Who invented this way of eating...it's so delicious! Baked apples sound warm and perfect for the cold winter! You must try baked apples in winter! ! ! …These days, the popularity of baked apples is getting stronger and stronger on various social media. Winter is cold, and fruits are even cooler. Baking the fruits seems to be a good choice.
So what do apples taste like when baked? Will it be more nutritious? How to make baked apples healthier and more delicious?
Image source: Xiaohongshu
What does baked apple taste like?
There are thousands of videos of "baked apples" growing on a social media platform, and most of them use descriptions such as "juejuezi", "super delicious" and "super awesome", but few people clearly tell them what the specific taste is.
In fact, if you want to know the taste, you will know once you try it. Let’s first take a look at the baking apple recipes recommended by major bloggers.
Some people follow the method in Chizuru Ueno's book: hollow out the core of the apple, stuff it with sugar and butter, and bake it slowly (about half an hour) over medium heat until the butter and sugar melt, and the skin of the apple becomes wrinkled and golden in color.
It is said that baked apples have a rich aroma and soft flesh.
Image source: Xiaohongshu
Some people choose not to put anything in, and roast the original apples over low heat for a long time until the skin is slightly brown and the flesh inside is soft, and then sprinkle with a layer of cinnamon powder to lend a little aroma to the mouth.
There is also a method that is said to be a "state banquet dessert". The butter is replaced with various chopped nuts, and the aroma of nuts is used to replace the milky aroma of butter. It is said that the taste is more refreshing.
Image source: Xiaohongshu
I also thought it took too long to bake the apples, so I just cut the apples into pieces and baked them into dried apples, let’s not mention it for now.
As for the taste of the finished product, I can only say that there are mixed reviews.
To put it bluntly, the main reason why some people find it delicious is becauseDuring the baking process of apples, a "Maillard reaction" occurs - the protein and sugar in the food react at high temperatures, giving the food a unique flavor and color. It is the kind of chemical reaction that gives the surface of toast a caramel color and a rich aroma.
The sugar and butter added when baking apples not only increase the sweetness and milky aroma of the finished product, but also provide sugar and protein respectively. Under long-term high-temperature baking, the Maillard reaction fully occurs, giving the baked apples an attractive caramel color, and the aroma fills the house.
Baked apples will taste better when baked like this!
But since it is the Maillard reaction that brings the delicious taste, why do some people think baked apples are delicious, while others think they are average? What is the difference between delicious and average?
1. Difference in baking time
Apples are different from traditional kiln-roasted tea fruits, such as oranges, bananas, and persimmons. The moisture content of apples is not as high as that of oranges. The pulp structure is denser than the above-mentioned fruits, and the taste is crisper and harder.
therefore,If you want to bake the apples until they are soft and sweet, you will naturally need to bake them for a longer time.
For example, the baking time for the "state banquet" baked apple mentioned earlier is as long as an hour.
2. Differences in baking temperatures
Temperature affects both the speed and extent of the Maillard reaction. Generally, the higher the temperature, the faster the reaction and the more aromatic substances produced.
So, we found that those who concluded that "baked apples are irresistibly delicious"The baking temperature is often relatively high, usually reaching more than 200 degrees.
3. Differences in types of apples
Different varieties of apples have different sweetness, hardness, and moisture content. The tastes baked at the same temperature and time will naturally also be different.
Some bloggers have tried different varieties of apples and concluded thatApples with low moisture content, sweet taste, and "noodle" texture are softer, more flavorful, and sweeter when baked.
This is not difficult to understand. Apples are naturally sweet and floury, and are naturally easier to roast.
But this is not absolute. On the one hand, personal taste preferences vary. Some people like baked apples with a relatively high moisture content and a sweet and sour taste.
On the other hand, too low moisture content will also cause the Maillard reaction rate to decrease, affecting the color and aroma of the finished product.
Therefore, it is recommended that you try more of which apples are delicious when baked.
4. Differences in baking details
Roasting details may also affect the taste of the finished product.
for example,Whether to wrap apples in tin foil, will also affect the taste of baked apples.
I saw an interesting phenomenon. On a certain social platform, people said that baked apples were not delicious. In the accompanying pictures, the apples were often wrapped in tinfoil. This may be because cutting off oxygen will affect the speed of the Maillard reaction.
Generally speaking,If you want to make delicious baked apples, you can increase the baking temperature appropriately (explore the temperament of your own oven) and extend the baking time appropriately to obtain better flavor. At the same time, you can adjust the amount of white sugar and butter according to your own taste.
Friends who are worried that butter will increase fat intake can use white sugar + cinnamon powder, or you can try the combination of white sugar + glutinous rice wine recommended by a netizen, which may also have a unique flavor.
Baked apples vs raw apples, which one is more nutritious?
Are baked apples really that amazing? Is it really healthier, healthier and more nutritious?
First of all, we have to admit that the taste of baked apples is much softer than eating them raw, and it is easier to produce juice.
For those who don’t like to eat fruits, or who have poor gastrointestinal digestion ability and are unwilling to accept cold and hard food, baked apples are easier to chew and digest, and can supplement a certain amount of water and dietary fiber, which is an advantage.
Secondly, we all know that heating will destroy the heat-labile vitamins in fruits, such as vitamin C.
But fortunately, the content of vitamin C in apples is very low, less than 10mg/100g, and there is no fear of losing it when heated. The dietary fiber, minerals, etc. in apples are basically not affected by high temperatures.
Therefore, from the perspective of nutrients such as vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals, baked apples are basically equivalent or slightly affected compared to fresh apples.
In addition, apples also contain some plant active substances with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other functions, but the content is small and they are mainly concentrated in the colored peel. These substances are generally resistant to heat, and their content tends to decrease after heating. From this point of view, baked apples are slightly inferior to fresh apples.
In short,If you want to taste delicious, fresh and easy to digest, you can choose to bake apples, but for health reasons, you should pay attention to the amount of sugar and butter. Baking apples directly without adding sugar or butter is also delicious.
If you are pursuing health and wellness, there is no need to follow the craze of baked apples. Eating naturally, in a variety of varieties, and in a combination of thickness and thickness is more beneficial to health.
Moreover, not only baked apples, but also all kinds of fruits do not need to expect too much health benefits. You only need to consider whether they are delicious after baking.
This winter, if you want to taste grilled fruits, in addition to baked apples and oranges, you can also try grilled pears (both frozen and grilled pears are delicious), grilled bananas (softer and more glutinous), grilled pineapples (roasted without pricking your mouth), grilled sugar cane (softer and sweeter), etc.
By the way, one last thing to say,If you are afraid of being caught off guard, you can try heating the fruit in a microwave oven first. This not only saves time, but also preserves the nutrients in the fruit better than in the oven.