How to Peel and Core an Apple

With apples in season, here are a few tips and techniques you can use to cook with apples.

The best way to peel an apple while minimizing any risk of nicking yourself with a paring knife or a vegetable peeler is to core the apple first. After you core the apple, insert your index finger into the apple's center, and begin removing the skin with a peeler, switching from one end of the apple to another to peel completely. Upon finishing, slice the apple according to your particular recipe's instructions.

There are a number of apple corers available in supermarkets and department stores. Some are thin with a circular cutting tool at the end that is pushed straight through the fruit by its handle, while others are able to core and slice the apple at the same time. You can also cut an apple in half and use a melon baller or a teaspoon to remove the core if you don't have an apple corer.

Check out this week's recipe for Caramel Apple Pie.