Everything about Winesap Apples

What do Winesap Apples Look Like?

Winesap apples are a popular variety of apples, which have very dark red skin. They are round and usually medium-sized with a delightful and tender taste. The dark red skin of the Winesap apples is firm and hard.

The flesh of Winesap apples appears creamy yellow and is very juicy. These apples have a distinctive aroma to them that attracts people. Winesap apples have got their name because of their excellent sweet and tart taste that almost tastes like wine.

History of the Winesap Apples

This variety of heirloom apples is quite popular in the United States. Though the origin of this variety of apples traces back to the 18th century, Winesap apples were considered a significant commercial variety of apples in Virginia during the 19th century. Later, the commercial importance of Winesap apples was shadowed by other types of apples such as Red Delicious and Stayman – an offspring of Winesap. However, the distinctive taste and wine-like flavor of these apples never let it lose its popularity.

Some Facts about Winesap Apples

  • These apples are best suited for commercial production as they are grown all year-round.
  • Winesap apples can be harvested before time and stored in natural cold storage arrangements for about three months or more.
  • Winesap apples are widely used for apple juice or cider production.
  • These apples have two popular offspring varieties, namely Arkansas Black and Stayman.
  • All the other varieties of apples have white flowers blossoming on the apple tree, but Winesap apples have pink flowers.
  • These apples have about 11g of carbs only, which make them a perfect inclusion to the ketogenic diet (keto).
  • They are an excellent source of your required daily intake of fiber.
  • The glucose in Winesap apples is all-natural – so it is the best thing for your body.
  • It has other common names such as American Wine Sop, Hendrick’s Sweet, Pot Pie Apple, Texan Red, and Holland’s Red Winter.

Nutritional Profile

If you have heard about “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” then it is time to believe this old Welsh saying. Apples are loaded with numerous essential minerals, vitamins, and other notable nutrients that are required by our body. Winesap apples are also no different. They are rich in vitamin C and K, along with essential minerals such as copper, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Moreover, the fiber content in Winesap apple is an amazing source of adding dietary fiber to your diet as one serving of these apples is enough for fulfilling about 12% of your daily fiber requirement. Also, the peel of these apples is considered the most nutritious in terms of fiber and numerous polyphenols.

Health Benefits of Winesap Apples

1. Loaded with Fiber

Fiber is deemed quintessential in the prevention of numerous serious diseases and issues such as diabetes, obesity, and diverticular diseases. Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the body. This is extremely crucial for people with a tendency for high blood sugar levels. The slowed digestion by the dietary fiber helps prevent a sudden increase in blood glucose levels.

Moreover, the slowed digestion inculcated by fiber in the apples keeps you satiated for a long time and thus helps a great deal in weight-loss attempts. The fiber and water content in apples is significant for filling you up if you have it before or in between meals. This also keeps you from consuming more calories.

2. Saves the Heart

Incorporating apples in your daily diet has been significantly linked with positive outcomes for the health of our heart. This potential benefit is also partly attributed to the high fiber content in the apples. Soluble fiber is known to protect the heart by helping in decreasing cholesterol levels.

Apples such as Winesap apples are also a great source of polyphenols, which are compounds with antioxidant properties. Polyphenols are mostly found in apple peels. One such compound called epicatechin is found to lower the blood pressure aptly.

Flavonoids are another type of compound that protects the heart. They are claimed to decrease the risk of stroke by 20%. These compounds, acting as antioxidants, help impact the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood – the LDL – which in turn helps protect the heart.

3. Lower the Chances of Diabetes

Even with the high sugar content, apples have a low glycemic index – which implies that consuming apples does not increase the blood sugar suddenly. This property of apples is considered to be significantly linked with about 28% decreased risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Moreover, polyphenols are compounds in apples that are known for their positive impacts on pancreatic beta cells. These beta cells are known for producing the insulin hormone in our body. People with diabetes have damaged levels of insulin in their bodies. Hence, including an apple in your daily diet can do wonders.

4. Promote the Good Gut Bacteria

A type of dietary fiber known as prebiotics is well-known for its positive impact on our stomach. Prebiotics help feed the good bacteria in our stomach. Good gut bacteria aids in providing nutrition to the colon cells, which in turn helps keep the digestive system well-performing.

The role of the colon is essential in the digestive system, which is why it is crucial to keep feeding the good bacteria. Not all the fiber is digested and absorbed in the small intestine. A major portion of fiber we consume goes to the colon for digestion and absorption.

Apples are loaded with these prebiotic compounds; hence, they are essential for the sound health of our stomach.

5. Potential Protection Against Asthma

Apples are widely known for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidant compounds in apples help in protecting our lungs from oxidative damage. Scientific evidence also supports the notion that incorporating apples daily in our diet helps lower the risk of developing asthma by 10%.

Furthermore, apple peel is claimed to contain large amounts of flavonoids, such as quercetin. Quercetin is well-known for boosting our immune system by significantly lowering inflammation. This benefit of apple is crucial in preventing various allergies and asthma symptoms.

Tips for Selecting, Storing, and Preparing Winesap Apples

  • When buying Winesap apples, make sure that they are not overripe.
  • Apples should be firm when you buy them as mushy or soft apples ripe quickly and cannot be stored for long.
  • Smaller apples are said to last longer as bigger ones might ripen more quickly.
  • Ensure that apples are stored in the refrigerator and not out in the open for long.
  • Store apples in a plastic bag in the crisper compartment of your fridge. Doing so can increase the shelf life of your apples.
  • One of the most important things to know when storing apples is that they emit ethylene gas during the ripening process. This gas is not good for other fruits stored close to apples. However, only tangerines and oranges are insensitive to ethylene gas and can be stored with apples.
  • If you are whipping up a fruit yogurt bowl for yourself, then make sure that you cut and put in apples in the end. This protects the peeled and sliced apples by minimizing their browning.
  • If you want to protect your sliced apples from browning, then dip them in a solution of citrus juice and water (ratio 1:3).
  • Winesap apples are great for cooking and baking purposes as they hold their sweet and tart taste after being cooked.

Final Words

Apples are one of the most versatile fruits. There are thousands of varieties of apples cultivated in different parts of the world. Moreover, they are an incredible source of antioxidants and essential minerals. Therefore, incorporating them into your daily diet can do wonders for our health and life.