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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hate being given cooking apples

70 replies

Almondmum · 13/09/2023 06:58

It's that time of year when I'm plagued by well meaning people giving me boxes of cooking apples.

I've managed to stop some of them but the neighbours caught my husband.

I find the chore of peeling and chopping outstrips the benefit of an apple pie or crumble. I don't mind the taste but it's not that exciting. And none of us like baked apples which would be the easy solution. If I chuck them then I feel guilty about the food waste.

Anyone else's heart sink when they see a box of cooking apples heading towards them?!

Or even better, anyone got any extremely easy and tasty cooking apple recipes?

OP posts:

LunaNorth · 13/09/2023 07:59

This thread is so wholesome, I love it 🥰

Redburnett · 13/09/2023 08:00

Suggestions:

Chop into bits, stew, sieve out the peel and pips etc and freeze apple puree (for apple sauce, or add to yoghurt for refreshing snack).
Compost bin, if you have one.
Put out in garden (if you have one) for birds. Blackbirds, for example, love them.

Crumbcatcher · 13/09/2023 08:01

Wow I would love to be given cooking apples! They are expensive.

Dogscanteatonions · 13/09/2023 08:12

Those apple peeler corer devices are awesome and actually fun to use. The lakeland one may be discontinued but there are tons for sale on Amazon and eBay and various websites

headcheffer · 13/09/2023 08:12

Recipes I make when I have a glut of cooking apples are stewed apple, apple and Forest fruit chia jam, apple cake and crumble/pie filling. I don't bother peeling, I just grate the apple until I get to the core for jam or stewed apple, and I slice thinly for apple cake. The only thing I peel them for crumble filling.

Redlarge · 13/09/2023 08:14

Give them to a food bank they will be recieved greatfully.

Pashazade · 13/09/2023 08:16

Mary Berry's Devonshire Apple Cake (I think that's the right title) uses cooking apples and is delicious, although sadly it really only needs a couple per recipe!

MsFrost · 13/09/2023 08:18

Haha, it is a really niche problem, but it's happened to me a few times. I find apples and pears quite boring and they are also inexpensive to buy so I am never thrilled if someone offers me a box of them... like if I wanted some I'd just buy some 😂

I think it's one of those things that makes the person giving it feel good about themselves more than the person receiving!

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 13/09/2023 08:21

Do you know anyone with horses, goats or chickens? They might take a few off your hands. My horse loves a good sharp tasting apple, she can't have too many because of the sugar but she loves this time of year!

Coastalcreeksider · 13/09/2023 08:29

Someone on the local Freecycle website is always asking for surplus fruit. It may well be worth putting on one where you live.

I get apples from my cousin but they tend to be the ones that go to a mush, so I just bag it all up in small bags once cooked and put in the freezer for apple sauce.

PaperNests · 13/09/2023 08:36

I grow a few types of cooking apples on my allotment and I always chop and freeze them (I leave the peel on) first of all to buy some time and can then use them as I need them like on one of those cold rainy winter days when we just need a cosy pudding. They are a great filler to go in jams with any other nice berries or fruit you may have too and then you can then use the jam in all sorts of recipes. I also like to make a cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg apple sauce that we dollop on all sorts of sweet and savoury things over Christmas. It makes a nice gift with a bow on too.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 13/09/2023 08:37

Apple and rosemary jelly, amazing with lamb
Able sorbet with calvados (think it's trou Normand?)
I think any kind of Xmas pudding or crumble uses cooking apples
Also I don't core them if I'm chopping them, just chop around the core, one less job

Meadowdog · 13/09/2023 08:41

When you're given cooking apples it's worth biting into one just to check it's not suitable for eating uncooked. My boss had been giving out bags of "cooking apples" for years but it turned out they were absolutely delicious when eaten raw! He couldn't believe it when I told him as he'd never even tried one for some bizarre reason.

mondaytosunday · 13/09/2023 08:51

Oh I'd love some! I miss my old apple tree. Chutneys, apple chili jelly!
Yes it takes effort but lovely reward (and takes care of a few Christmas presents).
But if you really don't want them pass them one

titchy · 13/09/2023 08:55

I was your neighbour many years ago. People would see me in the school playground at pick up with bulging carrier bags and run far away at one point

ErrolTheDragon · 13/09/2023 09:01

You say you have teenagers... dealing with the cooking apples from our tree was one of my jobs when I was a teen. We mostly just had it stewed, sometimes with cinnamon, and froze quite a lot. DM would sometimes make a nice apple pie with a top which was a a sort of cinnamon shortbread which was easier than normal pastry (i think just pressed out into a round not rolled)

Original poster

Almondmum · 13/09/2023 09:05

Titchy 😆

I might ask at the stables where my daughter rides to see if the ponies would appreciate some.

Anyway, I've ordered an apple peeler/slicer gadget and the novelty of using that might well make this one autumn where I actually enjoy having cooking apples.

Thanks for all the suggestions

OP posts:

spiderlight · 13/09/2023 09:21

We have the world's most productive cooking apple tree on our allotment and I'm probably the most hated person on our street, going by this post! I do always message people first to ask if they want any, though, and they do always say 'Ooh, yes please!' We keep a lot though - we make cider, apple butter, Dorset apple cake and chutney as well as the usual tarts and crumbles. Definitely going to try that toffee apple cake as well!

Sweatybettysboobs · 13/09/2023 09:28

Apple & rosemary jelly (lovely with lamb or on roasties)
Apple, sage and thyme jelly (good with pork or meatloaf)
Apple blackberry almond cake
Apple chilli jelly/jam

I have a surfeit of apples, crabapples, pears and toms this year. My neighbours/colleagues are afraid too, but I am the CHUTNEY QUEEN 👑!

Hogisies · 13/09/2023 09:48

I’d implement a rule that whoever accepts the apples is responsible for the apples. At least then you only have to deal with the ones you can’t run away from, not the ones chasing your husband!

rhino12345 · 13/09/2023 10:10

Oh I'd love to be given cooking apples 🙌

Mrsjayy · 13/09/2023 10:13

Can you re donate them ? Maybe salvation army or somewhere that cook for others I know that's still on you to deal with but at least they are getting used.

SatsumaSplit · 13/09/2023 10:14

Another for local farms, zoos, wildlife centres etc Ours go to the local zoo, who given the price increase in food lately are very grateful. The bears alone get through 10kg a day each apparently.

SisterAgatha · 13/09/2023 10:15

I don’t mind a bowlful, but when they are in a huge bag I just know for sure there will be a) too many, b) a worm in there c) stinky liquid at the bottom

DH’s mum stews them in advance too, her apple tree feeds a family of 9 for half the year

FOJN · 13/09/2023 10:16

Herecomestreble1 · 13/09/2023 07:06

This is a very niche problem but I love reading about it! My MIL tries to give us a box of posh pears every Christmas and it's a lovely gesture but I feel awful because so many just go to waste. OP do you at least have an absolutely smashing apple pie recipe to share? 😁

I'm slightly jealous of your posh pears gift. I buy pears to do this with them, they are delicious with cheese and keep for a year.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pickled-pears

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