Finally, a Delicious Golden Delicious: The Opal Apple
Not to mention a very impressive super power.
I've always found it funny that Golden Delicious Apples are unequivocally not delicious. So, I was intrigued when I saw the bright yellow Opal Apple at the market. Then I found out about its super power.
Now, Opal Apples are a cross between Golden Delicious and Topaz Apples. Everyone I know seems to agree Golden Delicious Apples kinda suck, and yet they're everywhere. I'm truly not sure who's buying them. Though, I will say, I swear Golden Delicious Apples tasted better when I was a kid, but let's get to the point.
The Apple With a Super Power
The interesting thing about Opal Apples is they have "naturally non-browning" flesh. In other words, you can cut them up and the slices will stay a nice creamy white indefinitely. Of course, I had to test this on my own, and I was very surprised by the results.
In the photos below, you can see a freshly cut slice on the left and the same exact slice on the right after it had been sitting on the counter for 24 hours.
Obviously, the slice on the right has dried out, but the color has remarkably stayed very white. Most apples start to turn brown in a matter of minutes, but Opal Apples apparently just never do. That's amazing.
Taste-wise, the Opal Apple is a bit less impressive. It's got a nice, warm sweetness that might remind you of a pear, and a subtle tartness that builds as you take more bites. This is gigantic improvement over a Golden Delicious, but not on the same level as the Honeycrisp and SweeTango Apples.
This is also a very hearty apple—I think that's the word? The flesh is super solid and dense. I noticed it right away when my teeth sorta got stuck halfway through my first bite. That same heartiness applies to the skin as well, which is where I think the Golden Delicious' bad qualities show their ugly face. It's tough, earthy skin that doesn't chew well.
The Peanut Butter Test
As always, I'm testing how well apples pair with peanut butter while I'm rating them.
The Opal Apple is a solid peanut butter companion. Yes, it's sweet, which is not usually my jam for a peanut butter dipper, but it's very structurally solid and has just a touch of tartness. The one thing I don't like is how the skin wants to hold onto the flesh when you're biting slices. Otherwise, I think this is a good PB Pal.
The Final Bite
I'm glad to see the Golden Delicious has been used to create something that's actually delicious. The Opal Apple is indeed sweet, but it's more than that. This isn't a simple, one-note apple.
If you're looking for a break from the the constant onslaught of red apples, Opal is a nice change of pace. And it's super power might make it the best apple to cut ahead of time for school lunches or fruit salad. However, the lackluster skin will probably keep it from being a regular apple in your rotation.
