What AI Says About What to Look for When Buying Apples
In this newsletter, I am talking about what AI says we should be looking for when buying apples and if that information is valid.
In the last 12 months a lot has been made about AI. It’s been made to answer questions we have. A lot of those questions are things that writers and content creators like myself have been answering, but now are competing with.
How does the competition look? I decided to look up what ChatGPT, one of the more popular AI chatbots to see what it thinks are things you need to be looking out for when buying apples.
Here is the list along with my thoughts are on each one:
Firmness: Gently squeeze the apple — it should feel firm, not soft or spongy. Soft spots often mean bruising or overripeness.
I don’t think I have ever squeezed an apple. If an apple is soft or spongy, you would be able to observe that without doing a squeeze test. An apple isn’t a peach.
Skin Condition: Look for smooth, unwrinkled skin. Avoid apples with large blemishes, wrinkles, or cuts, which can indicate age or damage.
Yes, I wouldn’t be buying apples that are wrinkled or already cut. Blemishes can be a bit more subjective. For example, an apple could be hit by some hail while it’s growing and get a mark on the skin that is often just superficial, like many blemishes are.
Color: Choose apples with rich, saturated color for their variety. For example, a Fuji should have deep red and yellow tones, while a Granny Smith should be bright green.
One thing that I have observed before is that apples that have some orange color in their skin tend to be really flavorful and at their peak. When I was picking Melrose apples in Ohio, many of the apples had an orange hue to them that was deeper in color than than a yellow hue. Here is my example:
You can see the orange undertones in this apple as well as some russetting, which you could call a blemish. I can tell you these were incredible apples that I got at just the right time.
Weight: Pick up a few apples of the same size — the heavier ones are usually juicier and fresher.
Yeah, if an apple feels light it’s for sure past it’s prime. I think I use this more often when shopping for citrus because it does indicate how juicy the orange, mandarin, or grapefruit is. I especially do this when buying Sumo Citrus mandarins.
Aroma: Give it a sniff. A ripe, flavorful apple will often have a sweet, fruity fragrance, especially near the stem.
Maybe I don’t have the best sniffer, but I don’t really smell apples that well when I am in the grocery store. I can tell you that one of the best smells in the world is when you walk into the refrigerator at an apple orchard. When all those apples get together in a closed off space, the smell is amazing.
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If you are making plans for travel or vacation this year, you will want to check out my podcast episode sharing about a National Park where you can pick your own apples
If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know. I hoped you enjoyed today’s newsletter.