Published: · Modified: by Eric Samuelson
Have you been turned off to yellow skinned apple varieties because of soft, flavorless Golden Delicious apples. Then it's time to give Opal apples a try. You will be converted.
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Meet the Opal apple!
It's been a couple years since I first experienced the Opal apple and now they have become a variety I look forward to trying each year.
Opal and I meet at a Whole Foods Market store on the west side of Ann Arbor, Michigan. A marketing representative was there giving out samples of this apple.
Jump to:
- ❓ What are Opal Apples?
- ⭐ My Ratings
- 🍂 When in Season?
- ❓ Are Opal Apples GMO?
- 🛒 Where to Buy Opal Apples
- 🟡 More Yellow Apples
- 🧰 Tools
❓ What are Opal Apples?
It is a bright yellow color, more vivid in color than one of it's parents, the Golden Delicious. It's other parent is the Topaz apple. It is exclusively grown in the United States in Prescott, Washington.
It is grown conventionally as well as organically. It was first discovered in Europe in 1999, eventually making it's way to Washington.
⭐ My Ratings
Here is my thoughts on this variety on a scale of 1-10. These ratings are from when the apple is at it's peak (more on that in a moment).
| Crispiness | 8 |
| Tartness | 5 |
| Flavor | 7 |
| Sweetness | 7 |
| Juiciness | 9 |
Overall Feeling: Move over Golden Delicious, your offspring has you beat. The Opal apple is a flavorful apple that is sweet with enough acidity to not make the sweetness overwhelming.
It's an extremely juicy apple. When I cut into a lot of juice came out onto my napkin.
Great Choice for Salads
The apple is also slow to oxidize, which means it will not turn brown when cut very quickly. This makes it a great choice for salads.
Cooking
As for cooking, the jury is still out (for me at least) on how well this apple does when baked. I do think though that it would make a great apple to use for applesauce, paired with a more tart apple. I am sure the high juice content of this apple would make it a good choice for juice or cider.
🍂 When in Season?
Opal apples arrive on stores shelves in early November to mid November. They are usually in stores all winter but by late January quality decreases as they aren't as crisp. You might be able to find a good one still in later winter but it's less likely. Best to enjoy the from November to early January.
❓ Are Opal Apples GMO?
No, Opal apples are non-GMO. To learn more about GMO & apples, check out my post: Are SweeTango Apples GMO? Are Any Apples GMO?
🛒 Where to Buy Opal Apples
Here is a list of stores that carry Opal apples (by state). They may not be in all locations at the same time, so check with the individual store.
Whole Foods Market is one of the best places to look nationwide. So if you have a Whole Foods check it out beginning in about middle November. Also Kroger is a good option.
Arkansas
Walmart
Arizona
Safeway
California
Safeway
Vons/Paviilions
Colorado
King Soopers
Florida
Harvey's Supermarket
Sweetbay
Target
Georgia
Harvey's Supermarket
Illinois
Jewel
Mariano's Fresh Market
Meijer
Target
Indiana
Meijer
Iowa
Target
Kansas
Target
Kentucky
Meijer
Louisiana
Walmart
Michigan
Meijer
Whole Foods Market
Minnesota
Lunds/Byerlys
Target
Missouri
Walmart
Nebraska
Target
North Dakota
Dan's
Ohio
Meijer
Oklahoma
Walmart
Rhode Island
Dave's
South Carolina
Harvey's Supermarket
Texas
Central Market
HEB
Randall/Tom Thumb
Walmart
Washington
Haggen
Wyoming
Walmart
🟡 More Yellow Apples
We love yellow apples in our household. My wife's favorite is the Blondee apple, that is like a yellow Gala. I love the Lucy Glo apple that is yellow outside and red on the inside!
Also try:
- Honeygold
- Grimes Golden
- Lemonade Apples
- Candy Crisp
Here are some apple related kitchen tools I recommend:
- Amco Dial-A-Slice Adjustable Apple Corer and Slicer
: Allows you to slice apples into either 8 or 16 pieces - Zyliss Soft Skin Peeler : The best peeler I have ever owned. Does a great job peeling an apple.
- Mirro Foley 2-Quart Stainless Steel Food Mill : A great tool for making your own applesauce. You can make the sauce without having to do any peeling.
: Allows you to slice apples into either 8 or 16 pieces
: The best peeler I have ever owned. Does a great job peeling an apple.
: A great tool for making your own applesauce. You can make the sauce without having to do any peeling.Have you tried this apple? What did you think? Leave a comment below telling us. Be a helper and share where you found it. You may make someone's day with your insider info on where to get them! If you are a true apple lover, you'll want to check out all of our apple reviews.
