How to Cut an Apple in 3 Different Ways (Easy & Quick)

Now is the perfect time to add apples to your diet. This simple fruit works well in salads, apple pies, batches of apple butter, and plenty of other dishes. If not knowing how to cut an apple quickly and efficiently has stopped you from experimenting in the kitchen before, that ends now. This guide walks you through the best tips and tricks to make apple peeling a breezy task.

How to cut apples in 3 different ways

Here are 3 easy ways to cut an apple into different shapes. They work with all apple varieties. Pick whichever method best fits what you need to get done.

1. How to cut an apple into slices

Knowing how to cut an apple into slices is a basic everyone should learn. It’s easier than you may think, too.

1. First, place your washed apple stem-up on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut a large section parallel to the stem. Make sure not to cut into the core.
2. Rotate the apple 90º and make a similar cut. Keep doing this until you’re left with 4 large sections.
3. Then, place each quarter on the chopping board with the cut side facing down. Cut it into several slices. You can choose how thick or how thin you want the slices to be.

2. Cutting apples for pies

In a baking mood? Here’s how to cut apples for apple pie.

1. Start by peeling your apple. You can do this with a paring knife (carefully!) or with an apple peeler.
2. Then, cut the apple into 4 sections—just like we’ve described above, always avoiding the core.
3. Next, cut each section into thinner slices—of up to 1/4in thick. Remember, the thicker the slice, the longer it will take to cook in the oven. That turns into a problem if your pie crust has already browned but the apples haven’t fully cooked through. If you don’t want a crunchy or burnt pie, stick to thin slices.

3. Making fun apple shapes

If you want to take things to the next level, why not cut an apple into fun shapes? This can be a good way of convincing your little ones to eat their fruit. It’s also a fun and easy way to decorate dishes.

1. First, cut the apple around the core (scroll up to see how). You’ll get 4 large sections.
2. Then, with the skin side facing up, cut into relatively thick slices (around 1/2in thick).
3. Finally, grab a small cookie cutter and press it into the apple. You could also use a paring knife, although that would take a lot more precision and time. The trick here is planning where you’ll make the cut-outs so you use up most of the apple.
4. You’ll end up with apple scraps. Don’t throw these away! You can use them to make apple sauce or apple butter. Alternatively, you can cut them into smaller cube-like shapes and throw them into a salad for some crunchiness.

How to core an apple without a corer

Apple corers are handy kitchen tools that make removing the core from an apple easy as can be. However, if you don’t have one handy, it’s not a big deal.

Using a paring knife

Have a paring knife? Here’s how you can use it to core an apple.

1. Place your washed apple stem-up on a chopping board.
2. Then, push a small paring knife all the way into the apple about 1/4in away from the stem. This is to make sure you avoid the core completely.
3. Very carefully, make up-and-down motions with the knife as you rotated the apple. It may feel awkward and complicated at first, but keep it at it until you’ve fully turned the fruit.
4. The last step is the easiest: remove the knife and push out the core. It should come out in a clean motion.

Using a spoon or scoop

Perhaps you don’t want to risk cutting yourself. In that case, a spoon with thin edges or a very small scoop will come in handy.

1. Place the washed apple with the stem facing up on a cutting board.
2. Cut the apple in half, going through the core.
3. Next, hold one of the halves in your hand, with the core facing you. Using a spoon or scoop, carve out the core.

Can you cut apples ahead of time?

Apples tend to brown very quickly after they’re cut. As soon as they’re in contact with air, they start to oxidize. And while this doesn’t ruin the apple, it doesn’t look pretty.

Fortunately, there are ways of preventing freshly cut apples from browning.

One tip is to toss the apple slices in 1tbsp of lemon juice. You could also use lime or orange juice instead. They’ll keep in the fridge in perfect condition for 2 to 3 days.

If you don’t want citrus and apples mixing, you could slice the fruit strategically. When you’re cutting each quarter into smaller slices, don’t separate them. Leave them all together, cut-sides touching. This minimizes their exposure to the air, thus preventing oxidation. Placing it all in the fridge is also a good idea.

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Get apple cutting so you can start baking

See how easy it is to cut an apple? Now it’s your turn to get peeling and slicing. Get yourself a bag of apples for your next recipe—without even needing to leave the house. When you order your produce via Instacart, you can get them delivered to your doorstep in less than 2 hours. What could be more a-peel-ing than that?

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