) is the result of that search. I hope you will be as encouraged an inspired as we were to find these completely useful solutions for the unripe apple.
Cooking
1. Apple sauce
Use unripe apples for this homemade apple sauce recipe, swapping out 1:1 for the ripe apples. Sweeten to taste (bear in mind you will need to use a lot more sugar).
2. Apple butter
Apple butter is a smoother, more concentrated form of apple sauce, and is made by slowly cooking pureed apples for over an hour. The sugars in the apples caramelize as the puree cooks, giving the apple butter its rich, sweet flavor and dark color. Unripe apples will boil down in exactly the same way, you may just nee to add a little more sweetness.
3. Apple pie filling
Having apple pie filling on hand is handy when you want to make a pie, and this recipe is absolutely delicious! Use your unripe apples to make an apple pie filling, and adjust sweetness according to taste.
4. Apple chutney
Use your unripe apples to make a delicious spiced apple chutney. The apples cook down and take on the spices of the chutney, making it a beautiful way to disguise their immaturity!
Baking
Unripe apples are perfect for baking because they are firm and tart, providing a deep apple flavour. Since they are not as sweet, I recommend adding more sugar to taste.
5. Apple crisp
Featuring warm gooey cinnamon apples and a brown sugar oat topping, this apple crisp recipe takes half the time and effort that traditional apple pie requires. You just need a handful of basic ingredients in addition to those unripe apples you’ve been saddled with! Remember: taste, taste, taste, since you are working with apples that are not as sweet.
6. Apple crumble
With a warm, cinnamon laced apple filling and a perfectly crunchy, crumbly topping, Apple Crumble is an absolute crowd pleaser! Very easy to make, this Apple Crumble recipe is a keeper that you’ll make again and again.
7. Apple muffins
Grate or finely slice your unripe apples into this easy apple muffin batter that’s flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar. We use This simple muffin batter produces moist, soft, and cakey muffins with tall muffin tops. Enjoy them plain or top them with crumb topping before baking and smooth vanilla icing before serving
8. Apple bread
This apple cinnamon bread is buttery moist and cake-like with plenty of apples dotted in each slice. Toss your unripe apples in a generous quantity of brown sugar and cinnamon before layering and swirling in the loaf pan. Assembling the loaf this way adds pockets of sweet cinnamon swirl and keeps the batter light.
9. Apple pancakes
Grate your unripe apples into this classic buttermilk pancake recipe for a comforting and sweet breakfast treat!
10. Apple waffles
Apples and Cinnamon are the perfect flavorings for these Homemade Apple Cinnamon Waffles from scratch. Warmth, comfort and such a genius way to use up those unripe apples on your bench!
11. Apple turnovers
Apple Turnovers are handheld puff pastry pies baked with a cinnamon apple filling. Unripe apples are perfect for this recipe because they re firmer and so will hold their shape when cooked.
12. Apple Cinnamon Cake
Use grated unripe apples in this light and fluffy Apple Cinnamon Cake, and they will be completely disguised! This cake is vegan and made with Sourdough discard!
Preserving
Preserving those unripe apples in vinegar, spices and sugar will transform them into something that is pleasant to eat!
12. Pickled apples
This green apple pickle features chopped granny smith apples preserved in a spicy chili-vinegar sauce. Sub in your unripe apples, and you will have converted them into a condiment you can actually enjoy!
13. Apple jam
Use your unripe apples to make up jars of homemade apple jam. Jam is a fabulous gift to friends and family. It’s delicious spread simply on toast, or as a filling in your favourite cakes and bakes.
14. Apple Cider Vinegar
This apple cider vinegar recipe shows you how to turn your apple pieces (or even apple scraps), ripe or unripe into vinegar. Turn that waste product into a nutrient powerhouse!
15. Apple syrup
Calling all unloved apples! All the bird-pecked apples, the bug-bitten, and the ugly apples. This simple, sugar-free apple syrup is a brilliant way to use them. Although this recipe is more appropriate for sweet apples, rather than unripe apples, I could not resist adding it to this list. It’s just such a great recipe for lots of apples that you have no idea what to d with!
Salads
Unripe apples can bring blessed tartness that every refreshing salad needs. Here’s some classic salad recipes to finely slice your apples into:
16. Green salad with thinly sliced apples
Finely slice your unripe apples and toss them in a vinaigrette for this Green Salad recipe. Crispy, crunchy, tangy, spicy – this green salad with apples offers deliciousness with every bite.
17. Waldorf salad
Celery, walnuts, grapes, and apples are tossed through mayonnaise and mixed with lettuce for this refreshing Waldorf salad recipe. Make sure you slice your apples finely as they are super tart!
18. Coleslaw with grated apples
Crunchy cabbage and creamy dressing are mixed with tart apples to give you a perfectly balanced coleslaw that pairs well with a ton of dishes!
Main Courses
Unripe apples can go easily unnoticed in a main dish, so these recipes are a great ay to sneakily use them up!
19. Pork and apple stir-fry
This pork stir-fry has a twist. Water chestnuts bring a slight crunch to the tender pork and veggies, while applesauce lends a complementary sweetness. Use that applesauce you made earlier in this delicious savoury meal!
20. Chicken apple sausage
Finely dice your unripe apples into this Chicken apple sausage recipe. Easy and tasty homemade chicken apple sausage patties with just ground chicken, apple, onion, and spices. These patties are great for breakfast or dinner.
21. Autumn Roasted Vegetables with Apples
Roasting those firm, unripe apples is a great way to make them more palatable. Not only do these Autumn Roasted Vegetables and Apples look nicely colorful but they taste amazing! It includes Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, red onion, and of curse, apples.
Soups
Unripe apples boil down perfectly in a soup until their formerly firm flesh is completely imperceptible.
22. Apple and butternut squash soup
This 35-Minute Butternut Squash Soup is made with creamy squash, tart apples, and herbaceous rosemary and sage for a creamy soup bursting with fall flavor. This vegan and gluten free recipe is the perfect one to smuggle those unripe apples into!
23. Curried Lentil, Apple and Parsnip soup
This spicy soup combines red lentils, apples and parsnip for a smooth, warming soup – a low fat meal that you can make ahead and freeze. Unripe apples will blend perfectly into this soup.
24. Apple and Celeriac Soup
This apple and celeriac soup is the perfect way to disguise those unripe apples! Creamy and herby, this soup is perfectly comforting on a cold winter’s day.
Non-food Applications
Unripe apples can be used in more ways than just culinary! Their vitamin and mineral content make them beneficial in non edible ways.
25. Homemade potpourri with dried apple slices
Dry those unripe apples to for this fragrant apple-cinnamon potpourri to put into delicate sachets. These sachets make wonderful gifts to give to teachers, neighbors, friends, and family members.
26. Apple peel vinegar for cleaning
Did you know you could make apple scrap vinegar simply by combining apple peelings and cores with water and sugar, and let it ferment until it turns into vinegar?
27. Unripe Apples for Animal Feed
While you’ll want to watch out for their high acidity and tannins, horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and even chickens can chomp on unripe apples safely. Whether you serve them whole, sliced, or mixed in with their regular grub, these green goodies pack in fiber, vitamins, and minerals for your animal.
28. Composting underripe apples for nutrient-rich soil
Composting unripe apples is a simple way to enrich your soil and reduce food waste. Unripe apples are packed with nutrients perfect for your garden. As they decompose, they release valuable minerals and organic matter, enhancing soil fertility and supporting plant growth. Just toss them into your compost pile with other organic materials like leaves and grass clippings, and let nature work its magic.
Conclusion
Don’t throw away those unripe apples before you’ve considered they many delicious and useful ways they can be used! From culinary creations to animal feed and composting, unripe apples can bring so many benefits. So, why not get inventive with those green gems? Whether it’s whipping up a batch of apple chutney or treating your livestock to a snack, there’s no limit to what you can do.
